RADIOTELEPHONY

TRANSMITTING TECHNIQUE
The following transmitting techniques will assist in ensuring that transmitted speech is clear and
satisfactorily received:
a) Before transmitting, listen out on the frequency to be used to ensure that there will be no
interference with a transmission from another station;
b) Be familiar with good microphone operating techniques;
c) Use a normal conversational tone, and speak clearly and distinctly;
d) Maintain an even rate of speech not exceeding 100 words per minute. When it is known that
elements of the message will be written down by the recipient, speak at a slightly slower rate;
e) Maintain the speaking volume at a constant level;
f) A slight pause before and after numbers will assist in making them easier to understand;
g) Avoid using hesitation sounds such as “er”;
h) Be familiar with the microphone operating techniques, particularly in relation to the maintenance
of a Constant distance from the microphone if a modulator with a constant level is not used;
i) Suspend speech temporarily if it becomes necessary to turn the head away from the microphone;
j) Depress the transmit switch fully before speaking and do not release it until the message is
completed. This will ensure that the entire message is transmitted;
k) The transmission of long messages should be interrupted momentarily from time to time to
permit the transmitting operator to confirm that the frequency in use is clear and, if necessary,
to permit the receiving operator to request repetition of parts not received.

An irritating and potentially dangerous situation in radiotelephony is a “stuck” microphone button.

Operators should always ensure that the button is released after a transmission and the microphone
placed in an appropriate place ensuring that it will not inadvertently be switched on.

STANDARD WORDS AND PHRASES

The following words and phrases shall be used in radiotelephony communications as appropriate and
shall have the meaning given below.
Word/Phrase Meaning

ACKNOWLEDGE “Let me know that you have received and understood this message.”
AFFIRM “Yes.”
APPROVED “Permission for proposed action granted.”
BREAK “I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message.”
BREAK BREAK “I hereby indicate the separation between messages transmitted to different
aircraft in a very busy environment.”
CANCEL “Annul the previously transmitted clearance.”
CHECK “Examine a system or procedure.”
CLEARED “Authorized to proceed under the conditions specified.”
CONFIRM “I request verification of: (clearance, instruction, action, information).”
CONTACT “Establish communications with . . .”
CORRECT “True” or “Accurate”.
CORRECTION “An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The
correct version is . . .”

1|P ag e
 DISREGARD “Ignore.”
HOW DO YOU READ “What is the readability of my transmission?”
I SAY AGAIN “I repeat for clarity or emphasis.”
MAINTAIN Continue in accordance with the condition(s) specified or in its literal sense,
e.g. “maintain VFR”
MONITOR “Listen out on (frequency).”
NEGATIVE “No” or “Permission not granted” or “That is not correct” or “not capable”.
OUT “This exchange of transmissions is ended and no response is expected.”
OVER “My transmission is ended and I expect a response from you.”
READ BACK “Repeat all, or the specified part, of this message back to me exactly as
received.”
RECLEARED “A change has been made to your last clearance and this new clearance
supersedes your previous clearance or part thereof.”
REPORT “Pass me the following information . . .”
REQUEST “I should like to know . . .” or “I wish to obtain . .
ROGER “I have received all of your last transmission.”
SAY AGAIN “Repeat all, or the following part, of your last transmission.”
SPEAK SLOWER “Reduce your rate of speech.”
STANDBY “Wait and I will call you.”
UNABLE “I cannot comply with your request, instruction, or clearance.”
WILCO “ I understand your message and will comply with it.”
WORDS TWICE a) As a request: “Communication is difficult. Please send every word or group
of words twice.” b) As information: “Since communication is difficult, every
word or group of words in this message will be sent twice.”

Note.⎯ The phrase “GO AHEAD” has been deleted, in its place the use of the calling aeronautical
station’s call sign followed by the answering aeronautical station’s call sign shall be considered the
invitation to proceed with transmission by the station calling.

