FTE RADIOTELEPHONY

THE ORAL COURSE

Robbie McFarlane Page 1 06/01/2018

Contents

The Basic Rules of RT..........................................................................................3

Initial Contact.....................................................................................................3
The three W’s.................................................................................................3
ATC Response.................................................................................................3
RTATPL+ Call.....................................................................................................4
Scenario 1......................................................................................................4
Scenario 2......................................................................................................5
Flow Chart of Basic RT.........................................................................................6
Frequency Changing............................................................................................6
Frequency Changing............................................................................................7
Initiated by Aircraft –.......................................................................................7
Initiated by ATC –...........................................................................................7
Freecall –.......................................................................................................7
Position Reporting...............................................................................................8
Time reporting....................................................................................................8
Level Changes....................................................................................................8
Uncontrolled Airspace......................................................................................8
Controlled Airspace..........................................................................................8
Readback Requirements.......................................................................................9
Acknowledgments...............................................................................................9
Different Types of ATC Service............................................................................10
ATC – Larger Airfields.....................................................................................10
Flight Information Service – Larger GA Airfields.................................................10
Air-to-Ground Radio – Small GA Airfields...........................................................10
Services Provided..........................................................................................10
Military Air Traffic Zone :: MATZ..........................................................................11
MATZ Description..........................................................................................11
Obtaining a MATZ Crossing.............................................................................11
VDF Bearings....................................................................................................12
Requesting a QDM.........................................................................................12
Emergency Procedures.......................................................................................13
Mayday........................................................................................................13
Mayday Relay...............................................................................................13
Oral Exam Brief................................................................................................14
Regular fail points:........................................................................................14
Equipment to bring:.......................................................................................14
Test schedule:..............................................................................................14

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The Basic Rules of RT
1) With every call to ATC you MUST include your callsign.
Remember, ATC could be working up to 20 or more aircraft.
2) Only address ATC by their callsign (tower, ground etc…) on the initial contact and
not on each call.
3) Listen out before transmitting (about 10 seconds if you have just selected the
frequency).
4) Ensure you have the correct frequency, the radio set is turned on and the volume
is turned up. If your aircraft has more than one radio set, ensure the correct one is
selected on the audio panel.
5) Use normal conversational tone, speak clearly and distinctly. Avoid expressions of
hesitancy – always sound professional (like you know what you are doing!!)
6) Keep it brief – 15 seconds max as a rule of thumb.
Remember, RT time is valuable
7) Tell ATC if you intend to change frequency – ensures they don’t end up searching
for you!

Initial Contact

The three W’s

W Who are you calling
Tower, Approach, Radar etc…

W Who you are

Cygnet 123, G-BJET etc…

W What do you want

Request start-up clearance, Zone Transit etc…

ATC Response
 Standby – ATC are busy, they will call you back
 Pass your message – give the RTATPL+ call (see below)
 The info you requested

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RTATPL+ Call

R Radio Callsign

T Aircraft Type – full ICAO designator

P28A, B738 etc…

A Airfield of departure
Full name; Fairoaks, Gatwick, Jerez etc…

T Airfield of arrival (TO)

Full name

P Position
Prominent feature, radial DME…

L Level – Altitude or FL, and the QNH in use

+ Any additional information the controller will require to process your request.

Scenario 1

R “G – AFTN

T C172

A Out of Formby

T to Ince

P Overhead Eccles

L 3,500’ ft on 1023”

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Scenario 2

W “Midtown Approach

W G-ABCD

W Request Zone Transit”

“G-ABCD pass your message”

R “G – AFTN

T C172

A Out of Formby

T to Ince

P Overhead Eccles

L 5000 ft on 1013

+ Routing via Lowtown to Elton”

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Flow Chart of Basic RT

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 Frequency Changing

Remember, it is important that both the Aircraft and the controller know of the changes.

