For US student pilots · How grading works
What TowerTalk grades against
Your calls are assessed against the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual and the Pilot/Controller Glossary, strictly and as an examiner would: phraseology, completeness, the order of the message, the mandatory readbacks and whether you called the right facility. The marking criteria for each task are the notes shown on the task card, and each one is drawn from the paragraphs listed here.
- Only your transmissions are judged. What the controller said is context, never counted against you.
- Before anything is marked missing, the grader must find it genuinely absent from your words and quote what you actually said.
- Your call sign is accepted in any correct spoken form: hyphenated, run together, or in full phonetics. Only a real abbreviation before the controller has abbreviated is a fault.
- Information items such as wind, traffic and a readability report are acknowledged, not read back, and are never marked as missing readbacks. Runway assignments, hold-short instructions, altitudes, headings, frequencies and squawk codes are read back, and a wrong or missing one is a fault.
- Every improvement must be a distinct, genuine fault with its own correction. A call that met the standard gets an empty list, not invented faults.
What you get back. You get a verdict (pass, minor issues or needs work), a score out of 100, what you did right, each fault with its correction, the phraseology areas the task exercised marked correct or not with a note, and one model answer for the task.
One call to Ground
The free radio check
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Initial contact format: facility, full identification, position, request | AIM 4-2-3 a 1 |
| Identification as type plus registration, no 'N'; never abbreviated on first contact | AIM 4-2-4 a 2, a 3 |
| Position on the airport stated when calling for taxi | AIM 4-3-18 a 1, d 1 |
| 'With Information (letter)'; no 'with you' | AIM 4-1-13; 4-2-1 c |
70 prompts
The 14 exercises
AInitial contact
5 promptsThe first call to a facility: who you are calling, who you are, where you are, what you want.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Initial call to Ground for taxi: facility, full identification, position on the airport, ATIS letter, request | AIM 4-2-3 a 1; 4-3-18 a 1, d 1 |
| Requesting VFR flight following | AIM 4-1-18 a 3 |
| Terminating flight following before a frequency change | AIM 4-2-3 c; 4-1-15 b 2 |
| Requesting a Special VFR clearance | AIM 4-4-6 a, b, c |
| No 'with you'; full identification on first contact | AIM 4-2-1 c; 4-2-4 a 2, a 3 |
BReadbacks
5 promptsRead back what must be read back: runways, hold-short lines, altitudes, headings, squawks.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Taxi readback: runway assignment and hold-short instruction | AIM 4-3-18 a 9 |
| 'Line up and wait' read back with the runway; not a takeoff clearance | P/CG: LINE UP AND WAIT; AIM 4-3-18 a 9 (c) |
| Takeoff and landing clearances read back with the runway | AIM 4-4-7 b; JO 7110.65 3-9-10 a |
| Squawk, altitude and heading read back in the order given | AIM 4-4-7 b; 4-1-20 |
| Wind is information, acknowledged rather than read back | JO 7110.65 3-10-1 |
CReports
5 promptsPosition and traffic reports, to a tower, an approach control and on the CTAF.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Initial call to Approach for traffic advisories | AIM 4-1-18 a 3 |
| Position report as instructed by the tower, using pattern leg names | AIM 4-3-2 c; JO 7110.65 3-10-1 a |
| Self-announce inbound on the CTAF, airport name first and last | AIM 4-1-9 c 1, TBL 4-1-1; 4-1-9 g 8 |
| Answering a traffic advisory | P/CG: TRAFFIC IN SIGHT; NEGATIVE CONTACT |
| Initial call to the tower about 15 miles out | AIM 4-3-2 a; 4-2-3 a 1 |
DEmergencies
5 promptsPAN-PAN and MAYDAY in the AIM format, radio failure, and getting help when lost.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Urgency call: PAN-PAN three times and the message order | AIM 6-3-1 c; 6-3-2 a 3 |
| Distress call: MAYDAY three times, fuel in minutes, people on board, 7700 | AIM 6-3-1 c; 6-3-2 a 2, a 3; P/CG: FUEL REMAINING |
| Receiver failure inbound to a towered airport, requesting light signals | AIM 4-2-13 a 1 |
| Unsure of position: requesting radar assistance, PAN-PAN if urgent | AIM 4-1-17; 6-3-1 c |
| Relaying another aircraft's MAYDAY | AIM 6-3-1 gunverified |
EServices and airspace
5 promptsFlight following, Class B, C and D airspace, and ending a radar service.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Requesting VFR flight following | AIM 4-1-18 a 3 |
| Class C: two-way communication established before entry | AIM 3-2-4 c 3 |
| Class B: an explicit clearance before entry | AIM 3-2-3 b, e; JO 7110.65 7-9-2 a |
| 'Radar service terminated, squawk VFR': acknowledge and set 1200 | AIM 4-1-15 b 2; 4-1-20 |
| Requesting a weather deviation under flight following (vectors advisory) | AIM 4-1-17 |
FThe traffic pattern
5 promptsDeparture, downwind, base and final — self-announced on the CTAF, and with a tower.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| CTAF self-announce: before taxiing onto the runway, departing the pattern | AIM 4-1-9 c 1, TBL 4-1-1; 4-1-9 g 8 |
| CTAF self-announce: entering downwind, base, final, clear of the runway | AIM 4-1-9 c 1, TBL 4-1-1; 4-1-9 g 8 |
| 'Cleared for the option' read back with the runway | P/CG: CLEARED FOR THE OPTION; AIM 4-3-23; 4-4-7 b |
| Go-around: a short acknowledgement, then fly it | P/CG: GO AROUND |
GConditional and non-standard
5 promptsHold-short landing clearances, 'unable', abbreviated frequency changes and a diversion.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Land-and-hold-short: runway, 'cleared to land' and the hold-short read back; 'unable' if not acceptable | AIM 4-3-18 a 9; P/CG: UNABLE |
| LAHSO clearance form and the required hold-short readback | JO 7110.65 3-10-5 bunverified |
| Special VFR clearance read back with the altitude restriction | AIM 4-4-6; 4-4-7 b |
| Changing to the same controller's other frequency: abbreviated callup, 'point' | AIM 4-2-3 d 2; 4-2-8 e |
| Declining an instruction with 'unable' and what you can do | P/CG: UNABLE |
| Advising a diversion: where, why, heading, altitude, fuel in minutes if a factor | AIM 4-2-3 a 1; P/CG: FUEL REMAINING |
HRadar services
5 promptsWhat a radar facility says to a VFR aircraft, and what you say back.