TRANSMISSION OF LETTERS
 To expedite communications, the use of phonetic spelling should be dispensed with if there is no
risk of this affecting correct reception and intelligibility of the message.
 With the exception of the telephony designator and the type of aircraft, each letter in the aircraft
call sign shall be spoken separately using the phonetic spelling.
 The words in the table below shall be used when using the phonetic spelling.
Note.— Syllables to be emphasized are underlined

Letter Word Pronunciation

Letter Word
A Alpha AL FAH
B Bravo BRAH VOH
C Charlie CHAR LEE or
S HAR LEE
D Delta DELL TAH
E Echo ECK OH

2|P ag e
 F Foxtrot FOKS TROT
G Golf GOLF
H Hotel HO TELL
I India IN DEE AH
J Juliett JEW LEE ETT
K Kilo KEY LOH
L Lima LEE MAH
M Mike MIKE
N November NO VEM BER
O Oscar OSS CAH
P Papa PAH PAH
Q Quebec KEH BECK
R Romeo ROW ME OH
S Sierra SEE AIR RAH
T Tango TANG GO
U Uniform YOU NEE FORM or OO NEE FORM
V Victor VIK TAH
W Whiskey WISS KEY
X X-ray ECKS RAY
Y Yankee YANG KEY
Z Zulu ZOO LOO

TRANSMISSION OF NUMBERS
When the language used for communication is English, numbers shall be transmitted using the following
pronunciation:
Note.— The syllables printed in capital letters are to be stressed; for example, the two syllables in ZE-RO
are given equal emphasis, whereas the first syllable of FOW-er is given primary emphasis.
Numeral or numeral element
Pronunciation
0 ZE-RO
1 WUN
2 TOO
3 TREE
4 FOW-er
5 FIFE
6 SIX
7 SEV-en
8 AIT
9 NIN-er
Decimal DAY-SEE-MAL
Hundred HUN-dred
Thousand TOU-SAND
3|P ag e
All numbers, except as specified in 2.4.3, shall be transmitted by pronouncing each digit separately.
Aircraft call signs Transmitted as
AIC 238 Air India two three eight
VT-LAY Victor Tango Lima Alpha Yankee
flight levels transmitted as
FL 180 flight level one eight zero
FL 200 flight level two zero zero
headings transmitted as
100 degrees heading one zero zero
080 degrees heading zero eight zero
wind direction and speed transmitted as
200 degrees 25 knots wind two zero zero degrees two five knots
160 degrees 18 knots wind one six zero degrees one eight knots
gusting 30 knots gusting three zero knots
transponder codes transmitted as
2 400 squawk two four zero zero
4 203 squawk four two zero three
runway transmitted as
27 runway two seven
30 runway three zero
altimeter setting transmitted as
1 010 QNH one zero one zero
1 000 QNH one zero zero zero

All numbers used in the transmission of altitude, cloud height, visibility and runway visual range (RVR)
information, which contain whole hundreds and whole thousands, shall be transmitted by pronouncing
each digit in the number of hundreds or thousands followed by the word HUNDRED or THOUSAND as
appropriate.

Altitude Transmitted as
800 eight hundred
3 400 three thousand four hundred
12 000 one two thousand
cloud height transmitted as
2 200 two thousand two hundred
4 300 four thousand three hundred
visibility transmitted as
1 000 visibility one thousand
700 visibility seven hundred
runway visual range transmitted as
600 RVR six hundred
1 700 RVR one thousand seven hundred

4|P ag e
 Channel Transmitted as
118.000 ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ZERO
118.005 ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ZERO ZERO FIVE
118.010 ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ZERO ONE ZERO
118.025 ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ZERO TWO FIVE
118.050 ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ZERO FIVE ZERO
118.100 ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ONE
While runway inspection when it is felt that the information may prove useful to tower/aircraft or
Whenever a controller deems it necessary, information that water is on a runway shall be passed to
aircraft using the terms “DAMP”, “WET”, “WATER PATCHES” or “FLOODED” according to the amount of
water present.

TRANSMISSION OF TIME
When transmitting time, only the minutes of the hour should normally be required. Each digit should
be pronounced separately. However, the hour should be included when any possibility of confusion is
likely to result.
Note.— The following example illustrates the application of this procedure:

Time Statement
0920 (9:20 A.M.) TOO ZE-RO or ZE-RO NIN-er TOO ZE-RO
1643 (4:43 P.M.) FOW-er TREE or WUN SIX FOW-er TREE

Establishment and continuation of communications

If there is doubt that a message has been correctly received, a repetition of the message shall be
requested either in full or in part.
Phrase Meaning
SAY AGAIN Repeat entire message
SAY AGAIN . . . (item) Repeat specific item
SAY AGAIN ALL BEFORE . . . (the first word satisfactorily received) Repeat part of message
SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER . . . (the last word satisfactorily received) Repeat part of message
SAY AGAIN ALL BETWEEN . . . AND . . . Repeat part of message

When a station is called but is uncertain of the identity of the calling station, the calling station should be
requested to repeat its call sign until the identity is established.

