Initial Contact

Radio communications may seem complicated at first, but you'll get used to them. Most things a
controller will say are standard and will become familiar to you. The order of most of your initial
communications is standard, too. Think of these five items: YOU ME WHERE WHAT WITH
1. YOU: Whom you're talking to
2. ME: Who you are
3. WHERE: Where you are
4. WHAT: What you want
5. WITH: Airport information (ATIS)
In other words:
ITEM MEANS EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2
YOU 1. Whom you're Control Hanscom Lawrence
talking to Ground Tower
ME 2. Who you are Aircraft ID Katana 505EC* Cessna 92747*
WHERE 3. Where you Position On the West Eight miles
are Ramp southwest
WHAT 4. What you Request Ready for taxi Inbound for
want landing
[WITH] 5. Are you ATIS With X-Ray We have Bravo
informed

Common Samples:
Hooks Ground, Piper Warrior/Cessna Skyhawk N8339D, at Ramp C (Charlie), with Information
Alpha (ATIS), complete runup, ready for taxi, VFR to the West/Patternwork
Hooks Tower, Piper Warrior N8339D, holding short 17R at C, ready for departure
Hooks Tower, Skyhawk N4323R, 10 Miles West, with Information Bravo, inbound for fullstop
landing

Cleared…
ATC has given you the permission and right to do something. "Cleared to land, runway 11"
"Cleared for takeoff." "Cleared to enter Class B."
Cleared for the option
Said when preparing for a landing, without further clearance you may do any of these things as
you wish: full stop, stop-and-go, touch-and-go, or go-around.
Continue
Keep doing what you're doing. Go straight if you were told to go straight. If you were told earlier
to enter the pattern downwind on the 45, then do that.
Go ahead
Talk to ATC. Perhaps the airwaves have been very busy and you finally manage to get in,
saying, "Hanscom tower, Katana 505EC." Then wait until the tower says, "505EC go ahead." It's
your turn to talk, now.
Report…
ATC is telling you that when you arrive at the given position, you should radio the tower and tell
them so. "Report downwind": when you're established on the downwind and are at midfield, call
the tower and say, "505EC downwind." "Report base": call the tower as you start to turn base
and say, "5EC turning base."
State (your) intentions
This is most often tower's polite way of saying that they don't understand what you're doing, or
that you are not on the right heading, or that you are not following instructions. They want to
know what you want to do, or what you think you're doing. Then they can give you appropriate
guidance.
Maintain…
Stay at a given altitude. "Climb and maintain 4500" means you should climb up to 4500 MSL
and stay there until they tell you otherwise. "Maintain 1500 until Cider Hill": do not descend
below 1500 until you reach this landmark.
Climb to/descend to…
Go to the altitude they give you.
Fly heading…
Turn to the direction given. "Fly heading 180": go south until told otherwise.
Make [left/right] closes
This could also be phrased, "Make (left/right) close traffic." You are going to work in the traffic
pattern, and make left or right turns, as instructed.
You're number [three] following a...
You are in the traffic pattern, and there will be planes landing in front of you. "You're number
three following a Cessna" means that one plane is cleared to land, there's a Cessna behind that,
and you should be looking for the Cessna so you can follow behind it.
Traffic at two o'clock [high], [three miles] is a [Dash 8].
The standard traffic advisory: in this example, look forward and to the right for a big twin
commuter plane above you and a few miles away. This advisory will often be accompanied by
information on the direction that the Dash 8 is traveling.
Confirm...
ATC wants you to repeat some instruction you've been given.
Hold short of...
Said when taxiing. Stop before reaching and do not cross the given runway or taxiway. Always
repeat this instruction back to the controller.
Position and hold
Go on to the runway and wait in position to take off.
Recycle
ATC isn't reading your transponder, so they want you to turn your transponder off, then turn it
back on again.
Ident
Push the little button on the transponder. This makes your radar blip blossom on their screen, so
they can find you easily and know who you are.
Radar contact
ATC is informing you that it has you on radar. You don't need to respond to this.
Contact [tower] on [118.5]
ATC is "handing you off" to another controller, telling you to change your radio frequency and
talk to someone else. In this example, you would respond, "505EC going to tower," switch your
radio frequency to 118.50, and report in by saying, for example, "Hanscom Tower, Katana
505EC at 2000."
Radar service is terminated
ATC is telling you that it will not provide separation or traffic advisories any more. This phrase
is often followed by…
Squawk VFR
Change your transponder code to 1200. And this phrase is often followed by…
Frequency change approved
This call is permission to stop communications with ATC, usually because you're leaving their
airspace and continuing on a visual flight.
Taxi to [runway 29] [via Juliet and Echo]
A taxi clearance: if cleared to taxi TO a runway, you are allowed to cross all other taxiways and
runways on the way there, but you must hold short of the final runway. In the case of this
example, you should go on taxiway Juliet, turn on to Echo, and taxi up to the hold-short line of
runway 29.
Extend downwind
Don't turn from downwind to base yet. This is to separate your plane from other traffic in the
pattern. This is often followed by…
I'll call your base
Stay on downwind, at traffic pattern altitude, until the tower tells you to turn in.
Do a 360 and re-enter the [downwind]
The controller wants you to do a standard two-minute turn-around-a-point in the pattern (360
degrees of turn), and reenter the pattern wherever you left it. This is for spacing purposes. This
instruction could also happen on base or final. If you're just about to turn left base, ATC could
also tell you to do a right 270 (degree turn) and come back in on base. A 360 gives you the
perfect opportunity to use that stuff you learned in "turns around a point," and to practice one.