| 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 |
IControlled airspace
5 promptsClass D, C and B: what is required to enter, and how to ask.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Class D transit: two-way communication with the tower before entry | AIM 3-2-5 b 3; 4-3-2 a |
| A reply without your call sign does not establish communication | AIM 3-2-5 b 3, notes 1 and 2 |
| Transponder failure inside the Mode C veil: report it plainly, request instructions | AIM 3-2-3 b 6; 4-1-20 |
| Class B clearance read back with altitude and heading in order | AIM 4-4-7 b; JO 7110.65 7-9-2 a |
| Leaving the Class D: no permission needed outside the surface area | AIM 4-3-2 a |
JArrival at a towered airport
5 promptsFrom the 15-mile call to 'contact Ground'.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Inbound call to the tower: position, altitude, ATIS letter, request | AIM 4-3-2 a; 4-2-3 a 1; 3-2-5 b 3 |
| Pattern entry, runway and report instruction read back | JO 7110.65 3-10-1 a; AIM 4-4-7 b |
| Sequencing instructions ('extend downwind', 'number two, follow…') acknowledged | JO 7110.65 3-8-1; P/CG: WILCO; TRAFFIC IN SIGHT |
| Landing clearance read back with the runway | AIM 4-4-7 b |
| After landing: exit as instructed, change to Ground only when told | AIM 4-3-21 c; 4-3-14 c |
KNon-towered airports
5 promptsCTAF and UNICOM: self-announce, ask for the numbers, straight-in and clearing the runway.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Inbound self-announce on the CTAF, airport name first and last | AIM 4-1-9 c 1, TBL 4-1-1; 4-1-9 g 8 |
| Calling a UNICOM for wind and runway information | AIM 4-1-9 h |
| Announcing a straight-in and giving way to the pattern | AIM 4-1-9 g 4; 4-3-3 note 1 |
| Clear of the runway | AIM 4-1-9 c 1, TBL 4-1-1 |
| Never 'any traffic in the area, please advise' | AIM 4-1-9 g 1 |
LNumbers, altimeter and time
5 promptsHow the FAA says numbers: altitudes, frequencies, headings, the altimeter and the clock.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Altimeter setting: the word then four digits | AIM 4-2-8 d |
| Altitudes below 18,000 feet: thousands digit by digit plus hundreds | AIM 4-2-9 a |
| Frequencies: digits with 'point' | AIM 4-2-8 e |
| Headings as three digits; speed as digits plus 'knots' | AIM 4-2-10; 4-2-11 |
| Time: four digits UTC, 'Zulu' | AIM 4-2-12 |
MIFR clearances
5 promptsAsking for a clearance, copying it, and reading back the parts that actually have to come back.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Initial call to clearance delivery: call sign, position on the field, IFR, and where to | AIM 5-2-6 h 2 |
| What must be read back from a clearance, and what need not be | AIM 4-4-7 b; JO 7110.65 4-3-2 NOTE |
| Charted altitudes are not read back unless spoken | AIM 4-4-7 b 3 |
| Requesting a full route clearance after amending the plan | AIM 5-2-6 h 3 |
| What "cleared as filed" does and does not cover | AIM 5-2-6 f; P/CG: CLEARED AS FILED |
| First call after a climb-via departure | AIM 5-2-9 h |
| Clearance void time and hold for release | AIM 5-2-7 a 1, a 2 |
| The order a clearance is issued in | JO 7110.65 4-2-1 |
NHolds, approaches and the missed
5 promptsThe arrival half: holding instructions, the approach clearance, and what you say when it does not work out.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| What a holding clearance contains | JO 7110.65 4-6-4; 4-6-1 b, c |
| Required holding reports: reaching and leaving | AIM 5-3-8 f; 5-3-3 a 1 (f), (g) |
| The approach clearance and its "maintain until established" element | JO 7110.65 4-8-1 a, b 2 |
| Why "straight-in" is said, and restated | JO 7110.65 4-8-1 e |
| The approach clearance authorises the published missed approach | JO 7110.65 4-8-9 a |
| Telling ATC of a missed approach, with the reason, then requesting an action | AIM 5-5-5 a 2, a 6; 5-4-21 a, f |
| Cancelling IFR in flight, and what stops when you do | AIM 5-1-15; JO 7110.65 4-2-10 |
Guided flights
The 10 scenarios
Engine failure after takeoff
The engine quits in the climb-out. Fly it, then get a distress call out.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| MAYDAY in the climb-out: three times, the essentials, fly first | AIM 6-3-1 c; 6-3-2 a 3 |
