6.Radiotelephony phraseology

6.1General

Transmission shall be conducted concisely in a normal conversation tone; full use shall be made of standard phraseologies.

Speech transmitting technique should be such that the highest possible intelligibility is incorporated in each transmission. Fulfilment of this aim requires that pilot should:

  1. enunciate each word clearly and distinctly;
  2. maintain an even rate of speech not exceeding 100 words per minute. A slight pause preceding and following numerals makes them easier to understand;
  3. maintain the speaking volume at a constant level;
  4. be familiar with the microphone operating techniques and suspend speech temporarily if it becomes necessary to turn the head away from the microphone.

Runway in use, altimeter settings, SSR codes, level instructions, heading and speed instructions and transition level shall be read back:

Note: If the level of an aircraft is reported in relation to standard pressure 1013,2 hPa, the words “FLIGHT LEVEL“ precede the level figures. If the level of the aircraft is reported in relation to QNHor height above ground, the figures are followed by the word “METRES“ or “FEET“, as appropriate.

Example:

TWR: “OK-ABC LINE UP RUNWAY TWO FOUR“

OK-ABC: „LINING UP RUNWAY TWO FOUR, OK-ABC.“

6.1.1Word spelling alphabet

Word spelling alphabet is to be used at all times when it is required to indicate letters except for a particular letter group which by every-day use have become unmistakable, e.g. QNH, etc.

6.1.1.1English world spelling alphabet as presented in table below should only be used during radio communication.

Letter Word Pronunciation in CR International pronunciation
A Alfa ælfə AL FAH
B Bravo bra:’vəu BRAH VOH
C Charlie ča:li CHAR LEE
D Delta delta DELL TAH
E Echo ekəu ECK OH
F Foxtrot fokstrot FOKS TROT
G Golf golf GOLF
H Hotel həu’tel HO TTEL
I India indiə IN DEE AH
J Juliett džu:li’et JEW LEE ETT
K Kilo ki:ləu KEY LOH
L Lima li:mə LEE MAH
M Mike maik MIKE
N November nəu’vembə NO VEM BER
O Oscar o:skə OSS CAH
P Papa pə‘pa PAH PAH
Q Quebec kə’bek KEH BECK
R Romeo rəumiəu ROW ME OH
S Sierra si’erə SEE AIR RAH
T Tango tæŋgəu TANG GO
U Uniform ju:nifo:m YOU NEE FORM
V Victor viktə VIK TAH
W Whiskey wiski WISS KEY
X X-ray eks’rei ECKS RAY
Y Yankee jæŋki YANG KEY
Z Zulu zu:lu: ZOO LOO

This English world spelling alphabet shall be always used when it is necessary to pronounce letters, with the exception of group of letters which are used daily and can not be interchangeable (e. g. ILS, QNH, ETA etc.).

6.1.2Numbers

Numbers shall be transmitted using the following English pronunciation:

Number Czech word English word Pronunciation International pronunciation
0 NULA ZERO ziərəu, ’zi:rəu ZE-RO
1 JEDNA ONE wan WUN
2 DVA TWO tu TOO
3 TŘI THREE tri TREE
4 ČTYRY FOUR fo:r, ’faur FOW-er
5 PĚT FIVE fajf FIFE
6 ŠEST SIX siks SIX
7 SEDUM SEVEN sevn SEV-en
8 OSUM EIGHT eit AIT
9 DEVĚT NINER najnr NIN-er
desetinná čárka ČÁRKA DECIMAL desəml DAY-SEE-MAL
sto STO HUNDRED handrid, handrəd HUN-dred
tisíc TISÍC THOUSAND tauznd TOU-SAND

6.1.2.1Transmission of numbers in radiotelephony:

All numbers except as prescribed below shall be transmitted by pronouncing each digit separately:

Example: Transmitted as:
Aircraft call sign OK 2385 OSKAR KILO TWO THREE EIGHT FIVE
Heading 080 degrees HEADING ZERO EIGHT ZERO
Wind direction and speed 200 degrees 70 knots WIND TWO ZERO ZERO DEGREES SEVEN ZERO KNOTS
Transponder code 4203 SQUAWK FOUR TWO ZERO THREE
Runway in use 30 RUNWAY THREE ZERO
Altimeter setting QNH 1010 QNH ONE ZERO ONE ZERO

The exception from above mentioned rule is created by numbers used in the transmission of:

  1. altitude,
  2. cloud height and
  3. visibility,

which contain whole hundreds and whole thousands, and which shall be transmitted by pronouncing each digit in the number of hundreds or thousands followed by the word HUNDRED or THOUSAND as appropriate.

