Most important procedure words

THIS IS[edit]
This transmission is from the station whose designator immediately follows. For clarity, the
station called should be named before the station calling. So, "Victor Juliet zero, THIS IS Golf
Mike Oscar three..." or for brevity, "Victor Juliet zero, Golf Mike Oscar three, ROGER, OUT".
Never "This is GMO3 calling VJ0", "This is ground control to Major Tom" nor any other reversed
combination.

OVER[edit]
"This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead: transmit."
Contrary to popular belief, "OVER" and "OUT" are never used at the same time, since their
meanings are mutually exclusive. With spring-loaded PTT buttons on modern
combined transceivers, the same meaning can be communicated with just "OUT", as in "Ops,
Alpha, ETA five minutes. OUT."

OUT[edit]
"This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected."

ROGER[edit]
"I have received your last transmission satisfactorily, radio check is LOUD AND CLEAR."
"ROGER" may be used to mean "yes" with regard to confirming a command; however, in Air
Traffic Control phraseology, it does not signify that a clearance has been given.[citation needed]
The term originates from the practice of telegraphers sending an "R" to stand for "received" after
successfully getting a message. This was extended into the spoken radio realm during World
War II, with the "R" changed to the phonetic alphabet equivalent word "Roger".[8][9][10] The modern
NATO phonetic alphabet uses the word "Romeo" for "R" instead of "Roger", and "Romeo" is
sometimes used for the same purpose as "Roger", mainly in Australian maritime operations.[citation
needed]

For maritime VHF, "copy" does not mean the same as "roger" or "received".[clarification needed] It is used
when communications between two other stations which includes information for one's own
station has been overheard and received satisfactorily.[citation needed]

WILCO[edit]
"I understand and Will Comply." Used on receipt of an order. "Roger" and "Wilco" used together
are redundant, since "Wilco" includes the acknowledgement element of "Roger".[11]

SAY AGAIN[edit]
"I have not understood your message, please SAY AGAIN". Usually used with prowords "ALL
AFTER" or "ALL BEFORE". Example: radio working between Solent Coastguard and a motor
vessel, call-sign EG 93, where part of the initial transmission is unintelligible
- All stations, all stations, this is Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard. Be advised large
shipping vessel entering Southampton Water, currently at position [transmission unintelligible]
OUT
- Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard, this is Echo Golf niner three. SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER
position. OVER
At this juncture, Solent Coastguard would reply, giving the position of the shipping vessel
preceded with the prowords "I SAY AGAIN":
- All stations, all stations, this is Solent Coastguard. I SAY AGAIN, large shipping vessel entering
Southampton water, currently at position one decimal two miles from Calshot Spit on bearing one
six five degrees. Vessel restricted in ability to deviate from its course. Do not impede. OUT
The word "REPEAT" should not be used in place of "SAY AGAIN", especially in the vicinity of
naval or other firing ranges, as "REPEAT" is an artillery proword defined in ACP 125 U.S. Supp-
2(A) with the wholly different meaning of "request for the same volume of fire to be fired again
with or without corrections or changes" (e.g., at the same coordinates as the previous round).[12]

ALL AFTER…[edit]
Please repeat the message you just sent me beginning after the word or phrase said after this
proword.

ALL BEFORE…[edit]
Please repeat the message you just sent me ending before the word or phrase said after this
proword.

WAIT OVER[edit]
I must pause for a few seconds.

WAIT OUT[edit]
I must pause for longer than a few seconds. I will call you back.

READ BACK[edit]
Please repeat my entire transmission back to me.

I READ BACK[edit]
The following is my response to your READ BACK proword.

CORRECTION[edit]
I made an error in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly sent.

RADIO CHECK[edit]
What is my signal strength and readability; how do you hear me?
I request a response indicating the strength and readability of my transmission, according to plain
language radio check standards:

 A response of ROGER is shorthand for the prowords LOUD AND CLEAR.

 A response of WEAK BUT READABLE ("Weak Readable" is also used) indicates a weak
signal but I can understand.
 A response of WEAK AND DISTORTED indicates a weak signal and unreadable.
 A response of STRONG BUT DISTORTED indicates a strong signal but unreadable. One
of the two stations might be slightly off frequency, there might be multipath distortion, or
there might be a problem with the audio circuits on one or both of the radios.
5 by 5 is an older term used to assess radio signals, as in 5 out of 5 units for signal strength and
for readability. Other terms similar to 5x5 are "LOUD AND CLEAR" or "Lima and Charlie".
Example:
Alpha 12: X-ray two-three, this is Alpha one-two, RADIO CHECK, OVER.
X-ray 23: Alpha one-two, this is X-ray two-three, I read you 5 by 5, OVER.
Alpha 12: Alpha one-two ROGER, OUT.
Similar example in shorter form:
 Alpha 12: X-ray two-three, this is Alpha one-two, RADIO CHECK, OVER
X-ray 23: Alpha one-two, this is X-ray two-three, ROGER, OUT
If the initiating station (Alpha 12 in the example) cannot hear the responding
station (X-ray 23 above), then the initiator attempts a radio-check again, or if
the responder's signal was not heard, the initiator replies to the responder
with "Negative contact, Alpha 12 OUT".
The following readability scale is used: 1 = bad (unreadable); 2 = poor
(readable now and then); 3 = fair (readable, but with difficulty); 4 = good
(readable); 5 = excellent (perfectly readable).
Example of correct US Army radio check:
For receiver: A-11 (Alpha 11) and sender: D-12 (Delta 12)
A-11 This is D-12 RADIO CHECK, OVER
D-12 This is A-11 ROGER, OVER
A-11 this is D-12 ROGER, OUT

