IFR Communication - Quick Reference

Fundamental Basics

Callsigns & Contact

OAV123 "Athens Control, Olympic one-two-three, good evening"

Variant: Initial Check-in "Athens Radar, Olympic one-two-three, flight level three-six-zero, inbound EVENO."

Athens Control "Olympic one-two-three, Athens Control, good evening"

Variant: With You "Olympic one-two-three, radar contact, Athens Control, good evening."

Phonetic: SX-SIT (Sierra, X-Ray, Sierra, India, Tango)

Readback Examples

Approach "Olympic one-two-three, left heading three-six-zero, descend two-thousand-five-hundred feet on QNH niner-niner-eight."

OAV123 "left heading three-six-zero, descend two-thousand-five hundred feet, QNH niner-niner-eight, Olympic one-two-three."

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, runway two-three, cleared to land. Wind two-six-zero degrees at one-two knots"

Variant: FAA Standard "Olympic one-two-three, cleared to land runway two-three, wind two-six-zero at one-two."

OAV123 "Runway two-three, cleared to land, Olympic one-two-three"

Radio Check

OAV123 "Sitia Tower, good afternoon, Olympic one-two-three, request radiocheck."

Variant: On Frequency "Sitia Tower, Olympic one-two-three, how do you read on one-one-eight-decimal-one?"

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, Sitia Tower, good afternoon. Read you five."

Scale Reference "1: Unreadable, 2: Now and then, 3: Readable but with difficulty, 4: Readable, 5: Loud and clear."

OAV123 "Roger, we will get back to you soon for clearance."

AEE681 "Sitia Tower, Aegean six-eight-one, radio check."

Tower "Aegean six-eight-one, Sitia Tower, reading you loud and clear - go ahead."

DEL: Clearance Delivery

GND: Ground Control

TWR: Tower

APP: Approach

DEP: Departure

ARR: Arrival

ATC Clearance

IFR Clearance Request & Delivery

OAV123 "Venizelos Delivery, good evening, Olympic one-two-three, Boeing 737-400, Stand 64 On North Apron with information Kilo. Request clearance to Sitia Airport."

DEL "Olympic one-two-three, good evening, Venizelos Clearance Delivery, QNH 1011. Cleared to Sitia Airport via SOREV2J departure, Flight Plan Route, Initialy climb and maintain FL110, Expect FL210, Squawk 7201"

OR (FAA Style / CRAFT) "...Cleared to Sitia Airport via the [SID], then as filed. Maintain 5000, expect FL210 ten minutes after departure. Squawk 7201."

OAV123 "QNH 1011. Cleared to Sitia Airport via SOREV2J departure, Flight Plan Route, Initialy climbing and maintaining FL110, Expecting FL210, Squawking 7201, Olympic one-two-three."

DEL "Olympic one-two-three, read back correct, Contact Venizelos Ground on 121.80 for Pushback & Start"

OAV123 "Venizelos Ground on 121.80, Olympic one-two-three, Geia sas."

Pushback & Start (With Traffic)

OAV123 "Venizelos Ground, good evening, Olympic one-two-three, Stand 64, request pushback & Start."

GND "Olympic one-two-three, Venizelos Ground, good evening. Pushback & Start approved."

Variant: Facing Direction "Push and start approved, facing North, info Alpha."

OAV123 "Pushback & Start approved, Olympic one-two-three."

OAV020 "Venizelos Ground, good evening, Olympic zero-two-zero, Stand 62, request pushback & Start."

GND "Olympic zero-two-zero, Venizelos Ground, use caution, a company 737 is pushing from Stand 64. Pushback & Start approved."

Taxi Operations

Taxi Instructions & Separation

OAV020 "Olympic zero-two-zero, request Taxi"

GND "Olympic zero-two-zero, behind a company 737 passing from left to right on Yankee, taxi to holding position runway 03 Right."

OR (VATSIM Standard) "Taxi to holding point runway 24, S7, via A5, give way to company 737 from the left."

OAV020 "Behind company 737, taxi to holding position runway 03R, Olympic zero-two-zero."

OAV123 "Venizelos Ground, Olympic one-two-three, pushed gate Bravo one three, request taxi."

GND "Olympic one-two-three, Venizelos Ground, Taxi to holding position runway 03R. Hold before D6 give way for arriving Aegean 737 on D7."

OAV123 "Taxi to holding poisition Rwy 03R to hold at D6 for traffic on D7, Olympic one-two-three."