Combinations of thousands and whole hundreds shall be transmitted by pronouncing each digit in the number of thousands followed by the word THOUSAND followed by the number of hundreds followed by the word HUNDRED.

Example: Transmitted as:
Altitude 800 ft EIGHT HUNDRED FEET
3 400 ft THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FEET
12 000 ft ONE TWO THOUSAND FEET
Cloud height 1 200 m ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED METRES
Visibility 700 m VISIBILITY SEVEN HUNDRED
Visibility 1000 m VISIBILITY ONE THOUSAND

Numbers containing a decimal point shall be transmitted with the decimal point being indicated by the word DECIMAL:

Example: Transmitted as:
Number (e.g. frequency) 120.3 ONE TWO ZERO DECIMAL THREE

6.2Selected radiotelephony procedures

6.2.1Establishment of contact

The initial call made to establish RTF contact should take the following form:

  1. the full RTF call sign of the station being called;
  2. the full RTF call sign of the station calling.

Example:
CSA 123
PRAHA RADAR

Note: Full call sign is a call sign which hasn`t been abbreviated.

Note: Further below there are the next potential obligatory items of communication necessary to be used during establishment of communications.

Unit/service Transmitted as:
Aerodrome control tower (aerodrome control unit) TOWER
Approach control office APPROACH
Area control centre CONTROL
Radar (generally) RADAR
Flight Information Centre INFORMATION
AFIS Unit (Aerodrome Flight Information Service Unit) INFORMATION
Aerodrome unit providing information to known traffic (aeronautical station) RADIO

6.2.2RTF procedures used at uncontrolled aerodromes and within ATZ

This part of phraseology is intended to be used as a guide use by VFR pilots on uncontrolled aerodromes and within ATZ.

6.2.2.1Call sign of the AFIS unit consists of the name of the aerodrome and expression INFORMATION (see the table here above).

Call sign of the unit providing information to known traffic at the non-AFIS aerodrome consists of the name of the aerodrome and expression RADIO (see the table here above).

Note: In radiotelephony contact with AFIS units and with units providing information to known traffic at uncontrolled non-AFIS aerodromes it is not allowed to use the call sign TOWER even in cases an AFIS unit has been located physically at the aerodrome tower. The call sign TOWER is used to indicate the ATC service provided at the aerodrome (see the table here above).

6.2.2.2The aircraft when operating on an uncontrolled aerodrome and within an ATZ shall report on an appropriate frequency assigned and published for an individual aerodrome:

  1. the type of aircraft,
  2. position,
  3. altitude and
  4. intended flight or ground activity, as appropriate,

regardless whether the aerodrome flight information service is provided or somebody replies.

Other aircraft at the aerodrome or within ATZ have to be listening to the same frequency and shall use this information to avoid collisions.

Note: The structure of report of the aircraft departing and arriving at an uncontrolled aerodrome or transiting ATZ is depicted in chapter Visual Flight Rules of this manual, in the article Operation on uncontrolled aerodromes and within Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ).

6.2.2.3Examples of phraseology used at an uncontrolled aerodrome and within ATZ

  1. commencement of taxiing and activity after departure:

    KOLÍN RADIO, OKABC, CESSNA 172 IN FRONT OF HANGAR, TRAINING FLIGHT, LEFT CIRCUITS (AERODROME CIRCLING) RUNWAY 06, TAXIING TO HOLDING POINT RUNWAY 06

    SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT

    AIR TOWING

    AEROBATICS (ACROBATIC) FLIGHT

    PARACHUTE DESCENT(S) or JUMPS

  2. intention to cross or backtrack the runway:

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC BACKTRACK / CROSSING RUNWAY 05 LEFT

  3. entering the runway:

