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Standard Radio Telephony

(RTF) Terminologies
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Sequence

 Introduction
 RT handling
 Standard calls
 Position reporting
 General rules
 RT test
 Questions
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CAA
Radiotelephony Manual 2002
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Introduction

 Means by which pilots and ground

personnel communicate with each other
 Safe and expeditious operation of aircraft
 Non-standard procedures and phraseology
can cause misunderstanding
 Misunderstanding can cause catastrophic
consequences
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Introduction

 The importance of using correct and

precise standard phraseology cannot be
over- emphasized
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RT Calls

 The following words may be omitted from

transmissions provided that no confusion or
ambiguity will result:
 “SURFACE” in relation to surface wind direction
and speed
 “DEGREES” in relation to radar headings
 “VISIBILITY”, “CLOUD”, and “HEIGHT” in MET
reports
 “HECTOPASCALS” when giving pressure settings
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RT Calls

 The use of courtesies should be avoided

 The word “IMMEDIATELY” should only be
used when immediate action is required
for safety reasons
 Some abbreviations, may be spoken using
their constituent letters rather than the
phonetic alphabet, for example, ILS, QNH
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RT handling

 Transmitting technique
 Transmission of letters
 Transmission of numbers
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Transmitting technique

 The following transmitting techniques will

assist in ensuring that transmitted speech is
clearly and satisfactorily received
 Receiver volume is set at optimum level and
listen out on the frequency to ensure
transmission will not interfere with another station
 Familiar with microphone operating techniques
 Use a normal conversation tone, speak clearly
and distinctly
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Transmitting technique

 Maintain an even rate of speech

 Maintain the speaking volume at a constant level
 A slight pause before and after numbers
 Avoid using hesitation sounds such as “er”
 Press the transmit switch fully before speaking
and do not release it until the message is
complete
 Speak slowly and clearly and use standard
words and phrases as much as possible
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Transmitting technique

 Most irritating, and potentially dangerous,

situations in radiotelephony is a ‘stuck’
microphone button
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Transmission of Letters
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Transmission of numbers
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Transmission of numbers

When transmitting messages containing

aircraft callsigns, altimeter settings, flight
levels (with the exception of FL 100, 200,
300 etc) headings, wind speeds/directions,
pressure settings, transponder codes and
frequencies, each digit shall be transmitted
separately
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Transmission of numbers
PAF 171 PAKISTAN AIR FORCE 171
FL 100 Flight Level One Hundred

FL 180 Flight Level One Eight Zero

150 Degrees One Five Zero Degrees

18 Knots One Eight Knots

122.1 One Two Two Decimal One

6500 Six Five Zero Zero

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Transmission of numbers

All numbers used in the transmission of

altitude, height, cloud height, visibility and
runway visual range information which
contain whole hundreds and whole
thousands shall be transmitted by
pronouncing each digit in the number of
hundreds or thousands followed by the
word HUNDRED or THOUSAND as
appropriate
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Transmission of numbers

100 One Hundred

2 500 Two Thousand Five Hundred

11 000 One One Thousand

25 000 Two Five Thousand

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Transmission of Time

When transmitting time, only the minutes

of the hour are normally required.
However, the hour should be included if
there is any possibility of confusion. Time
checks shall be given to the nearest
minute. Co-ordinated Universal Time
(UTC) is to be used at all times, unless
specified
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Transmission of Time

Two Three or Zero Eight

0823 Two Three

1300 One Three Zero Zero

Five Seven or Two Zero

2057 Five Seven
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Aircraft Callsigns

 When establishing communication an aircraft

shall use the full callsigns of both stations
 After satisfactory communication has been
established and provided that no confusion
is likely to occur, the ground station may
abbreviate callsigns. A pilot may only
abbreviate the callsign of his aircraft if it
has first been abbreviated by the
aeronautical station
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Aerodrome ATC Calls

 Concise and phraseology used at the correct

time is vital to the smooth, safe and expeditious
running of an aerodrome
 It also assists pilots in maintaining an
awareness of other traffic in their vicinity,
particularly in poor visibility conditions
 Messages will not be transmitted during take-
off, the last part of final approach or the landing
roll, unless it is necessary for safety reasons
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Aerodrome ATC Calls

Islamabad Tower PAF 171,

stand PAF 171 start up approved
10, information Bravo (TEMP 31)
request start up

Tower PAF 171 taxi instructions PAF 171 taxi holding point R/W 30
via western charlie

PAF 171 Cleared for take off RW

PAF 171 ready for take off 30 wind 240/07 knots caution for
birds
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Position Reporting

 Position reports shall contain the following

elements of information :-
 Aircraft identification
 Position
 Time
 Level
 Next position and ETA
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Position Reporting

Where adequate flight progress data is

available from other sources, such as
ground radar, aircraft may be exempted
from the requirement to make compulsory
position reports

WILCO PAF 171

PAF 171 NEXT REPORT AT INDEK
Call you back Indek PAF
171
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Standard Words and Phrases
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Standard Words and Phrases
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Standard Words and Phrases
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General Rules

 The ATS messages listed below are to be

readback in full by the pilot. If a readback is not
received the pilot will be asked to do so.
Similarly, the pilot is expected to request that
instructions are repeated or clarified if any are
not fully understood
 Taxi Instructions
 Level Instructions
 Heading Instructions
 Speed Instructions
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General Rules

 Airways or Route Clearances

 Runway-in-Use
 Clearance to Enter, Land On, Take-Off On,
Backtrack, Cross, or Hold Short of any Active
Runway
 Altimeter Settings
 Frequency Changes
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General Rules
APPROVED
Start up
NOT CLEAR / CLEARED
The word CLEARED is introduced
Clearance A full readback of a clearance is required

Push back / Taxi APPROVED – NOT CLEAR

TAKE-OFF – these words are only used

Take off when an aircraft is cleared for TAKEOFF
TAKE-OFF clearance requires readback
Full readback of level instruction
En-route REPORT instruction employed
Full readback is required
Surface wind: ‘Degrees’ and ‘Knots’ may
Landing
be omitted
VACATE runway and not CLEAR runway
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General Rules

AFFIRM(ative)/NEGATIVE are used when

a question requires a direct answer.
Therefore, ROGER is not used in this case
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Note

After a call has been made, a period of at

least 10 seconds should elapse before a
second call is made. This should eliminate
unnecessary transmissions while the
receiving station is getting ready to reply to
the initial call
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RT Test

Readability Scale Meaning

Unreadable
1

Readable now and then

2

Readable but with difficulty

3

Readable
4

Perfectly readable
5
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Questions
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Distress Call

 MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY

This is Aircraft call sign (3 times)
Report distress call
Position and time established
True Heading, Indicated Airspeed
Altitude, Type of Aircraft
Nature of Distress and
Kind of assistance required.
Any other relevant information