ATC Comms

Your Callsign

Formatted Callsign:

Cherokee One Two Three Alpha Bravo

Ground: You requested taxi and Ground responds:

Easy

1 / 16

ATC

“Cherokee One Two Three Alpha Bravo, taxi runway two via Delta November”

Listen to the ATC instruction, then type your readback below

Your readback

AI-enhanced transcription improves accuracy for aviation terminology. Grading is approximate. This tool supplements — but does not replace — practice with a CFI.

Key Takeaways

Standard phraseology words mean specific things — use them precisely.
“Roger” = I understand; it does NOT mean yes or that you will comply.
“Affirmative/Negative” are reserved for yes/no questions; “Say again” requests a repeat.
Hold-short clearances must always be read back; “unable” declines an instruction you can’t safely comply with (14 CFR §91.3).
Lost comm: squawk 7600, continue VFR, land as soon as practical, and watch for tower light signals.

Standard Phraseology

The words mean specific things — use them precisely

Affirmative/Negative

Yes/No. Only for yes/no questions.

"ATC: "Going to KAVN?" You: "Affirmative""

Roger

I understand. Does NOT mean yes or that you will comply.

"ATC: "Traffic two oclock" You: "Roger, Cherokee two eight two""

Say Again

Please repeat. Standard request for repetition.

""Cherokee two eight two, say again?""

Traffic in Sight

You see the traffic ATC told you about.

""Traffic in sight, Cherokee two eight two""

Looking / Negative Contact

Searching for or cannot find reported traffic.

""Looking for traffic, Cherokee two eight two""

Cleared...

ATC permission to do something.

""Cleared to land runway one four, Cherokee four one zero""

Hold Short

Stop before and do not cross. Always read back!

""Hold short runway one four, Cherokee four one zero""

Line Up and Wait

Taxi onto the runway, but do NOT take off until cleared.

""Line up and wait runway two, Cherokee two eight two""

Ident

Push the transponder IDENT button to highlight on radar.

"ATC: "Cherokee two eight two, ident" (push button)"

Contact [frequency]

Switch to the new frequency and call them.

""Contact tower one one niner point niner""

Radar Contact

ATC has you on radar. No response required.

"ATC: "Cherokee two eight two, radar contact""

Squawk VFR

Set transponder to one two zero zero.

""Squawk VFR, Cherokee two eight two""

Cleared for the Option

You choose: full stop, stop-and-go, touch-and-go, low approach, or missed approach.

""Cleared for the option one four, Cherokee four one zero""

Make Left/Right Closed Traffic

Stay in pattern, turn direction specified.

""Left closed traffic one four, Cherokee four one zero""

Number [X] Following...

Your landing sequence. Look for that traffic.

""Number two, traffic in sight, Cherokee four one zero""

Extend Downwind

Continue downwind past normal base turn.

""Extend downwind, wilco, Cherokee eight six zero""

Frequency Change Approved

You can leave this frequency.

""Frequency change, Cherokee two eight two, good day""

Student Pilot

Identify yourself — ATC will help more.

""Cherokee two eight two, student pilot, say again?""

Four Ws (Initial Call)

Structure initial calls: Who you are calling, Who you are, Where you are, What you want.

""Aviation Approach (who calling), Cherokee 282 (who you are), 12 west at 5000 (where), inbound full stop (what)""

Unable

Decline an ATC instruction you can't safely comply with. PIC authority (14 CFR §91.3).

""Unable right turn due terrain, Cherokee two eight two""

Mayday / Pan-Pan

MAYDAY = distress (life threatened). PAN-PAN = urgency (not immediately life-threatening). Say 3 times.

""Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Cherokee two eight two, engine failure...""

Lost Comm (7600)

Squawk 7600 on radio failure. In VFR: continue VFR, land as soon as practical, watch for tower light signals.

"Set transponder to 7600, look for light gun signals, rock wings to acknowledge"

AIM 4-2

Key Takeaways

Sample VFR exchanges walk through getting ATIS, ground, tower, departure, approach, and landing.
Initial ground call adds ATIS code, location, and destination, then requests taxi.
Avoid “takeoff” until cleared — say “ready for VFR departure” at the hold short.
For traffic advisories, respond “traffic in sight,” “looking,” or “negative contact.”

These examples use a Cherokee callsign as the trainer aircraft. Adapt the type prefix and tail number to your assigned aircraft.

Sample Radio Calls

Common VFR exchanges — what you say, what you hear back

Getting ATIS

Listen on 124.15 and note: Wind, Visibility, Sky, Temp/Dew, Altimeter, Runway, NOTAMs

EXAMPLE:"B (Bravo) | 010 @ 12 G 17 | 10 SM | Few at 3000 | 12/03 | 30.03 | Runway 02"

Ground: Initial Contact

121.9

YOU SAY:Aviation Ground, Cherokee two eight two

ATC SAYS:Cherokee two eight two, Aviation Ground

YOU SAY:Cherokee two eight two, with [ATIS], at Cherokee, VFR [destination], ready for taxi

EXAMPLE:"Cherokee two eight two, with Bravo, at Cherokee, VFR the eastern practice area, ready for taxi"

Ground: Taxi Clearance

ATC SAYS:Cherokee two eight two, runway [XX] taxi via [taxiways]

YOU READBACK:Runway [XX] via [taxiways], Cherokee two eight two

EXAMPLE:"Runway two, Delta November, Cherokee two eight two"

Tower: Ready for Departure

119.9

YOU SAY:Aviation Tower, Cherokee two eight two, holding short [runway], ready for VFR departure

EXAMPLE:"Aviation Tower, Cherokee two eight two, holding short runway two, ready for VFR departure"

Caution

Avoid "takeoff" until cleared

Tower: Takeoff Clearance

ATC SAYS:Cherokee two eight two, runway [XX], cleared for takeoff

YOU READBACK:Runway [XX], cleared for takeoff, Cherokee two eight two

Departure: Initial Contact

124.9

YOU SAY:Aviation Departure, Cherokee two eight two, climbing through [altitude], heading [destination]

EXAMPLE:"Aviation Departure, Cherokee two eight two, climbing through one eight hundred, heading the eastern practice area"

Approach: Inbound

124.9

YOU SAY:Aviation Approach, Cherokee two eight two, with [ATIS], [distance] [direction], at [altitude], inbound

EXAMPLE:"Aviation Approach, Cherokee two eight two, with Charlie, twelve west, at five thousand, inbound full stop"

Tower: Landing

119.9

YOU SAY:Aviation Tower, Cherokee two eight two, [position], inbound landing

EXAMPLE:"Aviation Tower, Cherokee two eight two, six west, inbound full stop"

Traffic Advisory

Traffic in sight, Cherokee two eight two

Looking, Cherokee two eight two

Negative contact, Cherokee two eight two

Training aid only — verify all data against your POH and current FAA publications.