5|P ag e
When an error is made in a transmission, the word “CORRECTION” shall be spoken, the last correct group
or phrase repeated and then the correct version transmitted.

If a correction can best be made by repeating the entire message, the operator shall use the phrase
“CORRECTION I SAY AGAIN” before transmitting the message a second time.

MOVEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Drivers on first-call should identify themselves by their vehicle call sign, state their position and intended
destination and, when possible, the required route

The controller, if too busy to give instructions, will reply “stand by”. This means that the driver should
wait until the controller calls back. The driver shall not proceed until permission is given.

When there is conflicting traffic, the controller may reply “HOLD POSITION”. This means that the driver
shall not proceed until the controller calls back with permission. All other replies should contain a clearly
defined point to which the driver may proceed; this may or may not be the intended destination. If it is
not the intended destination drivers must stop at this point and request permission before proceeding
further.

6|P ag e
Permission to proceed on the apron may include such instructions regarding other traffic as are necessary
to ensure safe operations.

FINAL APPROACH AND LANDING

A “FINAL” report is made when an aircraft turns onto final within 7 km (4 NM) from touchdown. If and
when the turn onto final is made at a greater distance, a “LONG FINAL” report is made. If the aircraft is
making a straight-in approach, a “LONG FINAL” report is made at about 15 km (8 NM) from touchdown.
If no landing clearance is received at that time, a “FINAL” report is made at 7 km (4 NM) from touchdown.

The expeditious movement of vehicles plays an essential supporting role in the operation of an
aerodrome. Wherever possible the areas in which vehicles and aircraft operate are segregated. There
are, however, many occasions when vehicles need to move on the manoeuvring area for maintenance
purposes or in direct support of aircraft operations.

Aerodrome Control Vehicles

Procedures governing the movement of vehicles vary widely from aerodrome to aerodrome, but certain
factors to be taken into account when driving on an aerodrome are common to all:

7|P ag e
 1. Aircraft are not as manoeuvrable as ground vehicles
2. The visibility from an aircraft cockpit for ground movement purposes is often restricted
compared to that from a ground vehicle.

Therefore, when vehicles are operating in close proximity to aircraft, drivers should be extremely vigilant
and comply in full with local procedures and ATC instructions.

Correct RTF operating techniques must be observed by all users. It is important that a continuous listening
watch is maintained by all drivers on the movement area, not only in case of further instructions from
the control tower, but also so that drivers can be aware of the movements, and intended movements, of
other traffic, thereby reducing the risk of conflict.

CROSSING RUNWAYS
Drivers should carefully note the position to which they may proceed, particularly where the intended
route involves crossing a runway. Some aerodromes may have procedures that will allow vehicles to
proceed to a holding point and then request runway crossing instructions. Under no circumstances shall
a driver cross a runway unless positive permission has been given and acknowledged. A runway vacated
report shall not be made until the vehicle (and tow) is clear of the designated runway area, beyond the
holding point.

If a vehicle is operating on the runway, it shall be instructed to leave the runway when it is expected
that an aircraft will be landing or taking off.

8|P ag e
When a vehicle is moving on the movement area it may be necessary to inform the vehicle of a
potentially dangerous situation and to instruct it to stop.

Traffic Information
To Pass traffic information From ATC to Fire Watch Tower/Fire Station:
Example: Traffic Indian Airlines Airbus 320 (three two – zero) long final runway 28
To acknowledge from fire station/fire watch tower:
Example: Traffic insight or looking out

Communication Requirements and Visual Signals

At aerodromes all vehicles employed on the manoeuvring area shall be capable of maintaining two way
radio communications with the aerodrome control tower, except when the vehicle is only occasionally
used on the manoeuvring area and is:
1. Accompanied by a vehicle with the required communications capability or
2. Employed in accordance with pre-arranged plan established with the aerodrome control tower

When communications by a system of visual signals is deemed to be adequate or in the case of radio
communication failure, the signals hereunder shall have the meaning indicated therein:

Light signal from aerodrome control Meaning

Green flashes Permission to cross landing area or to move onto
taxiway
Steady red Stop
Red flashes Move off the landing aera or taxiway and watch
out for aircraft
White flashes Vacate manoeuvring area in accordance with local
instructions

9|P ag e
In emergency conditions or if the signals in previous para are not observe, the signal given hereunder
shall be used for runways or taxiways equipped with a lighting system and shall have the meaning
indicated therein.
Light signal Meaning
Flashing runway or taxiway lights Vacate the runway and observe the tower for light
signal

Test procedures
Test transmissions should take the following form:
a) the identification of the aeronautical station being called;
b) the aircraft identification;
c) the words “RADIO CHECK”; and
d) the frequency being used.

