Verbalization - P-8060016

CHAPTER ONE

SNFO/SWSO VOICE COMMUNICATIONS

Aircraft Call Signs

1. Improper or abbreviated aircraft call signs can result in aircrews executing a clearance

intended for another aircraft. As an example, assume that a controller issues an approach

clearance to an aircraft at the bottom of a holding stack and an aircraft with a similar call sign (at

the top of the stack) acknowledges the clearance with the last two or three numbers of his call

sign. If the aircraft at the bottom of the stack did not hear the clearance and failed to intervene,

flight safety would be affected when the aircraft at higher altitude descends into the lower

aircraft. This kind of "human error" can strike swiftly and is extremely difficult to rectify. You

must be certain that aircraft identification is complete and clear before taking action on an ATC

clearance.

Unlike ground station call signs, aircraft call signs normally will not be abbreviated.

Aircraft call signs may only be abbreviated when ground controllers initiate an abbreviation.

Controllers will not abbreviate call signs if potential confusion exists between similar sounding

call signs. Once the controlling agency has abbreviated your call sign, it is permissible to use the

same abbreviation when responding to that same controlling individual.

Example

SNFO/SWSO:

"Houston Center, KATT 811, 10,000."

CONTROLLER:

"811 roger, climb and maintain 12,000."

SNFO/SWSO:

"811 leaving 10,000 for 12,000"

At NAS Pensacola, similar call signs exist using prefixes such as KATT (VT-10), BUCK

(VT4) and ROCKET (VT-86). Many times a controller will tell you that an aircraft with a

similar call sign is on your frequency:

Example

CONTROLLER:

"KATT 804, be advised KATT 814 is on the same

104. VERBALIZATION

Time

1. The 24-hour clock system is used in radio transmissions. The first two numbers indicate

the hour and the last two numbers indicate the minutes. FAA uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT

or Z) for all operations.

Example

1340

ONE THREE FOUR ZERO

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