Communications (Radiotelephony and Phraseology)
Standard phraseology
Know the standard ICAO phraseology adapted in Brazil: callsigns, readback requirements, and the structure of a radio call (station called, station calling, position, intention). Understand the difference between a request, a report and a readback. Learn the phonetic alphabet, standard numbers and the distress and urgency calls (MAYDAY, PAN PAN). Know the frequencies: ground, tower, approach, centre and emergency (121.5 MHz).
Communication procedures
Understand the procedures for uncontrolled aerodromes, position reporting, and the use of the common traffic advisory frequency. Know how to make a blind transmission and how to handle communication failure. Learn the priority of distress over urgency over other traffic, and the correct response to a distress call.
Traps in questions
Questions often test readback: a clearance must be read back in full when it contains instructions. Another trap is confusing MAYDAY (distress, immediate danger) with PAN PAN (urgency, no immediate danger). Watch for questions about the correct phrase to request a repeat ("say again") versus to confirm ("confirm").
Worked example
Rule of thumb: a distress call should contain the station called, MAYDAY three times, callsign, nature of distress, position, altitude, and intentions. If a question describes an engine failure requiring immediate assistance, the expected answer is MAYDAY, not PAN PAN.