Replies to test transmissions should be as follows:

a) the identification of the station calling;
b) the identification of the station replying; and
c) information regarding the readability of the transmission.

The readability of transmissions should be classified in accordance with the following readability
scale:
1. Unreadable.
2. Readable now and then.
3. Readable but with difficulty.
4. Readable.
5. Perfectly readable

VO - Chennai Center (VOMF)

ICAO District
VOAR Vellore
VOBG Bengaluru
VOBM Belgaum District
VOBI Bellary District
VOBL Bengaluru
VOBR Bidar District
VOBZ Krishna
VOBZ Krishna
VOBX Great Nicobar Island
VOCB Coimbatore
VOCC Ernakulam
VOCI Ernakulam
VOCL Kozhikode District
VOCP Kadapa District

10 | P a g e
 VOCX Nicobar
VODG Medchal–Malkajgiri
VODK Prakasam
VOGB Gulbarga
VOGO South Goa
VOGO South Goa
VOHB Dharwad
VOHK Hyderabad
VOHS Hyderabad
VOHY Hyderabad
VOKN Kannur
VOMD Madurai
VOML Dakshina Kannada
VOMM Chennai
VOMY Mysore
VONV Cuddalore District
VOPB South Andaman
VOPC Puducherry
VOPN Anantapuramu
VORG Peddapalli
VORM Ramanathapuram District
VORY East Godavari
VOSM Salem
VOSX Coimbatore
VOTJ Thanjavur
VOTK Thoothukudi
VOTP Chittoor
VOTR Thiruchirapalli
VOTV Thiruvananthapuram
VOTX Chennai
VOVZ Visakhapatnam
VOVZ Visakhapatnam
VOWA Warangal District
VOYK Bengaluru

VI - Delhi Center (VIDF)

VIAG (AGR) Agra
VIAM Ambala
VIAR (ATQ) Amritsar
VIAX Adampur / Jullundur
VIBK (BKB) Bikaner

11 | P a g e
 VIBY (BEK) Bareilly
VIBR (KUU) Kullu / Manali
VIBT (BUP) Bhatinda
VICG (IXC) Chandigarh
VIDD New Delhi
VIDN (DED) Dehradun
VIDP (DEL) New Delhi
VIDX Ghaziabad
VIGG (DHM) Kangra / Dharamsala
VIGR (GWL) Gwalior
VIHR (HSS) Hissar
VIJN Jhansi
VIJO (JDH) Jodhpur
VIJP (JAI) Jaipur
VIJR (JSA) Jaisalmer (Jaiselmer)
VIJU (IXJ) Jammu
VIKA (KNU) Kanpur
VIKG (KQH) Kishangarh
VIKO (KTU) Kota
VILD (LUH) Ludhiana
VILH (IXL) Leh
VILK (LKO) Lucknow
VIPK (IXP) Pathankot
VIPT (PGH) Pant Nagar / Nainital
VISM (SLV) Shimla
VISR (SXR) Srinagar
VISX Sirsa
VIUT Uttarlai
VIUX Udhampur

WRITE 3 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HF AND VHF
WHAT ARE SURFACE WAVES
WHAT IF QNH, QFE AND QNE – EXPLAIN THERE
APPLICATIONS
DRAW- AIRCRAFTS HEADING 150, 200, 040
VHF SLOT FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS?
EXPLAIN FREQUENCY SHARING BETWEEN VOR
AND ILS
WHAT IS AIP-WHO PUBLISHES IT?
WHAT ARE IT PARTS-NAME THEM
WHAT IS LOCATION INDICATOR
“V” STANDS FOR?
SECOND LETTER STANDS FOR?
LAST TWO LETTERS INDICATE?
12 | P a g e
WHY SURFACE WAVES HAVE LESS COVERANGE
ON LAND AND MORE SEA
EXPLAIN TRANSITION LEVEL, TRANSITION
ALTITUTION AND TRANSITION LAYER
TRANSIT-RVR 2000, VIS 4500, ATIS
WHAT FREQUENCY VOR WORKS ON?
WHAT IS FREQUENCY PARING- EXPLAIN USING
VOR-DME EXAMPLE
WHAT ARE NOTAMS? GIVE AND EXAMPLE?
NOTAMS ARE ISSUED BY?
WHAT ARE THE F-I-R’S IN INDIA
NAME THEN WITH CODES
 WHAT ARE TYPICAL VHF STATIONS YOU WILL FIND YOU CHANGE FROM GROUND TO TOWER AT?
AT AN AERODROME
IF THE FIRST QUESTION IS VERY SIMPLE LOOK FOR WHAT ARE THE CONTENTS OF A FLGIHT PLAN IN
THE QUESTION PAPER
WRITE THE PHRASES FOR-
1. Authorised to proceed under the 1. Yes
conditions specified. 2. Permission for proposed action granted
2. I request verification of (clearances, 3. I hereby indicate the separation between
instruction, action, information) portions of the message. (To be used
3. Establish communication with….. where there is no clear distinction
4. True or Accurate between the text and other portion of the
5. An error has been made in the message)
transmission (or message indicated). The 4. I hereby indicate the separation between
correct version is… message transmitted to different aircraft
6. Ignore in a very busy environment Annul the
7. Let me know that you have received and previously transmitted clearance.
understood this message 5. Examine a system or procedure. (No
answer is normally expected)

