Radio Communication Procedures
Reference Sources

AIM Chapter 4, Section 2, Radio Communications Phraseology and Techniques

AIM Pilot/Controller Glossary
Study Questions
AIM §4-2-1, General Radio Communications
1. The single, most important thought in pilot-controller communications is
a) brevity.
b) speed.
c) understanding.
2. In order to indicate that they have heard and understood an ATC transmission, pilots should
a) acknowledge each radio communication by using the appropriate aircraft call sign.
b) answer “Affirmative”.
c) say “I hear you and I understand you.” followed by two clicks of the radio transmit
button.
3. Although brevity is important, concise phraseology may not always be adequate for
conveying important information. Pilot should use
a) international standard coding for unusual words or requests.
b) whatever words are necessary to get their messages across.
c) hand gestures to demonstrate conceptual requests.
4. Good phraseology enhances safety and is the mark of a professional pilot. Jargon, chatter,
and “CB” slang
a) make the airport environment seem less stiff and more welcoming.
b) are acceptable, but only near airports without a control tower.
c) have no place in ATC communications.
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AIM §4-2-2, Radio Technique
5. What two things should a pilot do before keying the transmitter?
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6. How should a pilot modulate his or her voice for speaking over an airplane radio
transmitter?
a) In clipped tones at the lowest comfortable volume range.
b) In a normal, conversational tone.
c) In a slightly higher than normal pitch, holding vowels for slightly longer than normal.
7. What could be indicated by the lack of sounds in your receiver?
a) The sudden destruction of a ground transmitter.
b) An impending engine failure.
c) A possible stuck-mike that could block important ATC transmissions to your plane or
others.
AIM §4-2-3, Contact Procedures
8. The list below includes pieces of information used by an airplane making initial contact with
a ground station. Transcribe the list to the column on the right, but put the phrases in the
order expected by the ground controller.
Request taxi for takeoff
1.________________________________
___
Skyhawk N123CW
2.________________________________
___
Sacramento Ground
3.________________________________
___
With ATIS information Zulu
4.________________________________
___
At transient parking
5.________________________________
___
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9. Unless the controller or FSS specialist advises otherwise, a pilot should
a) acknowledge all ATC radio calls or clearances.
b) close each transmission with “Over.”
c) refrain from transmitting except in emergencies.
10. After being instructed to change frequencies, a pilot that fails to acknowledge the
instruction can
a) cause an increase in the instructing controller’s workload as he or she tries to determine
whether you heard the instruction or not.
b) be fined up to $1,000 per incident.
c) expect delayed or less preferential flight routing.
AIM §4-2-4, Aircraft Call Signs
11. When may a pilot switch to using the last three digits/letters of the call sign instead of the
full airplane call sign?
a) After communications are established and the controller has initiated the use of the
abbreviated call sign.
b) Only in ground operations and communications with a ground contoller.
c) Until informed by the air traffic controller to use the full call sign.
12. If any doubt exists for the pilot of N123CW about whether an ATC clearance was intended
for his or her airplane, the pilot should use the phrase
a) “Verify clearance for N123CW.”
b) “Say again.”
c) “Unknown clearance received, please echo back for (full call sign).”
13. When and how should student pilots identify themselves to air traffic controllers as student
pilots?
a) At the end of every transmission by saying “student”.
b) If the student finds himself or herself in an emergency, he or she should begin each
transmission with “student pilot”.
c) At the end of the initial call to any FAA radio facility, by including the phrase “student
pilot”.
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AIM §4-2-5, Ground Station Call Signs
14. For each of the following facilities, identify the appropriate call sign to use on the radio.
Whitfield Air Traffic Control Tower
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_
Branson Flight Service Station
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_
Oakland FSS Enroute Flight Advisory Service
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Los Angeles Radar Departure Control
__________________________________
_
Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center
__________________________________
_
AIM §4-2-7, Phonetic Alphabet
15. Pilots are required to use the internationally standard phonetic alphabet in all radio
communications with the control tower.
a) True.
b) False.
16. The words used in the phonetic alphabet were chosen because of their ability to be
distinguished from each other, even in adverse radio communication conditions, not
because of their relevance to aviation. For each of the following, identify what phonetic
alphabet letter(s) fit the category description.
Dances
Famous lovers
Men’s names
Country
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
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Cities
Month
Baseball player
Sport
Language
Greek letters
Beverage
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
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AIM §4-2-8, Figures
17. What is the proper radio phraseology for 11,200 feet?
a) One one two zero zero feet.
b) One one thousand two hundred feet.
c) Eleven point two thousand feet.
18. How would Runway 30 be spoken over a radio?
a) “Runway Three Oh”.
b) “Runway Three Zero”.
c) “Runway Thirty”.
AIM §4-2-9, Altitudes and Flight Levels
19. What is the proper radio phraseology for 6,800 feet?
a) Six eight hundred feet.
b) Sixty-eight hundred feet.
c) Six thousand eight hundred feet.
20. When should the words “flight level” be used?
a) Only when referring to cruise flight levels at and above 18,000 feet MSL.
b) Any time. Just drop the last two zeros from the altitude and call it a flight level.
c) Only in air-to-air communication between two aircraft in flight.
