Radio

CI Pesto

Topics this class

• Radio Communication Facilities

• Phonetic Alphabet

• Aircraft Call Signs

• Time

• Standard Phrases

• Priority of Communication

• Distress, Urgency and Safety

Why use a Radio??

• Communication with each other over large distance

• Creates a visual of the traffic over wide areas

• Weather information

• Safety

Radio Communication Facilities

• Automatic Terminal Information Services (ATIS)

• Control Tower

• Ground Control

• Flight Service Stations (FSS)

ATIS

• Non control information relating to weather - Ceilings, visibility, runway conditions, NOTAMS etc.

• It is on a continuos loop pre recorded by tower personnel

• Labelled by a letter - EX. “This is information Echo” and it is updated throughout the day when there are any changes

Control Tower

• Ensures the efficient and safe movement of air traffic

• They are in charge of all landings, take offs and all VFR traffic within the airspace

Ground Control

• Responsible for all traffic on the ground except for the aircraft landing and taking off

FSS

• Personnel are trained to provide flight safety service to pilots

• Can also be used to file flight plans and get weather information along a planned route

All of the specific frequencies for any airport will be in the

Canadian Flight Supplement

Phonetic AlphabetA- alphaB- bravoC- charlieD- deltaE- echo F- foxtrot

G- golfH- hotelI- indiaJ- juliettK- kiloL- limaM- mike

N- novemberO- oscarP- papa

Q- quebecR- romeoS- sierraT- tango

U- uniformV- victor

W- whiskeyX- xray

Y- yankeeZ- zulu

Aircraft Call Signs

• All plane registration’s need to be expressed in the phonetic alphabet

• On initial contact, you must give the type of aircraft followed by the four letters of registration

• Only once the controller has begun using the last three letters of your reg. then you may

Time

• The 24 hr system is used when expressing time

• The first two numbers symbolizing the hour and the last two numbers symbolizing the minuets past the hour

• Starting at 0000Z and ending at 2359Z

Standard Phrases

• Standard phrases are used in radio talk to create a unified speech that is clear, precise and easy for everyone to understand

• You may not talk using the standard phrasing, however, it is easier

Standard Phrasing Cont.

• Acknowledge - Let me know you have received and understood the message

• Affirmative- Yes

• Break- I now indicate the separation between portions of the message

• Confirm- My version is.... is that correct?

• Correction- I have made an error. The correct version is....

Cont.

• Do you read?- I have called you more than once, if you can hear me, please reply

• Go ahead- Proceed with your message

• How do you read me?

• I say again- I will repeat

• Negative- No

• Out- My transmission is ended. I do not expect a reply

Cont.

• Over- My transmission is ended. I expect a reply

• Read back- Repeat this message back to me

• Roger- Okay, I have received your message

• Say again- Repeat your last transmission (Never say the word “repeat” as it is used for military proposes)

• Speak slower

Cont.

• Stand by- I must pause for a little bit

• That is correct

• Verify- Check the information

• Wilco- Your instructions are received, understood and I will comply with them

Priority of Communication

• 1) Emergency Communications- Distress and Urgency

• 2) Flight Safety Communication- ATC clearances, airport advisories, position reports and airfile flight plans

Cont.

• 3) Scheduled Broadcasts

• 4) Unscheduled Broadcasts

• 5) Other air-ground communications

Distress

• First call should be on your air to ground frequency that is in use at the time

• Then on the general distress frequency 121.50 MHz

• It should be repeated in intervals until answered

Cont.

• The distress call format is the word MAYDAY three times followed by your aircraft identification three times

• If time permits, your message should include; position, altitude, type of aircraft, your emergency and your intended action

Urgencey

• This call signals concern for safety of a ship, or aircraft or some person on board or within sight

• The urgency format is the word PANPAN three times followed by your message

Safety

• This signals a station about a transmission concerning the safety of navigation or important meteorological warnings to aircraft in flight

• The format of the call is the word Security repeated three times

That’s all Folks!