Communications
Communications tests standard RTF phraseology, clearance readback, distress and urgency procedures, and lost-communication actions for VFR and IFR flight.
RTF and phraseology
- Use standard ICAO phraseology; speak clearly, use the aircraft call sign and avoid slang. Read back clearances, runway, altitude, heading, frequency and squawk.
- Distress: MAYDAY three times; urgency: PAN PAN three times. State callsign, position, nature and intentions.
Clearances and reports
- IFR clearance: clearance limit, route, altitude, speed, frequency and squawk. Read back all items.
- Position reports: callsign, position, time, altitude, next position and ETA.
- Lost communications: squawk 7600, follow published procedures and try alternate frequencies.
Transponder and services
- 7700 emergency, 7600 radio failure, 7500 unlawful interference.
- SELCAL is used for HF; CPDLC provides datalink clearances.
Worked example
ATC: "KQA123, climb FL350, squawk 4271." Correct readback: "Climb FL350, squawk 4271, KQA123." Do not read back "climb to 35,000" without the flight level; use FL350.
Traps
- Reading back only part of a clearance.
- Using MAYDAY for urgency.
- Forgetting to squawk 7600 in radio failure.