Radio Communication Phraseology and Techniques

CHAPTER EIGHT

INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES WORKBOOK

802. RADIO COMMUNICATION PHRASEOLOGY AND TECHNIQUES

Radio communications are a critical link in the ATC system. Aviators must have a sense of

whom they are communicating with, what information is required by particular controllers, and

how best to convey intentions and/or requests. This lesson topic provides an introduction to

ATC facilities and the procedures used to communicate with them.

References

Flight Information Handbook

IFR Enroute Supplement United States

General Planning

To fly safely in the IFR environment, knowledge of standard radio phraseology, voice report

formats, and an understanding of lost communications and holding procedures is essential.

The single most important consideration in pilot-controller communications is understanding.

Brevity is important and contacts should be kept as brief as possible, but the controller must

know what you want to do before he can properly carry out his control duties and you, the pilot,

must know exactly what he wants you to do. Specific phraseology has been established for

routine messages between controllers and pilots to standardize, expedite, simplify, and promote

understanding. However, concise phraseology may not always be adequate. Use whatever

words are necessary to get your message across.

Spoken Phraseology

Numbers are standard except the digits 0 and 9.

0 is spoken - ZERO and

9 is spoken - NINER (to lessen the confusion between nine and five)

2. Numbers indicating hundreds and thousands in round numbers (ceiling heights and upper

wind levels) up to 9900 are spoken as:

500 --- FIVE HUNDRED

4500 --- FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED

9900 --- NINER THOUSAND NINER HUNDRED

Numbers above 9900 shall be spoken by separating the digits preceding the word "thousand."

Example:

10,000 --- ONE ZERO THOUSAND

13,500 --- ONE THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED

8-4 INTRODUCTION TO GROUND, AIRBORNE, LOST COMMUNICATION, AND

EMERGENCY VOICE PROCEDURES