Initiated by Aircraft –

Aircraft Call:
“G-ABCD changing to (facility name) on [freq]”

Reply by ATC:
“Roger G-ABCD to (facility name) on [freq]”

Initiated by ATC –

ATC Call:
“G-ABCD contact (facility name) on [freq]”

Aircraft reply:
“Roger G-ABCD to (facility) on [freq]”

NB: If ATC initiate the response, they have already passed your details to the new facility

Freecall –

ATC Call:
“Freecall (facility name) name on [freq]”

Aircraft reply:
“Roger G-ABCD to (facility) on [freq]”

NB: If asked to free call a facility, they will not have your details on file. RTATPL+ call will
required.

Contact = your details have been passed on the background and are on file
Freecall = you must pass the details, they are not on file

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Position Reporting
When required by ATC

O Overhead
At a reporting point, or the time* you were overhead the reporting
point.

L Level – altitude or flight level

Notify of any level changes

E Estimated ETO (ETA)

Give the time* you expect to be overhead the next reporting point

Time reporting
Time can be reported to ATC as 4 digits as normal, or as 2 digits if it will not be confused
with the same minutes in a different hour.

Example: An aircraft passes a reporting point ‘BELIZ’ at 12.41z. ATC are busy with other
traffic and it is 12.43z when the call is made. The next reporting point is 10 mins from
‘BELIZE’ and is called ‘DANKE’.

“G-ABCD overhead BELIZE 41, ETA DANKE 51”

Level Changes

Uncontrolled Airspace
In uncontrolled airspace, you can just announce your intentions. ATC cannot issue you
clearances.

“G-ABCD at 3500, climbing 5500”

Controlled Airspace
In controlled airspace, you must request from ATC a change in your current level.

“G-ABCD at FL200, request climb FL260”

NB: A level change will happen at every turn point in the RT oral exam.

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Readback Requirements
The following MUST be readback by the replying station if issued in the original message.
Any deviations should be listened out for by the station receiving the readback.

 Level / Heading / Speed instructions

 Airways / Route clearances
 Transponder Codes
 Altimeter settings (QNH/QFE)
 VDF Bearing Information (QDM/QTE)
 Frequency changing
 Radar service being given (RAS/RIS)
 Runway in use
 Any instructions to Enter / Backtrack / Holdshort / Cross an active runway
 Approach instructions
 Taxi instructions

Remember, all radio transmissions to/from an ATC unit are recorded. Being accurate and
clear with this is a way of covering your own back in the event a mistake is made.

Acknowledgments
AFFIRM Affirmative

NEGATIVE NO

ROGER The transmission was received

WILCO I have understood your message and I will comply

NB: WILCO should not be used if any of the original message required a readback.

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Different Types of ATC Service

ATC – Larger Airfields

“DELIVERY” Issue clearances to departing aircraft

“GROUND” Issue taxi instructions

“TOWER” Control of aircraft taking-off and landing

“APPROACH” Control aircraft within the aerodrome control zone

“RADAR” Radar control general

“DIRECTOR” Controls arriving and departing IFR traffic

Flight Information Service – Larger GA Airfields

“INFORMATION” Gives information to aircraft around and within ATZ. They cannot give
clearances but they CAN control movement of aircraft and vehicles on
the ground. They can give safety information.

Air-to-Ground Radio – Small GA Airfields

“RADIO” Similar to ‘INFORMATION’, except they have no authority to issue

instructions, air or ground.

Remember that “RADIO” at most small airfields is a handheld, the on-

call operator may not always be at a desk.

“SAFETY COM” This is a specific frequency available for private strips, 135.470.
135.470 The frequency is Aircraft-to-Aircraft only, each call MUST be prefixed
with the airfield name – this is to ensure that traffic at another nearby
private strip do not get confused with your messages.

Services Provided
Service Details RADAR Who Provides
FIS Flight Information Service. Gives info No Anyone
on known traffic

RIS Radar Information Service. Gives info YES Any ATC unit with
on conflicting traffic to participating RADAR & Military under
traffic (VFR) Lower Airspace RADAR
service.

