Communications (VFR and IFR, radiotelephony)
What the exam tests
VFR and IFR radiotelephony, standard phraseology, readback, distress and urgency, lost communications, and Japanese ATC practices.
Core rules
- MAYDAY ×3 for distress; PAN PAN ×3 for urgency; 121.5 MHz is the civil emergency frequency.
- SSR codes: 7500 unlawful interference, 7600 radio failure, 7700 emergency.
- Read back safety-related items: route clearances, levels, headings, speeds, altimeter settings and SSR codes.
- 'Roger' means received; 'wilco' means will comply; neither substitutes for a full readback.
- Lost communications: squawk 7600, follow the published lost-comm procedure, and land as soon as practicable.
- SELCAL uses HF/VHF tones for oceanic watch; ICAO English is standard, with Japanese used on some domestic VFR frequencies.
Worked example
Clearance: 'JAL123, cleared to Tokyo via the Oshima transition, maintain FL350, squawk 4271.' The correct readback repeats the clearance limit, route, level and code: 'Cleared to Tokyo via Oshima transition, maintain FL350, squawk 4271, JAL123.'
Traps
Replying 'roger' to a clearance; omitting the SSR code from the readback; and using 'standby' as if it were a clearance.