Brunei DCA CPL(A) VFR Communications cheat sheet
Brunei DCA CPL(A) VFR Communications · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Radio Telephony General Operating Procedures and Phraseology
Standard call sequence: station called, own call sign, message. Example: 'Tower, ABC, request taxi.'
Readback required for clearances, runway assignments, altimeter settings, headings, altitudes, frequencies, transponder codes.
Use 'ROGER' to acknowledge receipt; 'WILCO' to acknowledge and comply; 'AFFIRM' for yes; 'NEGATIVE' for no.
Phonetic alphabet: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.
Digit pronunciation: 3=TREE, 4=FOWER, 5=FIFE, 9=NINER; thousand='TOUSAND'; decimal='DECIMAL'.
Frequency transfer: 'CONTACT [unit] [frequency]' or 'MONITOR [frequency]'; read back the new frequency.
Lost communication attempt: 'ABC, TRANSMIT BLIND, [message]' on current frequency.
When unsure of reception: 'ABC, SAY AGAIN' or 'ABC, HOW DO YOU READ?' Reply with readability scale 1-5.
Aerodrome and Ground Movement Communications
Ground control handles taxi clearances; tower handles takeoff, landing, and runway crossings.
Taxi clearance includes routing and holding point; read back full clearance including any 'HOLD SHORT' instruction.
Request taxi: 'ABC, REQUEST TAXI [position] [intentions]'; state 'WITH INFORMATION [letter]' if ATIS received.
Runway crossing requires explicit clearance: 'CROSS RUNWAY [number]' or 'HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY [number]'.
Line-up clearance: 'LINE UP AND WAIT RUNWAY [number]'; do not enter runway without it.
Takeoff clearance: 'CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF RUNWAY [number]'; read back runway and call sign.
After landing: 'VACATE [direction] VIA [taxiway]' or 'TAXI TO [location] VIA [route]'.
Vehicle/pedestrian crossing: 'HOLD POSITION' or 'CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY [number]'.
Departure, Approach and Circuit Communications
Departure call: 'ABC, DEPARTING RUNWAY [number], [altitude], [route]'; request flight following if desired.
Initial contact with approach: 'ABC, [position], [altitude], [request]'; include ATIS letter if available.
Circuit calls: 'DOWNWIND', 'BASE', 'FINAL' with runway number; tower may instruct 'CALL FINAL' or 'REPORT BASE'.
Join instructions: 'JOIN DOWNWIND' or 'JOIN BASE' or 'STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH RUNWAY [number]'.
Sequence number: 'NUMBER [n] FOLLOW [traffic]'; acknowledge with call sign and 'NUMBER [n]'.
Go-around: 'GOING AROUND' announced on tower frequency; tower may instruct 'GO AROUND'.
Missed approach for VFR: climb to circuit altitude, report downwind or as instructed.
Departure frequency change: 'CONTACT DEPARTURE [frequency]' read back frequency and call sign.
En Route, Position Reporting and Flight Information Service Communications
Position report format: call sign, position, time, altitude, next position and ETA, following point.
Mandatory reporting points: as specified on charts or by ATC; report over the point with position and altitude.
Flight information service (FIS) provides traffic info, weather, aerodrome info; does not issue clearances.
Request FIS: 'ABC, REQUEST FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE' or 'REQUEST TRAFFIC INFORMATION'.
SIGMET/AIRMET: broadcast on frequency or requested; acknowledge with 'ROGER' and note validity.
Change of frequency: 'CONTACT [unit] [frequency]'; read back; if no contact, return to previous frequency.
Radar advisory: 'TRAFFIC [direction] [distance] [type]' and 'NO TRAFFIC REPORTED' if none.
Emergency frequency 121.5 MHz monitored by ATC; use for distress or urgency if unable to contact on assigned frequency.
Clearances, Readback and ATC Instruction Interpretation
Readback mandatory for: ATC route clearances, runway in use, altimeter settings, headings, altitudes, frequencies, transponder codes, conditional clearances.