RAS Radar Advisory Service. As per RIS, YES Any ATC unit with
but includes deconflicting info (IMC). RADAR & Military under
Unlikely to be provided to VFR traffic. Lower Airspace RADAR
service.

NB: RIS and RAS are available during the RT oral exam for about 50% of the time. Those
who pass, use it!

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Military Air Traffic Zone :: MATZ

MATZ Description

When flying within a MATZ, the altimeter should be set to QFE and not QNH.

MATZ has no legal authority over traffic within it, it is not necessary to comply with their
requests.

NB: A MATZ crossing will be required on the RT Oral Test

Obtaining a MATZ Crossing

 Initial Contact – 3 WWW’s

 RTATPL+ call

Aircraft Call:
“G-ABCD crossing MATZ at ______ ft on QFE ______”

ATC Reply:
“roger G-ABCD ______ ft on QFE ______”

NB: It is only necessary to readback the QFE. The airfield on the test that requires a MATZ
crossing will also have RIS and RAS available!! Use the RIS. To do this, “G-ABCD request
Radar Information Service and MATZ crossing at ______ ft on QFE ______”

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VDF Bearings
VHF Direction Finding utilises an Adcock antenna at the ground station to identify the
location of the origin of the radio transmission. The controller is able to obtain either the
QDM or QTE.

Remember:
QDM – “What do I steer to get to you?” [ºM]
Ask for a “QDM”

QTE – “What is my bearing from you?” [ºT]

Ask for a “true bearing”

NB: During the oral test, during your divert the cloud ceiling will close in and the terrain
will be featureless. If lost, request QDM!!

Requesting a QDM
Use the 4 W’s

W “QDM QDM

W Manston Tower

W G-ABCD

W Request QDM”

The initial ‘WHAT YOU WANT’ prompts the controller to look at the VDF instrument before
you give any other info. This is an attempt to the reduce the radio call to one transmission
and means they might not have to ask you to transmit again.

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Emergency Procedures
2 Types of Emergency Radio Call:
MAYDAY: Aircraft or passengers in ‘IMMEDIATE’ distress/danger.
PAN-PAN: Non-immediate distress/danger however priority requested.

Mayday
“MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
Name of station called/in use
A/C Callsign
Problem
Intentions
Position
Height
Heading
Pilot Qualifications
Additional Info that may be pertinent”

During the RT oral exam, a Mayday call may happen in either of two ways. One will be
answered by ATC, the other will not.
1) A recording of another aircraft making a Mayday will be played. YOU MUST STAY
QUIET AFTER. Note the details of the Mayday call in the event you have to relay.
The aircraft details and POSITION are very important!
2) As above, only ATC do not reply. Wait a reasonable time, then relay the message
as below. Relay any reply’s from ATC to the aircraft in distress.

Mayday Relay
“MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
This is ‘G-ABCD’ relaying MAYDAY for ‘AIRCRAFT CALLSIGN’…

NB: Remember to relay further messages as required. It is an instant fail to transmit

anything other than a MAYDAY relay until ATC give the all clear.

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Oral Exam Brief

Regular fail points:

 Incorrect details on initial contact
 Incorrect passing of details
 Position reporting
 Clearance for flight in controlled airspace – readback all!
 MATZ crossing
 Obtaining RIS
 Obtaining of bearings
 Joining/Departing airfield with ATC
 Handling of MAYDAY/PAN’s or MAYDAY relays

Equipment to bring:
 Permanent pens (map pens)
 Paper & notes
 Remember, no pre-prepared scripts! Although some prompts are allowed.

Test schedule:
 5 min brief on route and equipment
 20 mins to get yourself ready, set up
 5 min check with examiner
 35 – 1hr test
 PASS!

Robbie McFarlane Page 14 06/01/2018