Words and phrases
Transmission format AIP GEN 3.4
When initiating a transmission to ATS, pilots must commence the transmission with the callsign of the unit being addressed, followed by the aircraft callsign. A read-back of an ATS message will be terminated with the aircraft’s callsign.
When making a broadcast at a non-controlled aerodrome or in Class E or G airspace, the transmission must commence with the location followed by ‘traffic’, for example ‘Bundaberg traffic’, and at the end of the transmission, the name of the location, that is ‘Bundaberg’.
Read-back requirements AIP GEN 3.4; ENR 1.1
Pilots must transmit a correct read-back of ATC clearances, instructions and information which are transmitted by voice. For other than the ATC route clearance, only key elements of the following clearances, instructions, or information must be read back ensuring sufficient detail is included to indicate compliance:
- an ATC route clearance in its entirety, and any amendments
Note
‘Rest of clearance unchanged’ is not required to be read back
- en-route holding instructions
- any route and runway-holding position specified in a taxi clearance
- any clearances, conditional clearances or instructions to hold short of, enter, land on, line-up on, wait, take-off from, cross, taxi or backtrack on, any runway
- any approach clearance
- assigned runway, altimeter settings directed to specific aircraft, radio and radio navigation aid frequency instructions
Note
An ‘expectation’ of the runway to be used is not to be read back.
- SSR codes, data link logon codes
- Level instructions, direction of turn, heading and speed instructions.
Note
Reported level figures of an aircraft should be preceded by the words ‘flight level’ when related to standard pressure and may be followed by the word ‘feet’ when related to QNH (AIP GEN 3.4).
Conditional clearances AIP GEN 3.4
In all cases a conditional clearance will be given in the following order and consist of:
- identification (callsign)
- the condition (including position of the subject of the condition);
- the clearance and
- brief reiteration of the condition, for example:
ATS: ‘(aircraft callsign) behind A340 on short final, line up
[runway (number)] behind’
Pilot: ‘behind the A340, lining up [runway (number)] (aircraft callsign)’.
(See AIP ENR 1.1)
Route terminology AIP GEN 3.4
The phrase ‘flight planned route’ may be used to describe any route or portion thereof that is identical to that filed in the flight notification with sufficient routing details given to definitely establish the aircraft on its route.
Amended route or level AIP GEN 3.4
Whenever a situation arises whereby an aircraft, in the initial clearance, is cleared on a route and/or at a level other than that expected according to the flight notification, ATS will prefix the route and/or level details with the term ‘amended’ to alert the
pilot that the clearance is different to that expected. For example:
ATS: ‘(aircraft callsign) cleared to (destination) [amended route]
(route clearance details) [amended level] (level)’.
The prefix ‘amended’ will not be used:
- when an initial level for ATC traffic management purposes has been issued as
part of an airways clearance to an aircraft departing an active CTR – in which case
‘maintain’ shall be used, or - during normal progressive climb/descent instructions.
When an issued airways clearance needs to be changed, ATS will prefix the new route and/or level details with the term ‘recleared’ to indicate to the pilot that a change has been made to the previous clearance and this new clearance supersedes the previous clearance or part thereof. The level will be stated in all clearance changes regardless of whether a change to the initially cleared level is made or not. For example:
ATS: ‘(aircraft callsign) recleared [to (destination)] [(route clearance
details)] (level)’.
Phonetic alphabet AIP GEN 3.4
Radiotelephony pronunciation of the phonetic alphabet is as follows:
|
A
|
Alpha
|
al fah
|
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B
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Bravo
|
brah voh
|
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C
|
Charlie
|
char lee or
shar lee |
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D
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Delta
|
dell tah
|
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E
|
Echo
|
eck ho
|
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F
|
Foxtrot
|
foks trot
|
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G
|
Golf
|
golf
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H
|
Hotel
|
hoh tel
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I
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India
|
in dee a
|
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J
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Juliet
|
jew lee ett
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K
|
Kilo
|
key loh
|
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L
|
Lima
|
lee mah
|
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M
|
Mike
|
mike
|
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N
|
November
|
no vem bar
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O
|
Oscar
|
oss cah
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P
|
Papa
|
pah pah
|
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Q
|
Quebec
|
keh beck
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R
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Romeo
|
row me oh
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S
|
Sierra
|
see air rah
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T
|
Tango
|
tang go
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U
|
Uniform
|
you nee form or
oo nee form |
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V
|
Victor
|
vik tah
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W
|
Whiskey
|
wiss key
|
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X
|
X-ray
|
ecks ray
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Y
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Yankee
|
yang key
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Z
|
Zulu
|
zoo loo
|
Note
For pronunciation, syllables to be emphasised are in bold.