Progress Reports & Transfer

OAV123 "Venizelos Ground, Olympic one-two-three, holding at D6 with arriving Aegean Boeing 737 on D7 in sight."

AEE020 "Aegean zero-two-zero, request Taxi"

GND "Aegean zero-two-zero, clear to taxi via K, C, D8, D, to D2, holding position RWY 03R, next report ready for depart, no1"

AEE020 "Clear for taxi via K, C, D8, D, to D2, holding point RWY 03R, will report ready for depart, no1, Aegean zero-two-zero"

GND "Olympic one-two-three, contact Venizelos Tower on one-one-eight-decimal-six-zero good day."

Variant: Monitor Frequency "Olympic one-two-three, monitor Tower on 118.60, bye bye."

OAV123 "Tower on on one-one-eight-decimal-six-zero, Olympic one-two-three, good day."

Terminology: "Holding point" is now "Holding position".

Line Up & Wait

Runway Entry Phrasing

KLM1771 "Schiphol Tower, good day, KLM1771, at S7, ready for departure."

Tower "KLM1771, line up and wait runway 24, S7."

Variant: FAA Standard "KLM1771, runway 24 at Sierra 7, line up and wait."

KLM1771 "Line up and wait runway 24, S7, KLM1771."

Tower "KLM1771, behind landing traffic runway 24, line up and wait behind."

KLM1771 "Behind landing traffic, line up and wait behind, KLM1771."

Ensure you acknowledge the "behind" instruction twice (beginning and end of readback).

Takeoff & Departure

Departure Sequence

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, good evening. You are no 2 for departure."

OAV123 "Tower, Olympic one-two-three, ready for departure."

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, wind 010 degrees at 8 knots. Rwy 03R, cleared for take off."

Variant: Rolling Takeoff "Olympic one-two-three, without delay, runway 03 Right, cleared for take off."

OAV123 "Rwy 03R, Cleared for take off, Olympic one-two-three."

Airborne Handover

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, contact Athens Control on 129.80"

OAV123 "Athens Control on 129.80, Olympic one-two-three."

Specific Takeoff Instructions

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, when airborne contact departure on 128.95. Wind 010 degrees at 12 knots. Runway 03 Right, cleared for take off."

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, when airborne fly runway heading and climb to 5000ft. Wind 010 degrees at 12 knots. Runway 03R, cleared for take off."

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, left turn out. Wind 070 degrees at 5 knots. Runway 03R, cleared for take off."

En-route & Cruise

Initial Airborne Contact

OAV123 "Athens Control, kalispera, Olympic one-two-three, passing 3000 ft, climbing FL110 on VARIX2J deparure."

OR (AviationPro Style) "Athens Control, good day, Olympic one-two-three, VARIX2J departure, passing FL030 climbing FL110."

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, Kalispera, Athens Control radar contact, Climb to FL210."

Variant: FAA / IVAO "Olympic one-two-three, Athens Radar, climb and maintain flight level two-one-zero."

OAV123 "Climbing to FL210, Olympic one-two-three"

Speed & Routing Changes

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, proceed direct to NAPRO."

OAV123 "Direct NAPRO, Olympic one-two-three."

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, turn left heading 110 to avoid traffic."

Variant: Delaying action "Olympic one-two-three, turn left heading one-one-zero for spacing."

OAV123 "Left heading 110, Olympic one-two-three."

Frequency Change & Radar Contact

APP "Olympic one-two-three, contact Athens Control on, 129.80"

OAV123 "Athens Control on, 129.80, Olympic one-two-three"

OAV123 "Athens Control on, 129.80, Kalispera, Olympic one-two-three, flightlevel 360 inbound EVENO."

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, good evening, radar contact!"

Variant: Identification "Olympic one-two-three, identified, Athens Radar, squawk ident."

Inbound & Weather (No ATIS)

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, are you ready to copy MET REPORT for Sitia Airport?"

OAV123 "Affirmative go ahead, Olympic one-two-three."

CTR "Latest weather for Sitia, Winds 310 degrees at 12 knots, visibility 5 kilometres in light rain, scattered clouds at 2000 ft and overcast at 4000 ft, Temperatures 15 dew point 14, QNH 1003. You can expect the VOR DME approach runway 23."

OAV123 "Copy weather, QNH 1003 and runway 23 in use, Olympic one-two-three."

STAR & Descent

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, cleared inbound Sitia via ATLAN 1 Alpha arrival for runway 23."

Variant: Descent to reach "Cleared ATLAN 1A, expect ILS runway 23, descend flight level 100 to reach at ATLAN."

