Air traffic control
Phraseology

This page lists some common phraseologies used in the communication between pilots and ATC.

Items in italic need to be replaced by the relevant information.
Lists are dialogues between the pilot and the controllers; we assume that station is the controller's callsign and that callsign is the pilot's callsign.
Most items critical for the safety of flight (such as new headings/altitudes..) must be read back (repeated) by the pilot; this allows the controller to check whether the pilot understood them correctly. In case readback is required, this will be mentioned. Do not just say 'roger' in those cases – that's a common error. If an item is read back wrongly, the controller should just state it again.
Some clearances (authorizations) may be combined in a single sentence for brevity.

For a detailed tutorial in ATCing, please take a look at the ATC Tutorial.

8Ground/tower controller coordination

The Advanced Transportation Controller (ATC) Standards are intended to provide an open architecture hardware and software platform that can support a wide variety of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications including traffic management, safety, security and other applications. ATC slots are issued as a function of airspace capacity. It’s very simple: if you have a room that holds ten idiots, you can’t put eleven idiots in the room, as much as you might like to. Idiot number eleven has to wait until one or more idiots come out or the room is made bigger, so the idiot (No11) is given a slot time. Casino near woodland wa. A unit established to provide air traffic control service to controlled flights arriving at, or departing from, one or more aerodromes. Approach control service: Air traffic control service for arriving or departing controlled flights. Approach sequence: The order in which two or more aircraft are cleared to approach to land at the aerodrome.

General

Phraseology	Meaning	Remarks
Affirmative (abbreviation: affirm)	Yes
Negative	No
Controller:Callsign, contact station on frequency Pilot: Contact station on frequency, callsign	A controller asks the pilot to change radio frequency and contact another controller; the pilot acknowledges the instruction and then changes frequency.	If the new controller does not respond, change to the previous frequency and inform ATC.
Roger	I received your information	This sentence is often abused; it should not be used in case a readback (repetition of the message you heard, for safety reasons) is required.
Wilco	Will comply	This sentence should not be used in case a readback (repetition of the message you heard, for safety reasons) is required.
Say again	Please repeat your last message
Standby	Please wait	Often said by a controller because (s)he's busy at the moment
Correction	Disregard what has been said immediately before (as it's erroneous) and replace it with the words that follow.	Example: Callsign, taxi to holding point runway 22 via N – correction, via A means: Callsign, taxi to holding point runway 22 via A.
Unable, reason	The pilot is not able to execute the instruction given by a controller for safety reasons.

Clearance

Phraseology	Meaning	Remarks
Pilot:Station, callsign, radio check. Controller:Callsign, station, I read you number from one to five: 1 = bad, 5 = excellent	Used by a pilot to check if the controller can hear him well.
Pilot:Station, callsign, stand stand, aircraft type with information code, request IFR clearance to destination Controller:Callsign, station, cleared to destination, SID departure, squawk code Pilot: Cleared to destination via SID, squawk code, callsign Controller:Callsign, readback correct	Used by a pilot flying under instrument flight rules to ask which SID he is going to use for departure.	This is not an authorization to take off.
Pilot:Callsign, request pushback Controller:Callsign, pushback approved facing direction Pilot: Pushback approved facing direction, callsign	The pilot asks for permission to pushback (be pushed away from the stand by a tug). At the end of the maneuver, the aircraft should be headed direction.
Pilot:Callsign, request startup Controller:Callsign, startup approved Pilot: Startup approved, callsign	The pilot asks for permission to start up the engines.

Taxi

Phraseology	Meaning	Remarks
Pilot:Station, callsign, stand stand, request taxi Controller:Callsign, station, taxi to holding point via full list of taxiways Pilot: Taxi to holding point via full list of taxiways, callsign	The pilot asks for authorization to taxi; the controller authorizes him to taxi to an holding point, reached which the pilot should stop and ask/wait for further instructions.	Refer to an updated aeronautical chart to know taxiway names.
Pilot:Station, callsign, stand stand, request progressive taxi Controller:Callsign, station, roger, expect progressive taxi Controller:Callsign, turn left/right now Pilot: Turning left/right, callsign	The pilot asks for authorization to taxi and for controller guidance, as (s)he's not familiar with the airport; the controller tells the pilot when to perform each turn.	Progressive taxi should only be used in case you get lost and can't solve the situation on your own.
Controller:Callsign, give way to an airlineaircraft model moving from left to right/right to left on taxiway name Pilot: Will give way to airlineaircraft model on name, callsign	The controller instructs the pilot to give way to another plane.
Pilot:Station, callsign holding short runway number at intersection Controller:Callsign, cross runway number at intersection Pilot: Cross runway number at intersection, callsign	The pilot needs to cross a runway and asks the ground controller for permission; the ground controller obtains a clearance from Tower (not reported here) and authorizes the pilot to cross.
Controller:Callsign, hold short of position Pilot: Will hold short of position, callsign	The ground controller asks the pilot to stop at position (a taxiway entrance, runwa

Atc Slot Definition