HK PPL Radiotelephony cheat sheet

Standard readback: aircraft callsign, ATC instruction items in order, callsign. Read back all clearances, runway, hold-short, altitude, heading, speed, frequency instructions.

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: 0=zero, 1=one, 2=two, 3=three, 4=four, 5=five, 6=six, 7=seven, 8=eight, 9=niner; decimal='decimal'; hundreds='hundred'; thousands='thousand'.

Transmit callsign on initial contact; thereafter omit callsign only if no confusion likely. Always use full callsign at start and end of readback.

Use 'Roger' for acknowledgement only; 'Wilco' means will comply; 'Affirm'/'Negative' for yes/no; 'Say again' for repeat; 'Standby' for wait.

Frequency change: 'request frequency change' or 'contact [unit] [frequency]'; read back the new frequency unless instructed otherwise.

Time: use UTC, 24-hour clock, four digits (e.g., 'one two three zero'). State 'Zulu' if needed for clarity.

Position reporting: 'callsign, position, time, altitude/flight level, next position and ETA'; use standard phraseology 'over', 'abeam', 'passing'.

Emergency phraseology: MAYDAY (distress), PAN PAN (urgency), and 'declaring an emergency' when appropriate. Do not use MAYDAY for urgency.

Ground movement: request taxi with 'callsign, position, request taxi' and state 'with information [letter]' when ATIS received.

Read back all taxi clearances including hold-short instructions; 'hold short of runway [number]' must be read back verbatim.

Runway crossing clearance: 'cross runway [number]' or 'line up and wait runway [number]'; never cross without explicit clearance.

Departure: 'ready for departure' when holding at runway; 'line up and wait' is not a take-off clearance; 'cleared for take-off' required.

After landing: 'vacating runway [number]' and 'contact ground [frequency]' as instructed; read back frequency.

Use 'backtrack' when taxiing on runway; 'expedite' when requested; 'standby' for delay; 'negative' if unable.

Aerodrome traffic: 'downwind', 'base', 'final', 'long final', 'touch and go'; report positions when requested or at uncontrolled aerodromes.

Light signals: steady green=cleared to land/taxi; flashing green=return for landing/taxi; steady red=stop; flashing red=taxi clear of runway; flashing white=return to starting point.

Departure: 'callsign, passing [altitude], climbing to [altitude]' when requested; read back assigned altitude, heading, speed, frequency.

Position report: 'callsign, position, time, altitude/flight level, next position and ETA'; include 'estimating [next waypoint] at [time]'.

Altitude clearance: 'climb to [altitude]' or 'descend to [altitude]'; read back altitude and 'leaving [current altitude]' if instructed.

Heading: 'fly heading [three digits]' read back as 'heading [three digits]'; 'turn left/right heading [three digits]'.

Speed control: 'maintain [speed] knots' or 'reduce to [speed] knots'; read back speed. 'Resume normal speed' when instructed.

Arrival: 'descend via [STAR]' or 'cleared [approach] approach'; read back clearance and any altitude restrictions.

Approach clearance: 'cleared ILS runway [number] approach' or 'cleared visual approach runway [number]'; read back and acknowledge 'report established'.

Frequency transfer: 'contact [unit] [frequency]'; read back frequency and callsign; switch when instructed.

Distress: MAYDAY (spoken three times) on 121.5 MHz; include callsign, nature of distress, intentions, position, altitude, fuel, persons on board.

Urgency: PAN PAN (spoken three times) on 121.5 MHz; use for urgent situation not requiring immediate assistance; include callsign and nature of urgency.

Radio failure: squawk 7600; continue according to last clearance or flight plan; attempt contact on 121.5 MHz; listen for instructions.

If no communication, follow published lost-communication procedures: VFR-remain VMC and land at nearest suitable aerodrome; IFR-follow flight plan and approach minima.

Emergency frequency 121.5 MHz monitored by ATC and other aircraft; use for distress, urgency, and radio failure attempts.

Emergency descent: 'emergency descent' phrase; set transponder 7700; turn off altitude reporting if instructed; advise ATC when able.

Cancellation: 'cancel distress' or 'cancel urgency' when situation resolved; use 'distress ended' if appropriate.

Interception: if intercepted, acknowledge with 'roger' and follow instructions; if unable, use 'wilco' or 'negative'; squawk 7700 if in distress.