VA - Mumbai Center (VABF)

VAAH (AMD) Ahmedabad
VAAK (AKD) Akola
VAAU (IXU) Aurangabad
VABB (BOM) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
VABJ (BHJ) Bhuj, Gujarat, India
VABO (BDQ) Vadodara (Baroda)
VABP (BHO) Bhopal
VABV (BHU) Bhavnagar
VADN (NMB) Daman
VAGN (GUX) Guna, India
VAID (IDR) Indore
VAJB (JLR) Jabalpur
VAJJ Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
VAJL Jalgaon
VAJM (JGA) Jamnagar
VAKD Khandwa
VAKE (IXY) Gandhidham / Kandla
VAKJ (HJR) Khajuraho
VAKP (KLH) Kolhapur
VAKS (IXK) Keshod
VALT (LTU) Latur
VAND (NDC) Nanded
VANP (NAG) Nagpur
VANR (ISK) Nashik

13 | P a g e
 VAOZ (ISK) Nashik
VAPO (PNQ) Pune (Poona)
VAPR (PBD) Porbandar
VARG (RTC) Ratnagiri
VARK (RAJ) Rajkot
VASD (SAG) Shirdi
VASL (SSE) Sholapur (Solapur)
VASU (STV) Surat
VAUD (UDR) Udaipur

VE - Kolkata Center (VECF)

VE89 (DBR) Darbhanga
VEDO (DGH) Deoghar
VEAN (IXV) Aalo (Along)
VEAT (IXA) Agartala
VEAZ Aizawl
VEBA Behala - Kolkata (Calcutta)
VEBD (IXB) Bagdogra / Siliguri
VEBG (RGH) Balurghat
VEBI (SHL) Shillong
VEBN (VNS) Varanasi
VEBS (BBI) Bhubaneswar
VEBT Bihta, Patna
VEBU (PAB) Bilaspur
VECA Dibrugarh
VECC (CCU) Kolkata (Calcutta)
VECK Chakulia
VECO (COH) Cooch Behar
VECX Kanpur
VEDB (DBD) Dhanbad
VEDZ (DEP) Daporijo
VEGK (GOP) Gorakhpur
VEGT (GAU) Guwahati
VEGY (GAY) Gaya
VEHK Hirakud
VEIM (IMF) Imphal
VEJH Jharsuguda
VEJP (PYB) Jeypore
VEJS (IXW) Jamshedpur
VEJT (JRH) Jorhat
VEKM (IXQ) Kamalpur
VEKR (IXH) Kailashahar

14 | P a g e
 VEKU (IXS) Silchar
VEKW (IXN) Khowai
VELP (AJL) Aizawl
VELR (IXI) North Lakhimpur
VEMH (LDA) Malda
VEMN (DIB) Dibrugarh
VEMR (DMU) Dimapur
VEMZ (MZU) Muzzafarpur
VEPG (IXT) Pasighat (Passighat)
VEPH Panagarh
VEPT (PAT) Patna
VEPU (PUR) Purnia (Purnea)
VERC (IXR) Ranchi
VERK (RRK) Rourkela
VERL Raxaul
VERP (RPR) Raipur
VERU (RUP) Rupsi
VEST (TNI) Satna
VETJ (TEI) Tezu
VETZ (TEZ) Tezpur
VEZO (ZER) Ziro, India