ABEAM—An aircraft is "abeam" a fix, point, or object when that fix, point, or object is
approximately 90 degrees to the right or left of the aircraft track. Abeam indicates a general
position rather than a precise point.
ACKNOWLEDGE—Let me know that you have received my message.
AFFIRMATIVE—Yes.
CLOSED TRAFFIC—Successive operations involving takeoffs and landings [touch-and-goes]
or low approaches where the aircraft does not exit the traffic pattern.
EXPEDITE—Used by ATC when prompt compliance is required to avoid the development of
an imminent situation.
GO AROUND—Instructions for a pilot to abandon his approach to landing. Additional
instructions may follow. Unless otherwise advised by ATC, a VFR aircraft or an aircraft
conducting visual approach should overfly the runway while climbing to traffic pattern altitude
and enter the traffic pattern via the crosswind leg. A pilot on an IFR flight plan making an
instrument approach should execute the published missed approach procedure or proceed as
instructed by ATC; e.g., "Go around" (additional instructions if required).
HOW DO YOU HEAR ME?—A question relating to the quality of the transmission or to
determine how well the transmission is being received.
IMMEDIATELY—Used by ATC when such action compliance is required to avoid an
imminent situation.
MAKE SHORT APPROACH—Used by ATC to inform a pilot to alter his traffic pattern so as
to make a short final approach.
MAYDAY—The international radio telephony distress signal. When repeated three times, it
indicates imminent and grave danger and that immediate assistance is requested.
NEGATIVE—"No," or "permission not granted," or "that is not correct."
READ BACK—Repeat my message back to me.
REPORT—Used to instruct pilots to advise ATC of specified information; e.g., "Report passing
Hamilton VOR."
SAY AGAIN—Used to request a repeat of the last transmission. Usually specifies transmission
or portion thereof not understood or received; e.g., "Say again all after ABRAM VOR."
SAY ALTITUDE—Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's specific altitude/flight level. When
the aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should state the indicated altitude rounded to the
nearest 100 feet.
SAY HEADING—Used by ATC to request an aircraft heading. The pilot should state the actual
heading of the aircraft.
SPEAK SLOWER—Used in verbal communications as a request to reduce speech rate.
SQUAWK (Mode, Code, Function)—Activate specific modes/ codes/functions on the aircraft
transponder, e.g., "Squawk two—one-zero-five." Squawk does not mean pilot should press the
transponder's IDENT button.
STAND BY—Means the controller or pilot must pause for a few seconds, usually to attend to
other duties of a higher priority. Also means to wait as in "stand by for clearance." The caller
should reestablish contact if a delay is lengthy. "Stand by" is not an approval or denial.
TRAFFIC—A term used by ATC to refer to one or more aircraft.
TRAFFIC IN SIGHT—Used by pilots to inform a controller that previously issued traffic is in
sight.
UNABLE—Indicates inability to comply with a specific instruction, request, or clearance.
VERIFY—Request confirmation of information; e.g., "verify assigned altitude."

