Communications - VFR and IFR
Communications tests standard radiotelephony, clearance readback, position reporting, distress and urgency procedures, and the discipline that prevents misunderstandings. Expect questions on phraseology and on what must be read back.
Standard phraseology
Use standard words: affirm, negative, roger, wilco, standby, say again, correction. Roger means the message was received; wilco means will comply. A clearance must be read back, including runway, altitude, heading, frequency and hold-short instructions. If unsure, ask for clarification rather than guessing.
Clearances and reports
An IFR clearance usually contains route, altitude, departure and frequency, often remembered as CRAFT. Position reports include identification, position, time, altitude, next position and estimate. VFR flights in controlled airspace need clearance before entry and must report entering and leaving the zone.
Distress and urgency
Distress: MAYDAY three times, then callsign, position, altitude, fuel, persons on board and nature. Urgency: PAN PAN three times, with the same information. Use 121.5 MHz for emergency communication. Keep the microphone close but not touching the lips, speak slowly and use the phonetic alphabet.
Worked example
ATC: ABC, cleared to enter the control zone, descend to 2,000 ft, QNH 1012, report field in sight. A correct readback is: Cleared to enter the control zone, descend to 2,000 ft, QNH 1012, report field in sight, ABC. Roger alone is not sufficient because it does not confirm the clearance, altitude or QNH.
Traps
Using roger as a readback; omitting the QNH; reading back only part of a hold-short instruction; using MAYDAY for a non-life-threatening problem; speaking before the frequency is clear.