1. PROCEED WITH YOUR MESSAGE NOTE
NOT USED WHENEVER THE POSSIBILITY
EXISTS OF MISCONSTRUING “GO AHEAD”
AS AUTHORISATION FOR AN AIRCRAFT TO
PROCEED.
2. WHAT IS THE READABILITY OF MY
TRANSMISSION?
3. CONTINUE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
CONDITIONS(S) SPECIFIED OR IN ITS
LITERAL SENSE,
4. LISTEN OUT ON (FREQUENCY)
5. “NO” OR “PERMISION NOT GRANTED” OR
“THAT IS NOT CORRECT” OR “NOT
CARABLE”
6. MY TRANSMISSION IS ENDED AND I
EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM YOU “NOTE:
NOT NORMALLY USED IN VHF
COMMUNICATION
7. "THIS EXCHANGE OF TRANSMISSION IS
ENDED AND NO RESPONSE IS EXPECTED”
NOTE: NOT NORMALLY USED IN VHF
COMMUNICATION
8. PASS ME FOLLOWING INFORMATION
1. “REPEAT ALL, OR THE FOLLOWING PART,
OF YOUR LAST TRANSMISSION”
2. “REDUCE YOUR RATE OF SPEECH”
3. “WAIT AND I WILL CALL YOU”
4. “I CAN NOT COMPLY WITH YOUR
REQUET, INSTRUCTION, OR. CLEARANCE”
AND IS NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY
A_________
5. I UNDERSTAND YOUR MESSAGE AND
WILL COMPLY WITH IT.
6. AS A REQUEST: “COMMUNICATION IS
DIFFICULT. PLEASE SEND EVERY WORD
OR GROUP OF WORDS TWICE”.
7. AS INFORMATION: “SINCE
COMMUNICATION IS DIFFICULT, EVERY
WORD, OR GROUP OF WORD, IN THIS
MESSAGE WILL BE SENT TWICE”
8. “REPEAT ALL, OR THE SPECIFIED PART, OF
THIS MESSAGE BACK TO ME EXACTLY AS
REQUIRED”
9. A CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO YOUR
LAST CLEARANCE AND THIS NEW

15 | P a g e
 9. “I HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF YOUR LAST CLEARANCE SUPERSEDES YOUR
TRANSMISSION”. PREVIOUS CLEARANCE OR PART THEREOF
10. I SHOULD LIKE TO KNOW….”OR “ I WISH

1. What is the next flight level available after FL 410

2. What are the requirements for RVSM complaint aircraft
3. What is ATIS and which frequency it works on
4. What is Typical frequency for SMC
5. Take off term is always used by ___________ first, a pilot will always say__________ instead of
take off
6. What is the phrase for IM stopping due some reason
7. What ull ask for if you see flock birds near movement area
8. Which area of the aerodrome you will go if you find something suspicious onboard your aircraft
and think you need isolation

Approved Cleared
Runway Holding Turn right/left
Stand Reporting
Experiencing Would like to
Departure Cancelling take off
Instructions Line up

16 | P a g e
 COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS
ACC Area control centre or area control
ADF Automatic direction-finding equipment
AFIS Aerodrome flight information service
AGL Above ground level
AIP Aeronautical information publication
AIRAC* Aeronautical information regulation and control
AIS Aeronautical information services
AMSL Above mean sea level
ATC Air traffic control (in general)
ATD Actual time of departure
ATIS* Automatic terminal information service
ATS Air traffic services
ATZ Aerodrome traffic zone
CAVOK* Visibility, cloud and present weather better than prescribed values or conditions
CTR Control zone
DME Distance measuring equipment
EET Estimated elapsed time
ETA Estimated time of arrival or estimating arrival
ETD Estimated time of departure or estimating departure
FIC Flight information centre
FIR Flight information region
FIS Flight information service
GCA Ground controlled approach system or ground controlled approach
H24 Continuous day and night service
HF High frequency (3 to 30 MHz)
IFR Instrument flight rules
ILS Instrument landing system
IMC Instrument meteorological conditions
INS Inertial navigation system
LORAN* Long range air navigation system
MET* Meteorological or meteorology
MLS Microwave landing system
MNPS Minimum navigation performance specifications
NDB Non-directional radio beacon
NIL* None or I have nothing to send you
NOTAM* A notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the
establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or
hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight
operations
PAPI* Precision approach path indicator

