Your first radio call as a student pilot

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]

A civil pilot states the aircraft type, model or manufacturer, then the registration with the “N” dropped. With no type stated, the registration is spoken with “November”. [AIM 4-2-4 a 3]

Cessna One Seven Two Sierra Papa · Bonanza Six Five Five Golf · Aztec Two Four Six Four Alpha

Never abbreviated on first contact

Nor at any time when similar call signs are on frequency. ATC may abbreviate after communications are established — the prefix and the last three characters (“Cessna Two Sierra Papa”) — and only then may you. [AIM 4-2-4 a 1, 2]

Student pilot

Say “student pilot” after your call sign on initial contact with each facility and you will get extra help. “Dayton Tower, Fleetwing One Two Three Four, student pilot.” [AIM 4-2-4 c]

If in doubt

“Verify clearance for (complete call sign).” Never act on a clearance you are not sure was for you. [AIM 4-2-4 a 2]

Air taxi without an FAA call sign

Prefix the identification with “Tango”: “Tango Aztec Two Four Six Four Alpha”. [AIM 4-2-4 a 4]

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.