Phonetic Alphabet

The correct method of stating 10,500 feet MSL to ATC is

"ONE ZERO THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED."

What range of radio communication frequencies are used?

Between [118.00, 132.00] MHz

Why is there static at times?

Distance and bad weather can make communication difficult to understand each other.

What occurs if pilots talk at the same time?

Only one person can talk at a time on a given frequency. Otherwise, if two people try to transmit on the same frequency at the same time, the radio waves will overlap with each other and create an unpleasant and unintelligible warbling noise.

What does VHF stand for?

The backbone of airborne communications is the Very High Frequency radio

What is a tail number?

The n-number is generally 6 characters long and starts with an N in the United States, followed by a series of letters and numbers. It is a visible identifier used as a call sign during communications with the ATC to reduce confusion.

Does the radio only receive messages?

The radio in an aircraft has also the ability to transmit your voice to anyone listening in the same frequency.

What is a phonetic alphabet?

To help make transmissions more understandable, or "readable", pilots use a standardized set of pronunciations for each letter of the alphabet. Instead of just saying "A,B,C" over the radio, a pilot or controller would say "alpha, bravo, charlie."

The correct method of stating 4,500 feet MSL to ATC is

"FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED."

How are numbers 5 and 9 pronounced in aviation?

"Fife" "Niner"

What does "Roger" mean?

"I have received your transmission."

Do all control facilities and airports have the same radio frequencies?

Each airport and facility has a unique radio frequency so as to help keep communication organized.

How does the microphone and the headset help pilot transmit messages?

The headset is connected to the aircraft's radio. For as long as the push-to-talk button is pressed in the yoke, the pilot's message is transmitted.