Exercise H · for US student pilots
Radar services
What a radar facility says to a VFR aircraft, and what you say back.
Worked here at Palo Alto (KPAO). In the app the same prompts use your own home airport and call sign.
Prompt 1 of 5
NorCal Approach says: "N172SP, NorCal Approach, squawk 4163 and ident." Respond and set the transponder.
What the AIM says: Read back the squawk with your call sign and ident, as requested (AIM 4-1-20 d: ident only when asked).Prompt 2 of 5
NorCal Approach says: "N172SP, radar contact, five miles south of San Carlos, altimeter 29.91." Respond.
What the AIM says: Acknowledge with your call sign and read back the altimeter setting — digit by digit, e.g. 'altimeter two niner niner two' (AIM 4-2-8 d). 'Radar contact' itself needs no readback.Prompt 3 of 5
NorCal Approach says: "N172SP, traffic, twelve o'clock, three miles, opposite direction, altitude unknown." You cannot see it. Respond.
What the AIM says: 'Negative contact' with your call sign (P/CG). You may add a request for a vector to avoid it.Prompt 4 of 5
NorCal Approach says: "N172SP, for traffic, turn right heading one two zero, maintain VFR." Respond.
What the AIM says: Read back the heading with your call sign (AIM 4-4-7 b: vectors are read back). 'Maintain VFR' may be acknowledged. Vectors to a VFR aircraft are advisory — you stay responsible for VFR.Prompt 5 of 5
Approaching Palo Alto under flight following, NorCal Approach says: "N172SP, contact Palo Alto Tower on 118.6." Respond.
What the AIM says: Acknowledge the facility and frequency with your call sign, then change (AIM 4-2-3 d, e). 'Point' for the decimal.
What this exercise is graded against
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Squawk read back; ident only when asked | AIM 4-1-20 d; P/CG: SQUAWK |
| 'Radar contact' acknowledged; altimeter read back digit by digit | AIM 4-2-8 d; P/CG: RADAR CONTACT |
| Answering a traffic advisory you cannot see | P/CG: NEGATIVE CONTACT |
| Headings read back; vectors to VFR aircraft are advisory | AIM 4-4-7 b; 4-1-17 |
| Frequency change: acknowledge the facility and frequency, then change | AIM 4-2-3 d, e |
Now say them to a controller
Push-to-talk, at your airport, with today’s altimeter. The AI controller answers and the grader tells you what the AIM says about each call.
Prompts and notes are written in our own words from the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (Change 3, 7/9/26) and the Pilot/Controller Glossary, with paragraph references. Frequencies are from the FAA NASR data and are for training only. Study aid; not approved or endorsed by the FAA. Always defer to the AIM, current FAA publications, your instructor and your examiner.