    KOLÍN RADIO, OK ABC AT HOLDING POINT, READY FOR DEPARTURE

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, LINING UP RUNWAY 06

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, TRAFFIC ZLIN 142 ON FINAL IN SIGHT, HOLDING POSITION

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC TRAFFIC PIPER SENECA POSITION BASE LEG IN SIGHT, LINING UP, WILL MAKE IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, GIVING WAY EUROSTAR IN FRONT OF ME

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, FOLLOWING GLIDER READY TO LAUNCH

  4. take-off run or take-off, turn after departure or direction of flight:

    KUNOVICE INFORMATION OK ABC, READY FOR DEPARTURE, AFTER DEPARTURE RIGHT TURN TO ŘÍČANY ALTITUDE 2500 FEET, QNH 1015

    KUNOVICE INFORMATION OK ABC, TAKING OFF / ROLLING

    KUNOVICE INFORMATION OK ABC, AVOIDING THE TRAFFIC TO THE LEFT

  5. leaving the traffic circuit or ATZ:

    KUNOVICE INFORMATION OK ABC, LEAVING TRAFFIC CIRCUIT / ATZ, MIKE, 300 METRES ABOVE GROUND

  6. the position of the aircraft prior entering an ATZ:

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, PASSING TEREZIN, 200 METRES ABOVE GROUND, ENTERING THE ATZ, WILL PROCEED TO THE DOWNWIND POSITION, LEFT CIRCUIT OF RUNWAY 31, FULL STOP LANDING / TOUCH AND GO

  7. intended position of entry to the aerodrome traffic circuit:

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, JOINING LEFT DOWNWIND POSITION RUNWAY 31 PROCEEDING TO LAND

  8. final:

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, FINAL RUNWAY 31

  9. after landing, vacating the runway:

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, RUNWAY VACATED

    KOLÍN RADIO OK ABC, AFTER TOUCH AND GO / LOW PASS ABOVE RUNWAY, WILL CONTINUE DIRECT TO TEREZÍN / WILL MAKE NEXT CIRCUIT

6.2.3RTF procedures used at controlled aerodromes and within CTR

6.2.3.1Examples of phraseology used at controlled aerodromes and within controlled airspace

  1. Request on ATC clearance - departing VFR flight.

    TUŘANY TOWER (GROUND) - OSKAR KILO ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE – CESSNA 172 – STAND GENERAL AVIATION – (WITHOUT FLIGHT PLAN TO MNICHOVO HRADIŠTĚ – EXIT POINT NOVEMBER – UP TO 1000 FEET ABOVE GROUND) – INFORMATION HOTEL QNH 1015 – REQUEST ATC CLEARANCE

  2. Request on ATC clearance - arriving VFR flight.

    TUŘANY TOWER (GROUND) - OSKAR KILO ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE – CESSNA 172 – (FROM MNICHOVO HRADIŠTĚ WITHOUT FLIGHT PLAN TO BRNO TUŘANY) – POSITION TIŠNOV 1000 FEET ABOVE GROUND - ENTRY POINT NOVEMBER ESTIMATED TIME 35 – INFORMATION HOTEL QNH 1015 – REQUEST (ATC) CLEARANCE INTO CTR

  3. Request on ATC clearance - VFR flight transiting CTR.

    TUŘANY TOWER (GROUND) - OSKAR KILO ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE – CESSNA 172 – (FROM MNICHOVO HRADIŠTĚ TO BRATISLAVA WITHOUT FLIGHT PLAN) – POSITION TIŠNOV 1000 FEET ABOVE GROUND - ENTRY POINT NOVEMBER, ESTIMATED TIME 35 – EXIT POINT SIERRA - INFORMATION HOTEL QNH 1015 – REQUEST TRANSIT THROUGH THE CTR

  4. Startup request if FPL has been submitted

    RUZYNĚ GROUND OK ABC APRON SOUTH - STAND 12 - REQUEST START UP - INFORMATION GOLF, QNH 1011

  5. Request on taxi clearance

    RUZYNĚ GROUND - OK ABC - REQUEST TAXI

  6. Repeating of taxi clearance

    TAXI TO HOLDING POINT RUNWAY THREE ONE VIA (TAXIWAY) ROMEO LIMA

  7. ...when a departure from an intersection take-off position is requested by a pilot:

    REQUEST DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY THREE ONE FROM INTERSECTION WITH TAXIWAY PAPA

  8. ...if the pilot is not sure about taxi:

