RADIOTELEPHONY

ACKNOWLEDGE

RTF Phrase: "Let me know that you have received and understood this message."

AFFIRM

RTF Phrase: "Yes."

APPROVED

RTF Phrase: "Permission for proposed action granted."

BREAK

RTF Phrase: "I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message."

BREAK BREAK

RTF Phrase: "I hereby indicate the separation between messages

transmitted to different aircraft in a very busy

environment."

CANCEL

RTF Phrase: "Annul the previously transmitted clearance."

CHECK

RTF Phrase: "Examine a system or procedure."

CLEARED

RTF Phrase: "Authorized to proceed under the conditions specified."

CLEARED

RTF Phrase: "Authorized to proceed under the conditions specified."

CONFIRM

RTF Phrase: "I request verification of: (clearance, instruction, action, information)."

CONTACT

RTF Phrase: "Establish communications with . . ."

CORRECT

RTF Phrase: "True" or "Accurate".

CORRECTION

RTF Phrase: "An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The correct version is . . ."

DISREGARD

RTF Phrase: "Ignore."

HOW DO YOU READ

RTF Phrase: "What is the readability of my transmission?"

I SAY AGAIN

RTF Phrase: "I repeat for clarity or emphasis."

MAINTAIN

RTF Phrase: Continue in accordance with the condition(s) specified or in its literal sense, e.g. "maintain VFR".

MONITOR

RTF Phrase: "Listen out on (frequency)."

NEGATIVE

RTF Phrase: "No" or "Permission not granted" or "That is not correct" or "not capable".

OUT

RTF Phrase: "This exchange of transmissions is ended and no response is expected."

Note.— Not normally used in VHF communications.

OVER

RTF Phrase: "My transmission is ended and I expect a response from you."

Note.— Not normally used in VHF communications.

READ BACK

RTF Phrase: "Repeat all, or the specified part, of this message back to me exactly as received."

RECLEARED

RTF Phrase: "A change has been made to your last clearance and this new clearance supersedes your previous clearance or part thereof."

REPORT

RTF Phrase: "Pass me the following information . . ."

REQUEST

RTF Phrase: "I should like to know . . ." or "I wish to obtain . . ."

ROGER

RTF Phrase: "I have received all of your last transmission."

Note.— Under no circumstances to be used in reply to a question requiring "READ

BACK" or a direct answer in the affirmative (AFFIRM) or negative (NEGATIVE).

SAY AGAIN

RTF Phrase: "Repeat all, or the following part, of your last transmission."

SPEAK SLOWER

RTF Phrase: "Reduce your rate of speech."

STAND BY

RTF Phrase: "Wait and I will call you."

Note.— The caller would normally re-establish contact if the delay is lengthy. This is not an approval or denial.

UNABLE

RTF Phrase: "I cannot comply with your request, instruction, or

clearance." This is normally followed by a reason.

WILCO

RTF Phrase: (Abbreviation for "will comply".)

" I understand your message and will comply with it."

WORDS TWICE

RTF Phrase:

a) As a request: "Communication is difficult. Please send every word or group of words twice."

b) As information: "Since communication is difficult, every word or group of words in this message will be sent twice."

PAL100, CLEARED MACTAN VIA IPATA W25 BATAY DIRECT MACTAN, AFTER AIRBORNE, MAINTAIN RUNWAY HEADING, CLIMB 7000 FEET UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED, EXPECT RADAR VECTORS IPATA, SQUAWK 4047.

Sample of Route Clearance

PAL100, WIND 060 DEGREES 11 KNOTS, MAINTAIN RUNWAY HEADING, CLIMB 7000 FEET UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED, RUNWAY 06, CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF.

Sample of Take-off Clearance

PAL100, TAXI TO HOTEL2 VIA GOLF4 CHARLIE, HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY 06.

Sample of Taxi Clearance

PAL100, WIND 040 DEGREES 02 KNOTS, RUNWAY 06, CLEARED TO LAND.

Sample of Landing Clearance

PAL100, CONTACT MANILA DEPARTURE 124.4.

Phraseology for Transfer of Communication

PAL100, BEHIND B737 ON SHORT FINAL, LINE UP BEHIND.

Sample of Conditional Clearance

1. Identification

2. The Condition

3. The Clearance

4. Brief reiteration of the condition

Contents of Conditional Clearance (4)

APPROVED OR UNABLE (state reason)

ATC: "PAL100, PUSHBACK APPROVED."

ATC: PAL100, PUSHBACK UNABLE DUE TO TRAFFIC ON TAXIWAY, HOLD POSITION."

Reply for "REQUEST"

Example: "MANILA TOWER, REQUEST PUSHBACK."

A period of at least 10 seconds shall elapse before a second call is made to avoid unnecessary transmissions during initial contact, allow the station time to prepare a reply, give pilots time to formulate their response, prevent interference with other transmissions, and accommodate higher-priority aircraft communications.

Why is a period of at least 10 seconds shall elapse before a second call is made?

Correct and precise standardized phraseology is extremely important because the information and instructions exchanged are critical to the safe and efficient operation of aircraft, and past incidents and accidents have shown that using non-standard phraseology can lead to serious safety risks. The importance of using correct and precise standardized phraseology cannot be overemphasized.

How important is correct and precise standardized phraseology?

Readback is important because it allows both the ATC and the pilot to confirm that instructions and information have been correctly understood, and it enables ATC to immediately detect and correct any errors in the pilot's readback, helping prevent misunderstandings.

Example:

ATC: "PAL100, CLIMB TO FLIGHT LEVEL 130."

Pilot: "CLIMB TO FLIGHT LEVEL 120, PAL100."

ATC: PAL100, NEGATIVE. CLIMB TO FLIGHT LEVEL 130."

Pilot: "CLIMB TO FLIGHT LEVEL 130, PAL100."

Why is readback important? (provide example)

"Go ahead" was removed from standard phraseology because it can be misunderstood as a clearance during vectoring, so instead, using the calling station's call sign followed by the answering station's call sign clearly serves as the invitation to continue the transmission.

Example:

Pilot: "MANILA TOWER, PAL100."

ATC: "PAL100, MANILA TOWER."

Why is "Go Ahead" removed from standard phraseology?

In controlled airspace, ATC issues clearances such as "CLEARED for takeoff," while in uncontrolled airspace (FSS), only advisory information is provided, using phrases like "you MAY take off" instead of clearances.

What is the difference between controlled and uncontrolled airspace radiotelephony?

New graduates are discouraged from using conditional clearances because these require experience and good judgment in predicting aircraft movement and timing, such as speed and position, which develop with operational experience.

Why are new graduates discouraged from issuing conditional clearances?