Air Traffic Control Communications and Phraseology

Apology and Recognition of Communication Issues

  • Apology issued for previously misunderstanding the source of whispers in class; upon changing position, it was identified that the sounds were coming from outside, not from the class.

    • Request for acceptance of apology from students.

Lesson Overview: Communication in Air Traffic Control

  • The day's lesson focuses on communication techniques specific to air traffic control (ATC) and the significance of proper phraseology.

  • Air traffic control speed phraseology is critical for effective communication within aviation

  • Reference to ATC Live and LiveATC.com as resources to hear real-life ATC communications. Mentioned variability in quality (the good, the bad, and the ugly).

  • Importance of understanding proper legal phraseology to maintain a high standard, especially for professional controllers.

    • Noted a perceived double standard in the training environment versus post-certification communication practices, emphasizing a necessity for consistency in practice.

The Language of Phraseology

  • Phraseology in ATC considered akin to a language, primarily based on English.

  • Historical context: Air traffic control language was almost established as French due to votes in the 1930s international treaty discussions. Ultimately, English was selected as the international language for ATC.

  • Emphasis on practicing spoken phraseology to learn effectively and retain information.

Phonetic Pronunciation: Numbers and Alphabet

  • Echo Practice: Exam and interactive exercise on number pronunciation, termed “choir practice.”

    • Practice examples for zero through niner:

    • 0: Zero

    • 1: One

    • 2: Two

    • 3: Three

    • 4: Four

    • 5: Five

    • 6: Six

    • 7: Seven

    • 8: Eight

    • 9: Niner

  • Phonetic Alphabet Practice: Practice provided for letters of the alphabet:

    • A: Alpha

    • B: Bravo

    • C: Charlie

    • D: Delta

    • E: Echo

    • F: Foxtrot

    • G: Golf

    • H: Hotel

    • I: India

    • J: Juliet

    • K: Kilo

    • L: Lima

    • M: Mike

    • N: November

    • O: Oscar

    • P: Papa

    • Q: Quebec

    • R: Romeo

    • S: Sierra

    • T: Tango

    • U: Uniform

    • V: Victor

    • W: Whiskey

    • X: X-ray

    • Y: Yankee

    • Z: Zulu

Importance of Practicing Phraseology

  • Encourage students to practice speaking phraseology out loud, using recording devices to self-evaluate pronunciation and clarity.

    • Emphasis on self-critique and maintaining high standards in practice.

Word Meanings and Definitions in ATC

  • Shall/Will: Mandatory procedures.

  • Should: Recommended procedures.

  • May/May not: Optional procedures.

Controller-Pilot Communication Standards

  • Importance of adhering to established definitions within the pilot-controller dynamic, likening it to experiences outside aviation:

    • Mention of personal anecdote regarding misunderstanding the word "may" in academic settings and a critiquing professor's definition.

Numeric Phraseology and Communication Procedures

Serial Numbers and Altitudes

  • Proper format for stating serial numbers, mostly in single digit format without pauses or punctuation.

    • Example: 11495 pronounced as 114Niner5.

  • Altitude Communications:

    • Altitude in single digits for thousands and hundreds:

    • 10,000: One zero thousand

    • 17,900: One seven thousand nine hundred

  • Flight Levels:

    • Flight level starts at 18,000 feet, pronounced in full, for instance,

    • 27,500 feet as Flight Level Two Seven Five.

Altimeter Usage

  • Below 18,000 feet, pilots must adjust the altimeter; above this altitude, it defaults to the set standard of 29.92 inches of mercury.

    • MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude) and DH (Decision Height) are specified in single digit formats—for example, MDA at 1,320 feet is spoken as minimum descent altitude one three two zero.

Time Communication

  • Time is communicated in a 24-hour format, primarily using military or Zulu time.

    • Example: 01:15 AM as zero one one five, 1:15 PM as one three one five.

    • Zulu time is the default in ATC unless specified otherwise.

Field Elevation and Altimeter Settings

  • Field elevations should be stated in single-digit formats as Field Elevation One Seven. The altitude should be in Mean Sea Level (MSL) regardless of conditions.

  • Altimeter readings made explicit as royal jargon; reading should not state the decimal:

    • Example: Altimeter Two Niner Niner Two instead of reading as a decimal.

Wind and Weather Phraseology

  • Wind communicated as Wind Zero Three Zero at Two Five rather than pluralizing as Winds.

    • Mention of wind direction correlating directly with heading calculations in both training and operational settings.

Transponder Codes and Runway Designation

  • Transponder codes given in four-digit formats:

    • Example: ‘Squawk 0414’ or ‘Squawk 1200’ without using the number eight or nine.

  • Runway designations are based on compass directions; a runway aligns closest to the numbered heading.

    • Different names for runways based on orientation, including left, right, and center for parallel runways along with consideration for number designation (i.e., Runway 36 Left, 36 Right).

Frequencies and Speed Communication

  • Frequencies expressed in single-digit format, notably with the decimal called as point:

    • Example: One One Eight Point Zero.

  • Speed mentioned as knots and defined through context whether it denotes speed or distance.

    • Example: Maintain speed of Two Five Zero means knots and does not have to repeat the term.

Mach Speed

  • Mach speed referencing the speed of sound relevant to high altitude airspace—stated in simplified numericals for transmissions above Mach one.

Clarification of Numbers

  • Importance of reiterating numbers for clarity in verbal communications, balancing between single digits for first mention and group formats subsequently for precise understanding.