Communicating with ATC: How to Talk to Air Traffic Control?

Updated on October 28, 2024.

It’s a part of their day-to-day operations, and knowing how to talk to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) is essential. So, let’s take a look at some of the most common phrases and situations both student pilots and seasoned flight crew encounter.

In our first article on ATC communications, we covered the basics of preparing for radio communications with air traffic control professionals. Now, we delve a little bit deeper into the nitty-gritty of frequently faced situations.

Standard words and phrases

Undoubtedly, the most important thing in radio communication is for the message of the pilot to be unambiguous and clearly understood. A pilot’s communication partners – the air traffic controllers – will use the standard phraseology whenever they can, so learning the long vocabulary list is mandatory.

Fortunately, the meaning of these words and phrases is usually pretty self-explanatory. We’ve prepared a list of the most typical ones encountered in the wild. These and the full list should be gradually committed to memory. Remember, it will become second nature to you with practice and gained experience.

Feel free to save the image for the future!

Most common ATC communication words and phrases.

ATC communication examples

While each flight is unique, and there is no one set pattern for ATC communications to follow to the T, procedures remain the same. Unless you’re piloting a transatlantic flight through multiple airspaces, most radio communication is contained within the different stages of the flight.

Here, we share a couple of typical flight communications examples for both IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) and VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights. The setting: Vilnius International Airport. The actors: a Cessna 172 Skyhawk single-engine aircraft pilot (👨‍✈️) and an ATC Tower Controller (🎧).

IFR Departure

IFR departure of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

IFR Arrival

(If the runway is clear)

IFR arrival of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

VFR Control Zone (CTR) Crossing

VFR Control Zone crossing of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

VFR Arrival

VFR arrival of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

The key role of a read-back

When it comes to radio communication, vital parts of information or messages from an ATSU (Air Traffic Service Units) have to be read back. This prevents miscommunication, which, as aviation history shows, quite often is one of the main factors for some serious incidents, or at the very least, a big embarrassment.

Some of the important read-back items for a student pilot are:

• Runway clearances from ATC like cleared for takeoff, cleared to land, holding point, line up, and others.
• Runway in use.
• Altimeter settings so that your altimeter indicates correctly.
• Frequency change to ensure that you switch to the needed frequency and not an incorrect one.
• ATC route clearances
• Heading changes requested by the ATSU.
• Level or altitude instructions
• Speed instructions
• Transponder squawk instructions
• Type of radar service
• VDF direction finding information
• Approach instructions
• Transition levels
• Taxi instructions / tow instructions

An example of a read-back:

🎧 Lima-Yankee-Lima-Mike-Golf, contact Vilnius information one two three decimal eight five zero.

👨‍✈️ Contact Vilnius information one two three decimal eight five zero, Lima-Yankee-Lima-Mike-Golf.

Can never be too careful

A recent incident involving an Airbus A380 at Boston Logan Airport highlights exactly how important clear communication and read-back procedures in aviation are.

Upon landing, the aircraft missed a designated turn and mistakenly continued along a closed taxiway due to an incomplete read-back of air traffic control instructions. The pilots, seemingly distracted, failed to confirm their assigned path, ultimately crossing an active runway without clearance. This led to a 45-minute delay, requiring a tug to reposition the aircraft.

This incident, and other similar ones, though resolved safely, show how critical a read-back is in preventing runway incursions and enhancing situational awareness. The practice ensures pilots accurately confirm ATC instructions, mitigating risks linked to human error.

Practicing ATC communications

Constant repetition and practice are key to mastering ATC communication.

Once you have familiarized yourself with the standard phraseology and the most frequently encountered standard flight communication patterns well enough, it’s the perfect time to try out your listening and comprehension skills.

Nothing will prepare you better for the real-life thing than listening to the, well, real-life thing. The bouquet of different accents, speaking speeds, and radio crackles is truly a fool-proof way to train your ear and start your journey of mastering the art of radio communications.

Bottom line

While there is quite a lot to remember, memorize, and prepare for regarding radio communication with air traffic control professionals, a pilot’s day-to-day communications follow more or less the same pattern. Once you get a hang of it, you’ll be able to expect certain types of information in advance. The most important thing is to practice your listening skills and role-play these dialogue patterns.

In the final article of this series, we will cover the rare emergency lingo and situations that pilots must always be prepared to handle.