Common Calls at KDWH:

ON THE GROUND PRIOR TO TAXI:

N1493V, Hooks Ground, taxi to runway 35L at Hotel via Papa, Echo, Foxtrot
Reply: Runway 35L at Hotel via Papa, Echo, Foxtrot, N1493V

N8339D, Hooks Ground, taxi to runway 17R at Charlie via Charlie

Reply: Runway 17R at Charlie via Charlie, N8339D

N4323R, taxi to runway 35L at Hotel, via Papa, Echo, Foxtrot, hold short of Echo on Papa
Reply: Taxi to runway 35L at Hotel, via Papa, Echo, Foxtrot, hold short of Echo on Papa,
N4323R
N1493V, Hooks Ground, verify you have information Alpha, squawk 5349 and where do you
park?
Reply: Hooks Ground, we have information Alpha, squawk 5349, currently at ramp Charlie,
N4323R

N54MC, contact tower 118.4 when number 1

Reply: Contact tower 118.4 when number 1, N54MC

N8339D, hold position

Reply: Hold position, N8339D

ON THE GROUND, HOLDING SHORT OF RUNWAY:

Hooks Tower, N8339D holding short 35L at H, ready for departure

N8339D, Hooks Tower, Runway 35L at H, cleared for take off, wind 320@4, traffic 2 miles
final, left turn on course is approved
Reply: Runway 35L at H cleared for take off, left turn approved, N8339D

N54MC, Hooks Tower, stand by/hold short of runway17R at C for landing traffic
Reply: Hold short 17R at C, N8339D

N1493V, Hooks Tower, runway 17R at C, cleared for take off, fly runway heading/extend
upwind 1 mile
Reply: Cleared for take off, fly runway heading/extend upwind 1 mile, N1493V

IN THE AIR, DEPARTING:

N8339D, traffic 1 o’clock, west bound, altitude indicate 1500 feet
Reply: Looking for traffic/Traffic insight, N8339D

N8339D, maintain at or below 1500

Reply: maintain at or below 1500, N8339D

N1493V, frequency change approved

Reply: frequecy change approved, N1493V

IN THE AIR, ARRIVAL:

Hooks Tower, N54MC 12 Miles West, with Information Foxtrot, Inbound for landing
fullstop/patternwork
Tower: N54MC, Hooks Tower, squawk 0472, continue
Reply: Squawk 0472, continue, N54MC

N4323R, enter left base/mid downwind runway 35L

Reply: endter leftbase/mid downwind runway 35L, N4323R

N1493V, number 2, follow traffic on a 2 mile final, cleared to land runway 17R
Reply: number 2, looking for traffic/traffic insight, cleared to land runway 17R

N4323R, cleared for the option runway 35L, on the go, make left closed traffic
Reply: Cleared for the option Runway 35L, left closed traffic on the go, N4323R

N1493V, extend downwind, I’ll call your base

Reply: extend downwind, you’ll call base, N1493V

N8339D, make a right 360

Reply: make a right 360, N8339D
N8011F, change to runway 17L, cleared to land
Reply: Unable, Student pilot or Cleared to land 17L, N8011F

ATIS:

Sample format:
Hooks Memorial Airport, ATIS Information Alpha, Time 0123 Zulu, wind 170 at 8 gust 12,
visibility 10, overcast/broken/scattered/few clouds at 2000/ sky clear, temperature 11,
dewpoint 1, altimeter 30.12, approach RNAV runway 17R is in use, Notice to Airman: Taxi
way Kilo north of Echo is closed, taxiway Foxtrot North of Hotel is close, deer activity is in the
vicinity of the field, advise when run up is complete, all pilots instruction readback is required,
you have information Alpha