Phraseology Rules
What to say, what never to say, and why it matters
Words That Are Never Standard
These phrases fail checkrides and confuse controllers. Never use them: • "Copy" / "Copy that" — says nothing about what you copied • "10-4" — CB radio slang • "Will do" — not a clearance readback • "For sure" — informal • "No problem" — informal • "Affirmative" where the element itself should be stated
"Roger" vs. "Wilco" vs. "Affirmative"
- ✗"Roger" = "I received your message." Does NOT mean you will comply.
- ✗"Wilco" = "I will comply." Used for instructions, not clearances.
- ✗"Affirmative" = "Yes." Only use when a yes/no answer is needed, not in place of reading back a clearance.
- ✗"Roger that" — the "that" is informal. "Roger" is correct.
Using these wrong costs points but isn't an automatic fail unless it replaces a safety-critical readback.
Call Sign Every Time
Your call sign ends every transmission, or begins it. ATC uses it to confirm they're talking to you. On initial contact, state the full call sign: "Cessna 4 Sierra Uniform." After that, abbreviated is fine: "4 Sierra Uniform" or even "4SU" if ATC uses it first.
Pilot-Initiated Call Sign Abbreviation
You may NOT abbreviate your own call sign until ATC abbreviates it first. If ATC says "4SU, cleared for takeoff," you can respond "cleared for takeoff, 4SU." If they haven't abbreviated it, always use the full call sign.
Number Formats That Are Always Required
• Altitude: all digits — "five thousand five hundred" not "fifty-five hundred" • Frequency: digit by digit — "one two four point seven five" • Squawk: digit by digit — "four five two one" • Runway: L/R/C when assigned — "two eight left" not "two eight" • Heading: three digits — "heading two seven zero"
The "Readback Required" vs. "Acknowledgement Only" Rule
- ✗Traffic advisories — acknowledge only: "Traffic in sight, 4SU" or "Looking for traffic, 4SU."
- ✗Taxi clearances — full readback required, including hold short.
- ✗Takeoff/landing clearances — full readback required.
- ✗Altimeter settings — required readback.
- ✗"Wilco" alone is never sufficient for a clearance readback.
The Perfect Transmission Template
“[ATC facility says anything with an instruction]”
“[Instruction read back verbatim] + [your call sign at the end]”