Numerals
Radiotelephony pronunciation of numbers shall be in the phonetic form as follows:
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0
|
ZE-RO
|
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1
|
WUN
|
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2
|
TOO
|
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3
|
TREE
|
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4
|
FOW er
|
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5
|
FIFE
|
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6
|
SIX
|
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7
|
SEV en
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8
|
AIT
|
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9
|
NIN er
|
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Decimal
|
DAY SEE MAL
|
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Hundred
|
HUN dred
|
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Thousand
|
TOU SAND
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Note
The syllables printed in bold in the above list are to be stressed.
Transmission of numbers AIP GEN 3.4
All numbers used in the transmission of altitude, cloud height, visibility and runway visual range (RVR) information, which contain whole hundreds and whole thousands, must be transmitted by pronouncing each digit in the numbers of hundreds
or thousands followed by the word ‘hundred’ or ‘thousand’ as appropriate.
For example:
| Altitudes | |
|
800
|
eight hundred
|
|
1500
|
one thousand five hundred
|
|
6715
|
six seven one five
|
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10,000
|
one zero thousand
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| Cloud height | |
|
2200
|
two thousand two hundred
|
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4300
|
four thousand three hundred
|
| Visibility | |
|
200
|
two hundred
|
|
1500
|
one thousand five hundred
|
|
3000
|
three thousand
|
| Runway visual range | |
|
700
|
seven hundred
|
All other numbers must be transmitted by pronouncing each digit separately.
For example:
| Flight levels | |
|
FL180
|
flight level one eight zero
|
|
FL200
|
flight level two zero zero
|
| Headings | |
|
150
|
one five zero
|
|
080
|
zero eight zero
|
|
300
|
three zero zero
|
| Wind direction | |
|
020°
|
zero two zero degrees
|
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100°
|
one zero zero degrees
|
|
210°
|
two one zero degrees
|
| Wind speeds | |
|
70 kt
|
seven zero knots
|
|
18 kt, gusting 30
|
one eight knots gusting three zero
|
| Mach number | |
|
0.84
|
decimal eight four
|
| Altimeter setting | |
|
1000
|
one thousand
|
|
1027
|
one zero two seven
|
Note
For the transmission of numbers in aircraft callsigns, refer to Flight number callsigns (see page 3.24).
Standard words and phrases AIP GEN 3.4
The following words and phrases are to be used in radiotelephony communications, as appropriate, and have the meaning given:
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Acknowledge
|
Let me know that you have received and understood the message
|
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Affirm
|
Yes
|
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Approved
|
Permission for proposed action granted
|
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Break
|
I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message (to be used
where there is no clear distinction between the text and other portions of the message) |
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Break break
|
I hereby indicate separation between messages transmitted to different aircraft
in a very busy environment |
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Cancel
|
Annul the previously transmitted clearance
|
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Check
|
Examine a system or procedure (no answer is normally expected)
|
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Cleared
|
Authorised to proceed under the conditions specified
|
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Confirm
|
Have you correctly received the following…?
|
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Did you correctly receive this message?
|
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Contact
|
Establish radio contact with…
|
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Correct
|
That is correct
|
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Correction
|
An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The correct version is…
|
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Disregard
|
Consider that transmission as not sent
|
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How do you read
|
What is the readability of my transmission?
|
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The readability scale is:
|
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1 Unreadable
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2 Readable now and then
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3 Readable but with difficulty
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4 Readable
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5 Perfectly readable
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I say again
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Repeat for clarity or emphasis
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Correct
|
That is correct
|
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Maintain
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Continue in accordance with the condition(s) specified, or in its literal sense, for example: ‘Maintain VFR’.
|
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Mayday
|
My aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and/or I require immediate assistance
|
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Monitor
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Listen out on (frequency)
|
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Negative
|
No
|
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Permission is not granted
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That is not correct
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Over
|
My transmission is ended and I expect a response from you (not normally used in VHF communication)
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Out
|
My transmission is ended and I expect no response from you (not normally used in VHF communication)
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Pan pan
|
I have an urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of my aircraft, or other vehicle or of some person on board, or within sight, but I do not require immediate assistance
|
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Readback
|
Repeat all, or the specified part, of this message back to me exactly as received
|
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Recleared
|
A change has been made to your last clearance and this new clearance
supersedes your previous clearance or part thereof |
|
Report
|
Pass me the following information
|
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Request
|
Should like to know or I wish to obtain
|
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Roger
|
I have received all of your last transmission
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NoteUnder no circumstances to be used in reply to a question requiring read back or a direct answer in the affirmative or negative |
|
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Say again
|
Repeat all or the following part of your last transmission
|
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Speak slower
|
Reduce your rate of speech
|
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Standby
|
Wait and I will call you
|
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Verify
|
Check and confirm with originator
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Wilco
|
Understand your message and will comply with it
|
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Words twice
|
As a request: Communication is difficult. Please send every word or group
of words twice |
|
As information: Since communication is difficult every word or group
of words in this message will be sent twice |