17 | P a g e
 QFE Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or at runway threshold)
QNH Altimeter sub-scale setting to obtain elevation when on the ground
RCC Rescue coordination centre
RNAV* Area navigation
RVR Runway visual range
SELCAL* A system which permits the selective calling of individual aircraft over radiotelephone
channels linking a ground station with the aircraft
SID* Standard instrument departure
SIGMET* Information issued by a meteorological watch office concerning the occurrence or
expected occurrence of specified en-route weather phenomena which may affect the
safety of aircraft operations
SNOWTAM* A special series NOTAM notifying the presence or removal of hazardous conditions due to
snow, ice, slush or standing water associated with snow, slush and ice on the movement
area, by means of a specific format
SSR Secondary surveillance radar
SST Supersonic transport
STAR* Standard (instrument) arrival
TACAN* UHF tactical air navigation aid
TAF* Aerodrome forecast
TMA Terminal control area
UHF Ultra-high frequency (300 to 3 000 MHz)
UIR Upper flight information region
UTA Upper control area
UTC Coordinated universal time
VASIS* Visual approach slope indicator system
VDF Very high frequency direction-finding station
VFR Visual flight rules
VHF Very high frequency (30 to 300 MHz)
VIP Very important person
VMC Visual meteorological conditions
VOLMET* Meteorological information for aircraft in flight
VOR VHF omnidirectional radio range
VORTAC* VOR and TACAN combination

18 | P a g e
 Recommended abbreviations & symbols For
RTR (A) examination

Following abbreviations and symbols may be used by examinee while writing his
answers in RTR (A) examination part-I.

A
Abm Abeam
Abt About
Abv Above
Acft Aircraft
ACC Area control or Area control centre
A/c Aircraft
Ack Acknowledge
Acpt Accept or Accepted
AD Aerodrome
Adj Adjacent
Ady Advise; Advisory
Adz Advice
Aft After (time or place)
Agn Again
Attn Attention
Alt Altitude
Altn Alternate
AP Airport
A/P Auto Pilot
Apch Approach
App Approach control or Approach control service
Apn Apron
Aprx Approximate or approximately
Apv Approve or approved
Arng Arrange
Asc Ascent or Ascending to
ATA Actual time of arrival
ATC Air traffic control
ATD Actual time of departure
Attn Attention
Auth Authorized or Authorization
Avbl Available
AWY Airway
Azm Azimuth

19 | P a g e
 B
BA Braking action
Bat Battery
Bcst Broadcast
Bdry Boundary
Becmg Becoming
Bfr Before
BKN Broken
Bldg Building
Blw Below
Brg Bearing
Brk Brake
Btn Between

C
Capt Captain
Cb Cumulonimbus
Cfm Confirm
Cld Cloud
Clr Clear(s) or cleared to, or Clearance
Clsd Close, or closed, or closing
Cmb Climb or climbing to
Cmpl Complete
Cnl Cancel
Com Communication
Cond Condition
Cons Continuous
Co-ord Co-ordinate or coordination
Crs Course
Ctn Caution

D
DA Decision altitude
Dct Direct
Dev Deviation
Div Divert or diverting
Dep Departure
Dtrt Deteriorate, Deteriorating
Des Descend to or descending to
Desmst Destination
DH Decision height
Dist Distance

20 | P a g e
 Dla Delay
Dng Danger
Doc Document
Dur Duration

E
EB East bound
Elect Electric, Electricity
Elev Elevation
Emer Emergency
Eng Engine
Engg Engineering
Eqpt Equipment
Est Estimate or estimated
Exer Exercises or Excepted or exercise
Ext External
Extd Extend or extending
EAT Expected Approach Time

F
Fcst Forecast
FL Flight level
Flr Flares
Flg Flashing
Flt Flight
Fluc Fluctuating or fluctuated or fluctuation
Flw Follow (s) or Following
Fm From
FSL Full stop landing
Fwd Forward

G
GA Go around or Going around
Gld Glider
Gnd Ground
GP Glide Path
Gr Group
GS Ground speed
G/S Glide slope

21 | P a g e
 H
Hdg Heading
Hgt Height
Hldg Holding
Hr Hours
Hyd Hydraulic

I
Ident Identification
Impr Improve or improving
Imt Immediate or immediately
Inbd Inbound
Info Information
Inop Inoperative
Instr Instrument
Int Intersection
Intst Intensity
Isol Isolated

K
Kt Knots

L
Lat Latitude
Ldg Landing
Len Length
Lgt Light
Lgtd Lighted
LH Left hand
LLZ Localizer
Long Longitude
LSq Line squall
Lvl Level
LW Landing weight

