Standard Words and Phrases

Question 1

Explain the standard transmission format on initial contact with Air Traffic Control.

Answer 1

• On initial contact with Air Traffic Control a pilot must commence the transmission with the call sign of the unit being addressed followed by the aircraft call sign.
• The ATS unit will respond using the station’s call sign followed by their call sign. In the absence of an instruction to “STAND BY”, this response by the ATS unit is an invitation for the aircraft calling to pass their message.
• Similarly ATC will commence transmission with the call sign of aircraft followed by the unit call sign.

e.g. Pilot: Melbourne Centre Qantas One
ATC: Qantas One Melbourne Centre

Question 2

What phrase should ATC not use to acknowledge contact from pilots?

Answer 2

Go ahead

Question 3

When may the ATS unit callsign be abbreviated to remove the location

Answer 3

After first contact has occurred

Question 4

What elements should a radio check include?

Provide an example.

Answer 4

• identification of the station being called;
• identification of the calling station;
• ‘RADIO CHECK’
• The frequency if a specific frequency is to be checked

e.g. QANTAS ONE MELBOURNE CENTRE RADIO CHECK ONE TWO ONE DECIMAL TWO

Question 5

On receipt of a request for Radio Check the receiving station should reply with what?

Answer 5

• Callsign of the station requesting the test
• Callsign of the station responding
• Assessment of the test transmission using the readability scale

e.g. MELBOURNE CENTRE QANTAS ONE READING YOU FOUR

Question 6

List the levels of the readability scale

Answer 6

1. Unreadable
2. Readable now and then
3. Readable but with difficulty
4. Readable
5. Perfectly readable.

Question 7

When must number which contain whole hundreds and whole thousands be transmitted by pronouncing each digit in the number of hundreds or thousands followed by the word HUNDRED or THOUSAND as appropriate?

Answer 7

When transmitting any of the following:

• Altitude
• Cloud Height
• Visibility
• Runway Visual Range

Question 8

Time may be stated in ________________________ in radiotelephone communications when ________________

Answer 8

1. minutes only (two figures)
2. no misunderstanding is likely to occur

Question 9

When will control towers state the time to the nearest half minute?

Answer 9

When issuing a taxi clearance to a departing aircraft.

Question 10

What does a + next to an abbreviation in AIP indicate?

Answer 10

May be used as spoken words in radio telephony

Question 11

What does a * next to an abbreviation in AIP indicate?

Answer 11

May be spoken using the individual letters rather than the phonetic alphabet

Question 12

List examples of key elements which should be read back.

Answer 12

• an ATC route clearance in its entirety, and any amendments;
• en route holding instructions;
• any route and holding point specified in a taxi clearance;
• any clearances, conditional clearances or instructions to hold short of, enter, land on, line-up on, wait, takeoff from, cross, taxi or backtrack on, any runway or HLS;
• any approach clearance;
• assigned runway or HLS;
• altimeter settings directed to specific aircraft, radio and radio navigation aid frequency instructions;
• SSR codes, data link logon addresses;
• level instructions, direction of turn, heading and speed instructions.

Question 13

How will read-back of an ATS message be terminated?

Answer 13

With the aircraft’s call sign.

Question 14

All radiotelephony links shall be tested for operation and quality of transmission / reception prior to what?

Answer 14

1. Commencing the day’s operations
2. Major traffic peaks if the facility has not been used for 2 hours

Question 15

Provide examples of numbers that will always be prefixed

Answer 15

1. Headings
2. Flight levels
3. [AREA] QNH

Question 16

Normal Air Traffic Services will state time to the nearest _______________

Answer 16

minute

Question 17

If you don’t receive a required read back, or don’t clearly receive the read back then you must?

Answer 17

Ask for the element again.

Some standard words and phrases including ‘read-back’, ‘report’, ‘say again’, and maybe even ‘request’ might be used.

Question 18

If you receive an incorrect read back what must occur?

Answer 18

This must be corrected immediately.

Some standard words and phrases ‘confirm’, ‘disregard’, and in
particular ‘negative’ might be used.

Question 19

When may FLIGHT PLANNED ROUTE be used?

Answer 19

In an initial clearance (taxiing at a controlled aerodrome or for entering class A, C or D from class G) to describe any route, or portion thereof that is identical to that filed in the flight plan and sufficient routing details are given to definitely establish the aircraft on this route.

Question 20

If the route and/or level issued in the initial airways clearance is not in accordance with the held flight plan, prefix the route and/or level with the word “___________________”.

Answer 20

AMENDED

This does not apply to levels that are assigned to facilitate progressive climb to cruise.

Question 21

After the initial clearance phase, route amendments must use what phrase rather than FLIGHT PLANNED ROUTE?

Answer 21

REST OF CLEARANCE UNCHANGED

Question 22

What are the elements of a position report?

Answer 22

1. Aircraft identification.
2. Position - There are rules governing the details. For example, “POSITION” is only used to prefix a latitude/longitude and the word “OVER” may be omitted for domestic flights.
3. Time - “AT” followed by minutes. Hours and minutes must be used if a Met observation is appended.
4. Flight level or altitude - including climbing or descending if applicable
   with a left level.
5. Next position and time over.- simply the place name “AT” a time (estimate) may be used for domestic flights.
6. Ensuing significant point - when requested by ATS or deemed
   appropriate by a pilot.

Question 23

When will a pilot prefix a position report with the word AIREP?

Answer 23

When the report had meteorological information appended to it.

Question 24

In simple terms, what are the two types of frequency transfers?

Answer 24

1. Unconditional. The aircraft changes frequency at the time of the instruction, and
2. Conditional. The aircraft changes frequency at a specified time or place.

Question 25

The use of standard phrases for radio telephony communication between aircraft and ground stations is essential to ____________________ of the intent of messages and to ____________________

Answer 25

1. Avoid misunderstanding
2. Reduce the time required for communication

Question 26

Control Towers will state time to the nearest _______________ when issuing a taxi clearance to a departing aircraft.

Answer 26

Half minute.

Question 27

When should you use the word ‘MAINTAIN’?

Answer 27

Where there is an expectation that an aircraft will maintain a level on climb or descent

Question 28

What services/information does a CA/GRS provide?

Answer 28

• Confirmation of the correct CTAF
• Current, known, relevent traffic in the vicinity of the aerodrome and on the manoeuvring area of the aerodrome
• Weather conditions and operational information for the aerodrome
• Other operational information of a local nature, relevant to the safety of operations at the aerodrome
• Emergency services call out
• Act as a representative of an air operator for the purposes of holding SARWATCH