Radio telephony procedures and phraseology
Radio telephony procedures and phraseology
This domain tests whether you can exchange clear, standard radio messages in New Zealand operations. The examiner looks for ICAO phraseology, correct callsigns, readback discipline, and the ability to strip a transmission to essentials.
Core rules
- Use the phonetic alphabet for registration letters: ZK-ABC is 'Zulu Kilo Alpha Bravo Charlie'.
- A standard initial call contains: station called, your callsign, position or level, and intentions. Example: 'Christchurch Tower, Zulu Kilo Alpha Bravo Charlie, Cessna 172, 5 miles south, inbound landing.'
- Use 'Roger' for receipt, 'Wilco' for will comply, 'Affirm' or 'Negative', 'Say again', and 'Standby'. Do not use 'Roger' to mean yes.
- Say 'take-off' only in an actual take-off clearance; otherwise use 'departure' or 'airborne'.
- Time is UTC and spoken with 'Zulu'. Use 'decimal' for frequencies.
Worked example
ATC: 'ZK-ABC, cleared to enter the control zone, maintain 2,500 feet, squawk 4271.' Correct readback: 'Cleared to enter the control zone, maintain 2,500 feet, squawk 4271, ZK-ABC.' The clearance, level and squawk are safety-related, so all three are read back. If the message also included 'QNH 1013', read that back too when it forms part of the clearance.
Traps
- Replying 'Roger' to a clearance instead of reading it back.
- Using 'Over' and 'Out' together; 'Out' ends the exchange.
- Reading back only part of a conditional clearance.
- Inventing non-standard phrases instead of 'Say again' or 'Confirm'.
Radio telephony procedures and phraseology
Practise short, ordered transmissions so the readback becomes automatic under workload.