Initial contact
The first call to a facility, or to a new controller within it, has a fixed shape. [AIM 4-2-3 a 1]
- 1. Facility
- “Columbia Ground”, “Miami Center”…
- 2. Your full identification
- Type and registration, no “N”.
- 3. Position
- On the airport surface, always. In the air, position and altitude help the controller — include them if the frequency is not busy.
- 4. The request
- Or the type of message to follow, if it is long.
- 5. “Over”
- Only if required — rarely on VHF.
Columbia Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, south ramp with Information Charlie, request taxi, VFR to Memphis.
Miami Center, Baron Five Six Three Hotel, request VFR traffic advisories.
Saying “Information (letter) received” on the first call saves the controller reading you the weather. Do not overload a busy controller: name, identification, “request flight following”, then details when asked. [AIM 4-2-3 a 3]
There is no “with you”, no “checking in”, and no “traffic in the area, please advise”. [AIM 4-2-1 c, 4-1-9 g 1]
Acknowledging & reading back
Acknowledge every call-up and clearance with your identification — at the start or the end — and one of the standard words. [AIM 4-2-3 c]
- Wilco
- Received, understood, will comply. [P/CG]
- Roger
- Received all of your last transmission. Never an answer to a yes/no question. [P/CG]
- Affirmative / Negative
- Yes / No. [P/CG]
- Unable
- Cannot comply with the instruction. Say what you can do instead. [P/CG]
- Say again
- Repeat — “say again all after (fix)”. [P/CG]
- Stand by
- A pause, not an approval or a denial. Call again if the wait is long. [P/CG]
What must be read back
- Runway assignments
- The runway, including left/right/center, in the first readback of a taxi, departure or landing clearance. [AIM 4-4-7 b 4]
- Hold-short instructions
- Word for word. ATC is required to obtain this readback. [AIM 4-3-18 a 9, 10]
- Any clearance to enter a runway
- Line up and wait, cross runway (number), cleared for takeoff. [AIM 4-3-18 a 9]
- Altitudes, vectors, altitude restrictions
- In the sequence given, with your identification. [AIM 4-4-7 b 2]
- Squawk codes and frequency changes
- Read back the code; acknowledge the frequency. [AIM 4-2-3 d]
- Not read back
- Wind, traffic information, weather — acknowledged, never required.
November Five Charlie Tango, roger, cleared to land runway nine left.
Runway three six left, taxi via Alpha, hold short of taxiway Charlie, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.