AIM

8/15/19

5

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3

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12

En Route Procedures

2.

The following phraseology should be utilized

by pilots for establishing contact with the designated
facility:

(a)

When operating in a radar environment:

On initial contact, the pilot should inform the
controller of the aircraft’s assigned altitude preceded
by the words “level,” or “climbing to,” or
“descending to,” as appropriate; and the aircraft’s
present vacating altitude, if applicable.

EXAMPLE

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1.

(Name) CENTER, (aircraft identification), LEVEL

(altitude or flight level)

.

2.

(Name) CENTER, (aircraft identification), LEAVING

(exact altitude or flight level), CLIMBING TO OR
DESCENDING TO (altitude of flight level)

.

NOTE

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Exact altitude or flight level means to the nearest 100 foot
increment. Exact altitude or flight level reports on initial
contact provide ATC with information required prior to
using Mode C altitude information for separation
purposes.

(b)

When operating in a nonradar environ-

ment:

(1)

On initial contact, the pilot should

inform the controller of the aircraft’s present position,
altitude and time estimate for the next reporting point.

EXAMPLE

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(

Name) CENTER, (aircraft identification), (position),

(altitude), ESTIMATING (reporting point) AT (time)

.

(2)

After initial contact, when a position

report will be made, the pilot should give the
controller a complete position report.

EXAMPLE

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(

Name) CENTER, (aircraft identification), (position),

(time), (altitude), (type of flight plan), (ETA and name of
next reporting point), (the name of the next succeeding
reporting point), AND (remarks)

.

REFERENCE

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AIM, Paragraph 5

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3

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2 , Position Reporting

3.

At times controllers will ask pilots to verify

that they are at a particular altitude. The phraseology
used will be: “VERIFY AT (altitude).” In climbing or
descending situations, controllers may ask pilots to
“

VERIFY ASSIGNED ALTITUDE AS (altitude)

.”

Pilots should confirm that they are at the altitude

stated by the controller or that the assigned altitude is
correct as stated. If this is not the case, they should
inform the controller of the actual altitude being
maintained or the different assigned altitude.

CAUTION

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Pilots should not take action to change their actual
altitude or different assigned altitude to the altitude stated
in the controllers verification request unless the
controller specifically authorizes a change.

c. ARTCC Radio Frequency Outage. 

ARTCCs

normally have at least one back-up radio receiver and
transmitter system for each frequency, which can
usually be placed into service quickly with little or no
disruption of ATC service. Occasionally, technical
problems may cause a delay but switchover seldom
takes more than 60 seconds. When it appears that the
outage will not be quickly remedied, the ARTCC will
usually request a nearby aircraft, if there is one, to
switch to the affected frequency to broadcast
communications instructions. It is important, there-
fore, that the pilot wait at least 1 minute before
deciding that the ARTCC has actually experienced a
radio frequency failure. When such an outage does
occur, the pilot should, if workload and equipment
capability permit, maintain a listening watch on the
affected frequency while attempting to comply with
the following recommended communications proce-
dures:

1.

If two-way communications cannot be

established with the ARTCC after changing frequen-
cies, a pilot should attempt to recontact the
transferring controller for the assignment of an
alternative frequency or other instructions.

2.

When an ARTCC radio frequency failure

occurs after two-way communications have been
established, the pilot should attempt to reestablish
contact with the center on any other known ARTCC
frequency, preferably that of the next responsible
sector when practicable, and ask for instructions.
However, when the next normal frequency change
along the route is known to involve another ATC
facility, the pilot should contact that facility, if
feasible, for instructions. If communications cannot
be reestablished by either method, the pilot is
expected to request communications instructions
from the FSS appropriate to the route of flight.