OAV123 "ATLAN 1 Alpha arrival for runway 23, Olympic one-two-three."

OAV123 "Olympic one-two-three, request descend."

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, descend flight level 100."

Variant: Pilot's Discretion "Olympic one-two-three, descend and maintain flight level 100, at pilot's discretion."

OAV123 "Descend flight level 100, Olympic one-two-three."

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, when ready, descend flight level 100."

OAV123 "When ready descend flight level 100, Olympic one-two-three."

Approach Phase

Radar Vectors (No ATIS)

OAV123 "Kazantzakis App, Olympic one-two-three is with you FL 150 direct ATLAN."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, Kazantzakis APP, radar contact. Descend 5500 ft on QNH 1006, transition level 120."

OAV123 "Descend 5500 ft on QNH 1006, transition level 120, Olympic one-two-three."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, expect vectors for VOR DME approach to rwy 23. MET Report Sitia, Wind 310/9, Vis 5km light rain, SCT020 OVC040, 15/14, QNH 1006."

OAV123 "Expecting vectors for VOR DME approach rwy 23, QNH 1006, Olympic one-two-three."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, turn right heading 030 degrees."

Variant: Base Leg "Olympic one-two-three, turn right heading 030, base leg for runway 23."

OAV123 "Right to heading 030, Olympic one-two-three."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, turn right heading 160, cleared for VOR DME approach runway 23, report established on -R045"

OR (Speed Restriction) "Turn right heading 160, cleared ILS approach runway 23, maintain 160 knots until 4 DME."

OAV123 "Right to 160, cleared for the VOR DME approach runway 23, WILCO, Olympic one-two-three."

OAV123 "Approach, Olympic one-two-three, established on -R045 rwy 23"

APP "Olympic one-two-three, Contact now Sitia Tower on 122.60"

WILCO = WILL COMPLY

STAR + Radar Vectors

APP "Olympic one-two-three, after RDS turn left heading 090 and descend to 3000ft, vectors for ILS approach runway 25."

OAV123 "After RDS descend to 3000 ft and right heading 090, vectors for ILS Approach rwy 25, Olympic one-two-three."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, left heading 270 cleared ILS approach runway 25, report established."

OAV123 "Left heading 270, cleared ILS approach rwy 25 will report established, Olympic one-two-three."

Standard Arrival (STAR only)

OAV123 "Athina control, Kalispera, Olympic one-two-three with you on the ASIMI 1 Alpha arrival, flight level 100."

Athina Control "Olympic one-two-three, Athina Control, radar contact. Descend to 3000 ft on QNH 1006, cleared for ILS approach runway 25."

OAV123 "Descend to 3000 ft on QNH 1006 and cleared for ILS approach rwy 25, Olympic one-two-three."

Full Procedure Request

SX-SIT "Diagoras Tower, Kalimera, Sierra-Xray - Sierra - India- Tango with you direct RDS VOR, maintaining 6000 ft, request the full procedure ILS."

Tower "Sierra-Xray - Sierra - India- Tango, Kalimera, radar contact. Descend to 3000 ft on QNH 1013, cleared for the ILS app runway 25 via RDS VOR, report established on localizer inbound."

SX-SIT "3000 ft on QNH 1013 and cleared for the ILS approach via RDS VOR, Wilco, Sierra-Xray - Sierra - India- Tango"

Visual Approach

OAV123 "We have visual contact with airport area, request visual."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, cleared for visual approach runway 27, report on final."

Variant: Maintain Own Separation "Olympic one-two-three, cleared visual approach runway 27. Maintain own separation from leading company 737."

OAV123 "Cleared for the visual approach runway 27 will report on final, Olympic one-two-three"

Holding Procedures

APP "Olympic one-two-three, enter SHT holding at flightlevel 150 as published due to traffic congestions."

OAV123 "Enter SHT holding flight level 150, Olympic one-two-three"

APP "Olympic one-two-three expect further clearance in 5 minutes"

OAV123 "Roger, Olympic one-two-three"

APP "Olympic one-two-three, make three sixty right turns over SIT NDB at 5000 ft, Estimated approach time 55"

OAV123 "Three-sixty turns over SIT at 5000 ft, roger, Olympic one-two-three."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, exit SHT holding on course and descend to FL 090."

OAV123 "Exit SHT holding on course and descend to FL 090, Olympic one-two-three."

APP "Olympic one-two-three, leave SIT NDB on heading 170."

