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Standard ICAO phraseology for each phase of flight, in the order you will use it on the RTR(A) oral exam. Examples use call sign VT-ABC.
ATIS is a continuous broadcast: listen first and quote the information letter when you call Ground.
PilotDelhi Ground, VT-ABC, Stand 12, IFR to Mumbai, FL 360, POB 120, request start-up, information Bravo.
ATCVT-ABC, Delhi Ground, start-up approved, QNH 1012.
ReadbackStart-up approved, QNH 1012, VT-ABC.
A clearance has destination, route or SID, initial level and squawk. Read back every item and end with your call sign.
PilotDelhi Delivery, VT-ABC, request IFR clearance to Mumbai.
ATCVT-ABC, cleared to Mumbai via ABC1A departure, maintain FL 240, squawk 2341.
ReadbackCleared to Mumbai, ABC1A departure, FL 240, squawk 2341, VT-ABC.
A taxi clearance always has a limit: where to stop. Read back the runway, route, hold-short points and QNH.
PilotDelhi Ground, VT-ABC, Stand 12, request taxi, information Bravo.
ATCVT-ABC, taxi to holding point runway 27 via taxiway Alpha, QNH 1012.
ReadbackTaxi to holding point runway 27 via Alpha, QNH 1012, VT-ABC.
Report ready at the holding point. Always read back the runway when cleared for take-off.
PilotDelhi Tower, VT-ABC, holding point runway 27, ready for departure.
ATCVT-ABC, wind 250 degrees 8 knots, runway 27, cleared for take-off.
ReadbackRunway 27, cleared for take-off, VT-ABC.
Report your level when you first call a new controller and read back every level instruction.
PilotMumbai Control, VT-ABC, passing flight level 120 for flight level 360.
ATCVT-ABC, climb flight level 360.
ReadbackClimb flight level 360, VT-ABC.
Altimeter settings and levels are mandatory readback items. Report established when you are on the localiser.
ATCVT-ABC, descend flight level 100, QNH 1010.
ReadbackDescend flight level 100, QNH 1010, VT-ABC.
PilotMumbai Approach, VT-ABC, established ILS runway 27.
Landing clearance is acknowledged with the runway and call sign.
ATCVT-ABC, wind 270 degrees 6 knots, runway 27, cleared to land.
ReadbackRunway 27, cleared to land, VT-ABC.
PilotMumbai Ground, VT-ABC, runway vacated, request taxi to stand.
Say MAYDAY three times for distress and PAN PAN three times for urgency, then state call sign, nature, intentions, position, level and persons on board.
PilotMAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY, Delhi Control, VT-ABC, engine failure, descending flight level 200, intend to land Jaipur, 120 persons on board.
Say digits individually: 0 ZE-RO, 1 WUN, 2 TOO, 3 TREE, 4 FOW-er, 5 FIFE, 6 SIX, 7 SEV-en, 8 AIT, 9 NIN-er. A decimal point is DAY-SEE-MAL and 1000 is TOU-SAND. Flight levels are spoken digit by digit, so FL 350 is “flight level three five zero”.