AIM

8/15/19

4

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2

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2

Radio Communications Phraseology

(a)

Name of the facility being called;

(b)

Your 

full

 aircraft identification as filed in

the flight plan or as discussed in paragraph 4

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2

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4,

Aircraft Call Signs;

(c)

When operating on an airport surface,

state your position.

(d)

The type of message to follow or your

request if it is short; and

(e)

The word “Over” if required.

EXAMPLE

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1.

“New York Radio, Mooney Three One One Echo.”

2.

“Columbia Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero

Foxtrot, south ramp, I

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F

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R Memphis.”

3.

“Miami Center, Baron Five Six Three Hotel, request

V

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F

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R traffic advisories.”

2.

Many FSSs are equipped with Remote

Communications Outlets (RCOs) and can transmit on
the same frequency at more than one location. The
frequencies available at specific locations are
indicated on charts above FSS communications
boxes. To enable the specialist to utilize the correct
transmitter, advise the location and the frequency on
which you expect a reply.

EXAMPLE

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St. Louis FSS can transmit on frequency 122.3 at either
Farmington, Missouri, or Decatur, Illinois, if you are in the
vicinity of Decatur, your callup should be “Saint Louis
radio, Piper Six Niner Six Yankee, receiving Decatur One
Two Two Point Three.”

3.

If radio reception is reasonably assured,

inclusion of your request, your position or altitude,
and the phrase “(ATIS) Information Charlie
received” in the initial contact helps decrease radio
frequency congestion. Use discretion; do not
overload the controller with information unneeded or
superfluous. If you do not get a response from the
ground station, recheck your radios or use another
transmitter, but keep the next contact short.

EXAMPLE

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“Atlanta Center, Duke Four One Romeo, request V

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F

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R

traffic advisories, Twenty Northwest Rome, seven thousand
five hundred, over.”

b. Initial Contact When Your Transmitting and

Receiving Frequencies are Different.

1.

If you are attempting to establish contact with

a ground station and you are receiving on a different
frequency than that transmitted, indicate the VOR
name or the frequency on which you expect a reply.

Most FSSs and control facilities can transmit on
several VOR stations in the area. Use the appropriate
FSS call sign as indicated on charts.

EXAMPLE

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New York FSS transmits on the Kennedy, the Hampton, and
the Calverton VORTACs. If you are in the Calverton area,
your callup should be “New York radio, Cessna Three One
Six Zero Foxtrot, receiving Calverton V

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O

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R, over.”

2.

If the chart indicates FSS frequencies above

the VORTAC or in the FSS communications boxes,
transmit or receive on those frequencies nearest your
location.

3.

When unable to establish contact and you

wish to call 

any

 ground station, use the phrase “ANY

RADIO (tower) (station), GIVE CESSNA THREE
ONE SIX ZERO FOXTROT A CALL ON
(frequency) OR (V

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O

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R).” If an emergency exists or

you need assistance, so state.

c. Subsequent Contacts and Responses to

Callup from a Ground Facility.

Use the same format as used for the initial contact
except you should state your message or request with
the callup in one transmission. The ground station
name and the word “Over” may be omitted if the
message requires an obvious reply and there is no
possibility for misunderstandings. 

You should

acknowledge all callups or clearances

 unless the

controller or FSS specialist advises otherwise. There
are some occasions when controllers must issue
time-critical instructions to other aircraft, and they
may be in a position to observe your response, either
visually or on radar. If the situation demands your
response, take appropriate action or immediately
advise the facility of any problem. Acknowledge with
your aircraft identification, either at the beginning or
at the end of your transmission, and one of the words
“Wilco,” “Roger,” “Affirmative,” “Negative,” or
other appropriate remarks; e.g., “PIPER TWO ONE
FOUR LIMA, ROGER.” If you have been receiving
services; e.g., VFR traffic advisories and you are
leaving the area or changing frequencies, advise the
ATC facility and terminate contact.

d. Acknowledgement of Frequency Changes.

1.

When advised by ATC to change frequencies,

acknowledge the instruction. If you select the new
frequency without an acknowledgement, the control-
ler’s workload is increased because there is no way of
knowing whether you received the instruction or have
had radio communications failure.