22 | P a g e
 M
M Mach number (followed by figures); Metres (preceded by figures)
M, m Meter
Mag Magnetic
Maint Maintenance
Max Maximum
Met Meteorology
MM Middle marker
Mnm Minimum
Mnt Monitor or monitoring or monitored
Mntn Maintain
Mntng Maintaining
Mod Moderate
Msg Message

N
N/a Not available or not applicable
Nav Navigation
NC No change
Ngt Night
NM Nautical mile
Nml Normal
Nr Number
Nxt Next

O
Obs Observe or observed or observation
Obstr Obstruction
OM Outer marker
Opn Open or opened or opening

P
P… Prohibited area (followed by identification)
Parl Parallel
Pax Passenger (s)
Per Performance
Perm Permanent
PJE Parachute Jumping Exercise
PN Prior Notice required
POB Persons on board
Poss Possible

23 | P a g e
 Pri Primary
Prkg Parking
Prov Provisional
PS Plus
Psn Position
Pt Point
Ptn Procedure turn
Pvt Private
Pwr Power

Q
Quad Quadrant

R
R… Rescue area (Followed by identification)
R Runway (runway identification)
Rad Radius
Rash Rain showers
RCF Radio communication Failure
RCL Runway center line
Rdl Radial
Rdo Radio
Rd Road
RH Right hand
Rec Receive or receiver
REDL Runway edge light (s)
Ref Reference to or refer to
Reg Registration
RENL Runway end light (s)
Rep Report or reporting or reporting point
Req Request
Rerte Reroute
RG Range
RH Rescue Helicopter
RLCE Request level change en-route
RNN Resume normal navigation
Rif Re-clearance in flight
ROC Rate of climb
ROD Rate of descent
RON Receiving only
RPL Repetitive flight plan
RPLC Replace or replaced
24 | P a g e
 Rpt Repeat
RR Report reaching
RTE Route
Rwy Runway

S
SAP As soon as possible
SAR Search and rescue
Sec Seconds
Sect Sector
Sfc Surface
Sgl Signal
Spd Speed
SPOT Spot wind
SQ Squall
Sry Secondary
STA Straight in approach
Std Standard
Stn Station
Stnr Stationary
Subj Subject to
Svcbl Serviceable
Sys System

T
T Temperature
TA Transition altitude
Tail Tail wind
TAS True air speed
Tax Taxi
Tfc Traffic
TGL Touch and go landing
Thru Through
Til Until
Tkof Takeoff
T/o Take off
TOC Top of climb
TOD Top of descent
Trng Training
Turb Turbulence
Twr Tower
Twy Taxi
Typ Type of aircraft

25 | P a g e
 U
UFN Until further notice
UNA Unable
Unrel Unreliable
U/S Unserviceable

V
Vcy Vicinity
Vis Visibility
Vrb Variable
Vsp Vertical speed

W
WDI Wind direction Indicator
WEF With effect from
WIE With immediate effect
WIP Work in progress
Wpt Way point
Wrng Warning
WS Wind shear
Wt Weight
Wx Weather
WXR Weather Radar

X
X Cross
Xng Crossing
XCVR Transreciver
XFR Transfer
Xmtr Transmitter

Y
Yr Yours

Z
Z Zulu

26 | P a g e
 LEGENDS / ABBREVIATIONS
A/C AIRCRAFT
AB AIRBORNE
AF AIRFIELD
ASC ASCEND
ABM ABEAM
CLR CLEAR / CLEARED
CLIMB CLIMB
DT/TIME DATE/ TIME
EST ESTIMATE / ESTIMATED
ETA ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL
DEP DEPARTURE / DEPARTURED
FLR FAILURE
FLT.PLN FLIGHT PLAN
FL FLIGHT LEVEL
GD GROUND
G.S GROUND STATION
H.P HOLDING POINT / POSITION
G.A GO AHEAD
I.S.A I SAY AGAIN
KTS KNOTS

27 | P a g e
 LDG LANDING
MNTN MAINTAIN
MSG MESSAGE
NM NAUTICAL MILE (S)
NSC NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
PB PUSH BACK
PSN POSITION
PRE FLT CK PRE FLIGHT CHECK
PCK PRE FLIGHT SECAL CHECK
RDU5 READ YOU 5 (LOUD AND CLEAR)
RDOCK RADIO CHECK
RB READ BACK
RPRT REPORT
RXR RECEIVER
RECV RECEIVE
R/W RUNWAY

28 | P a g e