Radio Calls

Ask students what their favorite radio station is. On the FM radio dial, the numbers or frequencies run from 88 to 107.

In aviation, the radio frequencies pick up where FM leaves off, using 108 mHz through 137 mHz. Among these frequencies are various assignments, not unlike your cable channel, except that this is radio and not TV.

There are channels for air traffic control, for the pilots to chat, for air shows, for the weather report, for balloons, for NASA, for the military, and more. For example, 121.5 mHz is the emergency channel.

What do pilots say on the radio? They have to get permission to fly the airplane from the airport’s control tower personnel. They have to report their waypoints, and they have to get permission to land and taxi the airplane around the airport. They also have to get permission to change altitudes.

Here’s a similar call that we did over the Atlantic Ocean:

Pilot: Santa Maria Control, N313JM, position report. (A)

Controller: 3JM, Santa Maria Control, go ahead. (B)

Pilot: Santa Maria Control, 3JM, checked EKROL at 1440, Flight Level One-Niner-Zero, estimating MAKIN at 1530, HOGAN next. (C)

Controller: 3JM, Santa Maria Control, copy that. (D)

Let’s break this down:

(A) Pilot makes request.

1. State who you want to talk to.
2. Identify yourself using your tail number.
3. Say what you want.
4. Wait to be acknowledged.

(B) Controller acknowledges request and is ready to listen.

1. 1. Controller addresses plane by last three items of tail number.
2. Controller identifies station.
3. Controller says go ahead and is ready to receive.

(C) Pilot reports position.

1. State who you want to talk to.
2. Identify yourself using last three digits of your tail number.
3. Say your last waypoint and the Zulu time you reached it.
4. Say your flight level.
5. Say your next waypoint and when you think you’ll get there.
6. Say your next waypoint after that, and say “next.”

(D) Controller acknowledges position report.

1. Controller addresses plane by last three items of tail number.
2. Controller identifies station.
3. Controller confirms receipt of report.

Hint: You’ll need to use the phonetic alphabet for the tail number only on the radio call. You don’t typically spell out the waypoints since the controllers will be familiar with them.

Let’s practice by putting everything we’ve learned together:

1. How would you make a radio position report if you reached SOGAL at 2:15 PM and you are bound for MOGUL? You’ll need to call Kansas City Control and your tail number is N444WG.

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2. Practice rehearsing with a friend this call that tells how a pilot interacts with the controller during landing:

   Pilot: Paine tower, Archer 323MT, over Snohomish Airport landing with Quebec.

   (note: Quebec is the latest weather information.)

   Controller: Archer 3MT enter left downwind runway 16L, report downwind.

   Pilot: Roger, enter left downwind 16L, report downwind, 3MT

   After a while, you will continue:

   Pilot: Paine tower Archer 323MT left downwind runway 16L.

   Controller: Archer 3MT, you are number three to land, you are following a Cessna just turning base, report that aircraft in sight.

   Pilot: 3MT, traffic in sight.

   Controller: Roger 3MT, follow that traffic, you are cleared to land.

   Pilot: 3MT cleared to land.

   Pilot: Paine ground, Archer 323MT, clear 16L, taxi to Henley’s.

   Controller: Archer 323MT, taxi to Henley’s.

   Pilot: 3MT.

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