Forced landing
Engine failure at altitude — pick a field and get the call out.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Distress call in full: fuel in minutes, people on board | AIM 6-3-2 a 3; P/CG: FUEL REMAINING |
| Squawk 7700 if the facility cannot be reached | AIM 6-3-2 a 2 |
Standard traffic pattern
Fly a normal pattern at a towered airport, making the right call at each position.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Initial call to the tower with the ATIS letter | AIM 4-2-3 a 1; 4-3-2 a |
| Pattern entry and report instruction read back | JO 7110.65 3-10-1 a; AIM 4-4-7 b |
| Landing clearance read back with the runway | AIM 4-4-7 b |
| Exit and change to Ground when told | AIM 4-3-14 c; 4-3-21 c |
Class C transit
Establish two-way communication, get a squawk, cross the Class C and be cut loose.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Class C: two-way communication before entry | AIM 3-2-4 c 3 |
| Squawk read back, ident when asked, altitude stated | AIM 4-1-20 d; 4-2-9 a |
| Altimeter read back digit by digit | AIM 4-2-8 d |
| 'Radar service terminated, squawk VFR' acknowledged; 1200 set | AIM 4-1-15 b 2; 4-1-20 |
Class B clearance
Request a clearance through Class B airspace, read it back exactly, and stay VFR.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Class B: no entry until 'cleared into the Bravo' | AIM 3-2-3 b, e; JO 7110.65 7-9-2 a |
| Clearance, altitude and heading read back in order | AIM 4-4-7 b |
| Answering a traffic advisory | P/CG: TRAFFIC IN SIGHT |
| Leaving the Bravo, 'resume own navigation', squawk VFR | JO 7110.65 7-9-2 d; P/CG: RESUME OWN NAVIGATION |
Class D entry and landing
Call the tower 15 miles out, take a pattern entry, read back the landing clearance.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Class D: initial call about 15 miles out; communication before entry | AIM 3-2-5 b 3; 4-3-2 a |
| Pattern entry and report instruction read back | JO 7110.65 3-10-1 a; AIM 4-4-7 b |
| Landing clearance read back; wind acknowledged only | AIM 4-4-7 b |
Vectors to the airport
Hazy and unsure of the way in: ask the radar facility for a heading, and fly it.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Requesting a vector; suggested headings are advisory | AIM 4-1-17 |
| Heading read back | AIM 4-4-7 b |
Unsure of position
The ground doesn't match the chart. Say so early, pass what you know, follow the vectors.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Requesting radar assistance when unsure of position | AIM 4-1-17 |
| Squawk and heading read back, ident when asked | AIM 4-1-20 d; 4-4-7 b |
| PAN-PAN if it becomes urgent | AIM 6-3-1 c |
Diversion
Your destination has closed. Tell the facility, take the handoff, and call the new airport inbound.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Advising a diversion and requesting continued flight following | AIM 4-2-3 a 1 |
| Frequency change acknowledged with 'point' | AIM 4-2-3 d, e; 4-2-8 e |
| Initial call to the new facility | AIM 4-2-3 a 1; 4-1-18 a 3 |
Radio failure
No reply to your calls. Squawk 7600, transmit in the blind, and bring it in on light signals.
| Call or readback | Graded against |
|---|---|
| Receiver failure: remain outside the Class D, transmit in the blind, request light signals | AIM 4-2-13 a 1 |
| Squawk 7600 | AIM 4-1-20 |
| Light signal meanings and acknowledging them | AIM 4-3-13, TBL 4-3-1; 4-2-13 a 2 |
Honesty note
Cited, not yet checked
These paragraphs are cited by a task’s notes but have not yet been read against the source text in this build. They are marked on the tables above and will be verified or corrected.
- AIM 6-3-1 g — Exercise D: Relaying another aircraft's MAYDAY
- JO 7110.65 3-10-5 b — Exercise G: LAHSO clearance form and the required hold-short readback
Written from the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (Change 3, 7/9/26), the Pilot/Controller Glossary and Order JO 7110.65. The standard-words definitions the grader uses are on the phraseology cheat sheet. TowerTalk is a training aid and is not approved or endorsed by the FAA; the AIM, your instructor and your examiner are the authorities.