Conditional clearance: 'ABC, AFTER THE DEPARTING [type], LINE UP RUNWAY [number]'; read back condition and clearance.
Clearance limit: 'CLEARED TO [fix] VIA [route]'; read back entire clearance including route and altitude.
Altitude instruction: 'CLIMB TO [altitude]' or 'DESCEND TO [altitude]'; read back altitude.
Speed control: 'MAINTAIN [speed] KNOTS' or 'REDUCE TO [speed] KNOTS'; read back speed.
Hold short: 'HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY [number]' must be read back with call sign and runway.
If readback incorrect, ATC says 'NEGATIVE, I SAY AGAIN...' and pilot must read back again.
When instructed 'STANDBY', do not reply unless requested; wait for further instruction.
Distress, Urgency and Emergency Communications
Distress call: 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY [station called] [call sign] [nature] [position] [altitude] [intentions]'.
Urgency call: 'PAN PAN PAN [station called] [call sign] [nature] [position] [altitude] [intentions]'.
Emergency transponder code 7700; radio failure 7600; unlawful interference 7500.
If no response on assigned frequency, transmit on 121.5 MHz or emergency frequency.
Cancel distress: 'MAYDAY [call sign] CANCEL DISTRESS' when situation resolved.
Cancel urgency: 'PAN PAN [call sign] CANCEL URGENCY' when situation resolved.
Priority: distress has absolute priority over all other communications; urgency has priority over routine.
Use 'MAYDAY RELAY' to relay distress message from another station.
Communications Failure Procedures and Contingency Actions
If radio failure in VMC: continue under VFR, land at nearest suitable aerodrome, report arrival to ATC.
Squawk 7600 for radio failure; if able, try alternate frequency or relay via another aircraft.
In IMC: follow last clearance, maintain last assigned altitude for at least 7 minutes, then climb to MSA.
Attempt contact on 121.5 MHz; try backup radio or handheld if available.
Use light signals from tower: steady green=cleared to land; flashing green=return for landing; red=give way/stop.
After landing, contact ATC by telephone to report radio failure and obtain instructions.
If transponder failure, notify ATC; they may provide separation based on voice position reports.
Lost comms in controlled airspace: remain VMC if possible, avoid cloud, and squawk 7600.
Radio Equipment, Frequencies, Coverage and SELCAL/Transponder Communications
VHF airband 118.000–136.975 MHz; 25 kHz or 8.33 kHz channel spacing; emergency 121.5 MHz.
Transponder codes: 0000 not used; 7500 unlawful interference; 7600 radio failure; 7700 emergency.
SELCAL: selective calling system using tones; if SELCAL alert received, contact ATC on assigned frequency.
Transponder operation: 'SQUAWK [code]' and 'IDENT' when requested; read back code.
Frequency coverage: line-of-sight; range approximately 1.23 × √(height in feet) nautical miles.
8.33 kHz spacing: frequencies ending in 5 or 0 may be 25 kHz; others require 8.33 kHz capable radio.
Emergency locator transmitter (ELT) 121.5/243/406 MHz; test only during first 5 minutes of UTC hour.
Radio check: 'RADIO CHECK' request; reply with readability 1-5 and signal strength.
VFR-Specific Communications, Airspace and Meteorological Information Exchange
VFR flight plan: file before departure; activate with ATC or FIS; close on arrival.
VFR in controlled airspace requires clearance; request 'VFR CLEARANCE' with route and altitude.
Special VFR: request when weather below VMC; clearance may be given in controlled airspace.
Airspace classes: A (IFR only), B, C, D, E, F, G; VFR minimums vary by class and altitude.
Weather information: request 'WEATHER [location]' or 'SIGMET' information; ATIS provides current aerodrome weather.
ATIS: record letter and time; include 'WITH INFORMATION [letter]' on initial contact.
PIREP: report turbulence, icing, visibility, cloud; format: location, time, altitude, type, intensity.
Airspace infringement: if unsure, contact ATC immediately; 'REQUEST AIRSPACE INFORMATION'.