AIM §4-2-10, Directions
21. What is the proper radio phraseology for magnetic bearing 100°?
a) Bearing one hundred magnetic.
b) One zero zero magnetic.
c) One zero zero.
22. What is the proper radio phraseology for true course 040°?
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Additional Study Questions
23. The following paragraphs contain the radio transmissions from a verbose pilot
communicating with an airport tower controller. In a high traffic environment, the extra
words this pilot uses take up extra time and limit the ability of the tower controller to safely
manage multiple aircraft.
Cross out as many words or phrases from the pilot’s transmission as possible without losing
any important information.
“Good afternoon, Oakland Control Tower, this is Bob Smith the
pilot and I’m flying my Piper airplane, which is a Malibu, with tail
number N456XS arriving at your fair airport on this lovely day. I
guess I’m about 8 miles to the southwest as the crow flies.
Currently in level flight at 3,000 feet MSL. I’d like to enter the
traffic pattern and come in for a landing if that’s possible. I’ve
listened to your ATIS recording and noted the important
information. I believe the recording I heard ended with Foxtrot.”
“Malibu 456XS, Oakland Tower, make right
traffic Runway 25 Right, report downwind.”
“Roger that Oakland Tower, I will approach and enter your right
hand traffic pattern for Runway 25 on the right, and I’ll talk to you
next when I report in on the downwind leg. This is Bob in the
Malibu number 456XS over and out. Talk to you in a bit.”
AIM Pilot/Controller Glossary
24. Define the following terms:
Roger
Wilco
Over
Negative
Ident
Say Again
Unable
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FAA Questions
1. [3614, 11-4] The correct method of stating 4,500 feet MSL to ATC is
a) "FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED."
b) "FOUR POINT FIVE."
c) "FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED FEET MSL."
2. [3615, 11-5] The correct method of stating 10,500 feet MSL to ATC is
a) "TEN THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED FEET."
b) "TEN POINT FIVE."
c) "ONE ZERO THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED."
3. [3613, 11-4] When flying HAWK N666CB, the proper phraseology for initial contact with
McAlester AFSS is
a) "Mc Alester Radio, Hawk SIX SIX SIX CHARLIE BRAVO, receiving Ardmore VORTAC, over."
b) "Mc Alester Station, Hawk SIX SIX SIX CEE BEE, receiving Ardmore VORTAC, over."
c) "Mc Alester Flight Service Station, Hawk NOVEMBER SIX CHARLIE BRAVO, receiving
Ardmore VORTAC, over."
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Assignment Answers
Answers
1. c
2. a
3. b
4. c
5. listen (on the frequency) and think (about what is to be said).
6. b
7. c
8. The order of phrases expected by ground control:
Request taxi for takeoff
Skyhawk N123CW
Sacramento Ground
With ATIS information Zulu
At transient parking
1. Sacramento Ground
2. Skyhawk N123CW
3. At transient parking
4. Request taxi for takeoff
5. With ATIS information Zulu
9. a
10. a
11. a
12. a
13. c
14. Call signs for ground facilities:
Whitfield Air Traffic Control Tower
Whitfield Tower
Branson Flight Service Station
Branson Radio
Oakland FSS Enroute Flight Advisory Service Oakland Flight Watch
Los Angeles Radar Departure Control
Los Angeles Departure
Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center
Seattle Center
15. b
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16. Words of the phonetic alphabet:
Dances
Famous lovers
Men’s names
Country
Foxtrot
Tango
Romeo
Juliet
Charlie
Mike
Oscar
Victor
India
Cities
Month
Baseball player
Sport
Language
Greek letters
Beverage
Lima (Peru)
Quebec (Canada)
November
Yankee
Golf
Zulu
Alpha (or alfa)
Delta
Whiskey
17. b
18. b
19. c
20. a
21. c
22. zero four zero true.
23.
“Good afternoon, Oakland Control Tower, this is Bob Smith the
pilot and I’m flying my Piper airplane, which is a Malibu, with tail
number N456XS arriving at your fair airport on this lovely day. I
guess I’m about 8 miles to the southwest as the crow flies.
Currently in level flight at 3,000 feet MSL. I’d like to enter the
traffic pattern and come in for a landing if that’s possible. I’ve
listened to your ATIS recording and noted the important
information. I believe the recording I heard ending with Foxtrot.”
“Malibu 456XS, Oakland Tower, make right
traffic Runway 25 Right, report downwind.”
“Roger that Oakland Tower, I will approach and enter your right
hand traffic pattern for Runway 25 on the right, and I’ll talk to
you next when I report in on the downwind leg. This is Bob in the
Malibu number 456XS over and out. Talk to you in a bit.”
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24. Roger
Wilco
Over
Negative
Ident
Say Again
Unable
I have received your last transmission.
I have received and understood you, and will comply.
My transmission is ended; I expect a response.
No.
Activate the transponder identification feature.
Please repeat your last transmission.
I am unable to comply with last instruction or clearance.
FAA Answers
1. a
2. c
3. a
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