Sep 2012Lesson 6.2

Radio

Communication

Reference

From the Ground Up

Chapter 8.4:

Radio Communication Procedures

Pages 219 - 229

Introduction

• There are guidelines and standard procedures for aviation radio communication.

• It’s very important that pilots know these in order to communicate effectively around the world over aviation radio

Outline

• Number, Alphabet, and Time• Standard Phrases• Communication Priority• Radio Technique• Emergency Communication

Numbers

• Pronunciation:– 0 ZEE-RO 5 FIFE

1 WUN 6 SIX 2 TOO 7 SEV-en 3 TREE 8 AIT 4 FOW-er 9 NIN-er

– Thousand: TOU-SANDDecimal: DAY-SEE-MAL

• Examples:– 10 One Zero

19 One Niner800 Eight Zero Zero11 000 One One Thousand

Phonetic Alphabet• A Alfa N November

B Bravo O OscarC Charlie P PapaD Delta Q QuebecE Echo R RomeoF Foxtrot S SierraG Golf T TangoH Hotel U UniformI India V VictorJ Juliet W WhiskeyK Kilo X X-rayL Lima Y YankeeM Mike Z Zulu

Time

• 24 hour system used to express time:– 12:00 midnight 0000

12:30 am 00302:15 am 02155:45 am 054512:00 noon 12003:30 pm 153010:50 pm 2250

• In aviation, co-ordinated universal time (UTC, Z, or zulu) is normally used

Standard Phrases• Acknowledge Let me know you have received and

understood this message

• Affirmative Yes

• Break I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message

• Confirm My version is… is that correct?

• Correction I have made an error, the correct version is…

• Do you read? I have called you more than once, if you are receiving me, reply

• Go ahead Proceed with your message

Standard Phrases• How do you read me? Can you hear me clearly?

• I say again I will Repeat

• Negative No

• Out My transmission is ended, I do not expect a reply from you

• Over My transmission is ended, I expect a reply from you

• Read back Repeat this message back to me after I have given “Over”

• Roger Okay, I have received your message

Standard Phrases• Say again Repeat

• Speak slower Talk more slowly

• Stand by I must pause for a few seconds

• That is correct You have the correct information

• Verify Check with the originator

• Wilco Your instructions received, understood, and will be complied with

Communication Priority

• Communication over the radio follows the following priority:– Emergency communications (Distress and Urgency)– Flight safety communications (ATC clearances, airport

advisories, position reports, flight plans etc)– Scheduled broadcasts– Unscheduled broadcasts– Other air-ground communications

Radio Technique• Call-up City tower, this is Cessna one seven two

foxtrot juliet echo sierra, (over)

• Reply Foxtrot juliet echo sierra, (this is) city tower

• Message City tower, foxtrot juliet echo sierra is transiting through the zone eastbound

en route to Oshawa

• Acknowledgement Foxtrot juliet echo sierra, city tower, cleared through the zone

• End Foxtrot juliet echo sierra, (out)

Communication Checks

• Radio operators can request radio checks to determine Readability and/or Strength

• Number Readability Strength– 1 Unreadable Bad– 2 Readable now and then Poor– 3 Readable with difficulty Fair– 4 Readable Good– 5 Perfectly Readable Excellent

Distress

• Distress call is made when an aircraft is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance

• Distress call: Mayday – Mayday – Mayday

• If in distress, the first call should be made on the air-ground frequency in use

• If no reply on current frequency, switch to distress frequency: 121.5 MHz

Urgency

• Urgency call is made to a specific station when there is a an urgent message about the safety of a ship, aircraft or person on board or within sight

• Also can be used if an aircraft is having difficulties, but immediate assistance is not required

• Urgency call: Pan Pan – Pan Pan – Pan Pan

Safety

• Safety call indicates that station is about to transmit an important navigation or weather warning to aircraft in flight

• Safety call: Security – Security – Security