OAV123 "Leaving SIT NDB heading 170, Olympic one-two-three."

Landing & Taxi-In

Final Clearance

APP "Olympic one-two-three, contact Tower 120.85."

OAV123 "Tower 120.85, Olympic one-two-three."

OAV123 "Heraklion Tower, kalispera Olympic one-two-three."

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, kalispera, continue approach, you are no 2."

OAV123 "Continue approach, number 2, Olympic one-two-three."

Tower "Aegean zero-two-zero, Runway 27, cleared to land. Wind 280/4."

Variant: Land at own discretion "Aegean zero-two-zero, wind two-eight-zero at four, land at own discretion." (Uncontrolled Field)

AEE020 "Runway 27, cleared to land, Aegean zero-two-zero"

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, Runway 27, cleared to land, wind..."

OAV123 "Runway 27, cleared to land, Olympic one-two-three"

Vacating Runway

OAV123 "Olympic one-two-three vacated runway 27"

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, roger taxi to stand 7"

Variant: Contact Ground "Olympic one-two-three, vacated at Sierra, contact Ground on 121.80."

OAV123 "Taxi to stand 7, Olympic one-two-three"

OAV123 "Olympic one-two-three vacated runway 03L via A9"

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, roger taxi to stand 64 via A9, A, Κ"

OAV123 "Taxi to stand 64 via A9, A, K, Olympic one-two-three"

Missed Approach

OAV123 "Olympic one-two-three, Missed approach"

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, missed approach confirmed, climb to 1500 feet and right heading 300. Radar vectors for a new approach"

OAV123 "Climb to 1500 feet and heading 300, Olympic one-two-three"

Tower "Olympic one-two-three contact Approach on 123.97"

OAV123 "Olympic one-two-three, Missed approach"

OR (Going Around) "Olympic one-two-three, going around."

Tower "Olympic one-two-three, missed approach confirmed, execute standard missed approach, expect Radar vectors for a new approach"

OAV123 "Execute standard missed approach, Olympic one-two-three"

Tower "Olympic one-two-three contact Approach on 123.97"

Correcting Errors & Clarification

Self-Correction & Repeat

APP "Olympic one-two-three, turn right heading 35., correction, right heading 250"

Variant: Disregard "Olympic one-two-three, disregard my last transmission, continue current heading."

OAV123 "Right heading 250, Olympic one-two-three"

APP "Olympic one-two-three, descend t...N..10......."

OAV123 "Approach, say again for Olympic one-two-three"

APP "Olympic one-two-three, descend 5000 feet on QNH 1015"

OAV123 "Descend to 4000 feet on QNH 1015, Olympic one-two-three"

APP "Olympic one-two-three, negative, I say again, Descend 5000 ft on QNH1015"

Variant: Readback "Olympic one-two-three, readback is incorrect. I say again..."

OAV123 "Descend 5000 feet on QNH 1015, Olympic one-two-three"

ICAO Spelling & Unclear Transmissions

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, proceed direct to DIDIMON"

OAV123 "Say again for Olympic one-two-three"

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, I repeat, proceed direct to DIDIMON"

OAV123 "Read you only two, say name in ICAO"

Variant: Readability "Station calling Athens, you are unreadable. Say again using phonetic alphabet."

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, recleared direct Delta-Delta-Mike VOR"

OAV123 "Direct Delta-Delta-Mike VOR, Olympic one-two-three"

Emergency Situations

Urgency (PAN PAN)

OAV123 "PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN. Athens control, Olympic one-two-three need to return to Athens Venizelos immediately. Have a sick passenger that need medical attention."

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, Distress call is confirmed, turn right heading 070, Vectoring ILS runway 03 Left"

Variant: Squawk "Olympic one-two-three, roger your PAN call. Squawk seven-seven-zero-zero, vectors ILS runway zero-three left."

OAV123 "Right turn to heading 070, vectoring for ILS runway 03 Left, Olympic one-two-three"

Distress (MAYDAY)

OAV123 "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Athens control, Olympic one-two-three needs to return to Diagoras immediately. Fire in left engine"

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, your emergency is acknowledged. Right heading 070. Vectoring ILS approach runway 25"

OAV123 "Right to heading 070, vectoring ILS runway 25, Olympic one-two-three"

CTR "Olympic one-two-three when ready report fuel and souls(pax) onboard and recycle transponder to 7700"

OAV123 "5 tons of fuel and 78 souls(pax) onboard, transponder 7700, Olympic one-two-three"

CTR "Olympic one-two-three, roger"