    REQUEST DETAILED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS

  9. ...for helicopter operations:

    REQUEST AIR-TAXIING FROM APRON SOUTH TO HELIPORT 2

  10. ...when backtrack along the runway is required

    REQUEST BACKTRACK

  11. ...if crossing the runway is requested

    REQUEST CROSS RUNWAY ONE THREE

  12. ...conflicting traffic on taxiway

    TRAFFIC BOEING 737 TRAVEL SERVICE IN SIGHT

    GIVING WAY TO BOEING 737 TRAVEL SERVICE

  13. ...runway vacating

    RUNWAY VACATED

  14. ...response to the instruction expedite or slow down

    EXPEDITING or SLOWING DOWN

  15. ...if instruction hold or hold short has been issued

    HOLDING POSITION or HOLDING SHORT OF TAXIWAY LIMA

  16. Repeating of line up clearance

    LINING UP RUNWAY THREE ONE

  17. Repetition of line up clearance when conditional clearance has been issued

    ROGER – BEHIND BOEING 737 ON SHORT FINAL, LINING UP BEHIND

  18. ...if instruction line up and wait has been issued

    LINE UP RUNWAY THREE ONE AND WAIT

  19. Repetition of take-off clearance

    RUNWAY THREE ONE – CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF

  20. Instruction for immediate take off

    ROGER – TAKE-OFF IMMEDIATELY (RUNWAY THREE ONE)

    UNABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE (DEPARTURE IN TWO MINUTES or VACATING RUNWAY)

  21. Response to cancel take-off clearance

    HOLDING POSITION or STOPPING

  22. Request on departure instruction

    REQUEST DEPARTURE INSTRUCTIONS

  23. Repeating of departure clearance

    AFTER DEPARTURE TURN RIGHT TO NOVEMBER - CLIMB TO ALTITUDE 2500FT (QNH 1012)

  24. Request on turning

    REQUEST RIGHT / LEFT TURN

  25. Airborne information

    AIRBORNE

  26. SSR transponder

    SQUAWK SEVEN THOUSAND

    SQUAWK STAND BY

    SQUAWK IDENT

    NEGATIVE TRANSPONDER

    MODE S TRANSPONDER

  27. Traffic information

    TRAFFIC (ZLIN 43) IN SIGHT

    TRAFFIC (LEARJET) NEGATIVE CONTACT

    CLEAR OF TRAFFIC

  28. Request for Straight-in approach

    REQUEST STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH FOR RUNWAY TWO TWO

    REQUEST LEFT CIRCUIT RUNWAY TWO TWO

  29. Report on entry to traffic circuit

    ENTERING DOWNWIND POSITION (LEFT CIRCUIT) RUNWAY TWO TWO

  30. Confirmation on number to land

    NUMBER TWO TO LAND (TRAFFIC ATR 72 IN SIGHT)

  31. Approach

    CONTINUE APPROACH – WILL REPORT DOWNWIND, BASE LEG or FINAL

    (LEFT) DOWNWIND, (LEFT) BASE LEG, FINAL (OF RUNWAY TWO TWO).

  32. Request on landing clearance

    REQUEST LANDING CLEARANCE

  33. Repeating of landing clearance

    CLEARED TO LAND RUNWAY TWO TWO

  34. Request on instruction to taxi to apron

    REQUEST TAXI INSTRUCTION TO APRON SOUTH

  35. Special traffic

    GOING AROUND

    REQUEST TOUCH AND GO

    REQUEST LOW PASS

    REQUEST FULL STOP

    HOLD OVER NOVEMBER

    REQUEST CROSSING RESTRICTED AREA LIMA KILO ROMEO 3 (LIBAVÁ)

  36. Special circumstances

    MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY OSKAR KILO ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE - STATE OF EMERGENCY

    PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN PAN OSKAR KILO ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE REQUEST PRIORITY LANDING – HEART ATTACK ON BOARD.

    NOSE / LEFT / RIGHT LANDING GEAR / WHEEL APPEARS UP – REQUEST VISUAL INSPECTION

    ENGINE FAILURE / ENGINE FLAMEOUT / SHUTDOWN / ENGINE ON FIRE

    REQUEST MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND FIREFIGHTING ASSISTANCE