Communications (VFR Radiotelephony)
Communications tests standard VFR radiotelephony: phraseology, readback, position reports, distress and urgency. The examiner looks for concise, standard calls and correct readback of safety-critical items.
Standard words
Roger means 'I received your transmission'; Wilco means 'I will comply'. Affirm/negative; say again; standby is not approval; disregard; correction. Use the phonetic alphabet and spoken digits. 'Take-off' is used only when issuing a take-off clearance.
Readback
Read back runway, altitude, heading, frequency and clearance limits. A clearance to enter a control zone is not a clearance to land. If unsure, ask for confirmation rather than guess.
Distress and urgency
MAYDAY is distress; PAN-PAN is urgency. Give callsign, position, nature of problem, intentions. 121.5 is the emergency frequency. At an uncontrolled aerodrome, make standard joining and position calls.
Worked example
You: 'Windhoek Approach, Cessna V5-ABC, 10 miles south, 6,500 ft, inbound landing, information Bravo.' ATC: 'V5-ABC, cleared to enter the control zone, report 5 miles.' Readback: 'Cleared to enter the control zone, report 5 miles, V5-ABC.' The readback includes the clearance limit and the report point; 'Roger' alone would not be enough.
Traps
Using 'Wilco' when you cannot comply; reading back only the runway; treating 'standby' as clearance; omitting the callsign; using 'take-off' in a position report.