Departure, en-route, and arrival communications
This section covers departure, en-route and arrival communications: the sequence from ATIS and clearance to approach and tower, and the position and altitude information controllers expect.
Core rules
- Before departure, obtain the ATIS and note the information letter, runway, wind, QNH and temperature. Include the ATIS letter in your initial call.
- A good initial call states: station called, callsign, aircraft type, position, altitude, ATIS information and request.
- After take-off, contact departure as instructed. Report passing altitudes only when requested; do not report “reaching” before you are level.
- En-route position reports normally include callsign, position and time, altitude or level, next position and ETA, and the significant point following that.
- On arrival, call approach with position, altitude and ATIS, request the approach or landing, and read back assigned altitudes, headings and frequencies.
Worked example
“Lagos Approach, 5N-ABC, Cessna 172, 15 nm west of LOS, 3,500 ft, information Bravo, request landing.” The call gives identification, position, altitude, current ATIS and a clear request. Approach can then issue a clearance or vector without asking basic questions.
Traps
Using vague “arriving” instead of a position and request; omitting the ATIS letter; failing to read back an assigned altitude; using the wrong QNH; and reporting a level before reaching it.