MAYDAY[edit]
Main article: Mayday
Mayday is used internationally as the official SOS/distress call for voice.
I, my vessel or a person aboard my vessel is in grave and imminent danger, send immediate
assistance. This call takes priority over all other calls.[citation needed]
The correct format for a MAYDAY call is as follows:
[The first part of the signal is known as the "call"]
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,
This is (vessel name repeated three times, followed by call sign if available)
[The subsequent part of the signal is known as the "message"]
MAYDAY (vessel name)
My position is (position as a lat-long position or bearing and distance from a fixed point)
I am (type of distress, e.g. on fire and sinking)
I require immediate assistance
I have (number of people on board and their condition)
(Any other information e.g. "I am abandoning to life rafts")
Over
VHF instructors, specifically those working for the Royal Yachting Association, often suggest
the mnemonic MIPDANIO for learning the message of a mayday
signal: mayday, identify, position, distress, assistance, number of crew, information, over.[citation
needed]

In aviation a different format is used:

[First part of the message] MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
[Second part of the message] Callsign is stated at the end, followed by either "heavy" or "super",
though this is not always necessary
[Third part of the message] Nature of the emergency
For example: "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Earth Air 999, we have lost both of our engines due to
a bird strike, we are gliding now."
After that pilot can give, or the controller can ask for, additional information, such as, fuel and
number of passengers on board.

PAN-PAN[edit]
Main article: Pan-pan
This is the official urgency voice call. (pronounced /ˈpæn ˈpæn/)[14]
Meaning "I, my vessel or a person aboard my vessel requires assistance but is not in distress."
This overrides all but a mayday call, and is used, as an example, for calling for medical
assistance or if the station has no means of propulsion. The correct usage is:
PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN
All stations, all stations, all stations
THIS IS [vessel name repeated three times]
My position is [position as a lat-long position or bearing and distance from a fixed point]
I am [type of urgency, e.g. drifting without power in a shipping lane]
I require [type of assistance required]
[Any other information e.g. size of vessel, which may be important for towing]
OVER

SÉCURITÉ[edit]
Main article: Sécurité
Pronounced /seɪˈkjuːrɪteɪ/ say-KEWR-i-tay, this is the official safety voice call.
"I have important meteorological, navigational or safety information to pass on." This call is
normally broadcast on a defined channel (channel 16 for maritime VHF) and then moved onto
another channel to pass the message. Example:
[On channel 16]
SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ
All stations, all stations, all stations.
This is Echo Golf niner three, Echo Golf niner three, Echo Golf niner three.
For urgent navigational warning, listen on channel six-seven.
OUT
[Then on channel 67]
SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ
All stations, all stations, all stations.
This is Echo Golf niner tree (three), Echo Golf niner tree, Echo Golf niner tree.
Floating debris sighted off Calshot Spit.
Considered a danger to surface navigation.
OUT

SEELONCE MAYDAY[edit]
"Seelonce" is an approximation rendition of the French word silence - silence) Indicates that your
vessel has an emergency and that you are requiring radio silence from all other stations not
assisting you.

SEELONCE DISTRESS[edit]
Indicates that you are relaying or assisting a station that has placed a MAYDAY call and you are
requiring radio silence from all other stations not assisting you or the station in distress.
When the emergency issue is winding down and then has been resolved, these prowords are
used to open up the frequency for use by stations not involved in the emergency.

PRU-DONCE[edit]
Indicates that complete radio silence is no longer required and restricted (limited) use of the
frequency may resume, but immediately giving way to all further distress communications.

SEELONCE FEENEE[edit]
Indicates that emergency communications have ceased and normal use of the frequency may
resume.

ACP 125(F) procedure words[edit]

Prosign/
Proword Meaning
OPSIG

ACKNOWLEDGE An instruction to the addressee that the message

ZEV or QSL
(ACK) must be acknowledged

ADDRESS GROUP The group that follows is an address group

The portion of the message to which I have reference

ALL AFTER AA
is all that follows……………

The portion of the message to which I have reference

ALL BEFORE AB
is all that precedes…………..

The station called is to answer after call

ANSWER AFTER ZGO
sign……..when answering transmissions.

ASSUME CONTROL You will assume control of this net until further notice ZKD

The station called is to reply to the challenge that

AUTHENTICATE INT ZNB
follows

The transmission authentication of this message

AUTHENTICATION IS
is……….

BREAK I hereby indicate the separation of the text from other BT

 portions of the message

BROADCAST YOUR Link the two nets under your control for automatic
NET rebroadcast

CALL SIGN The group that follows is a call sign

Stations are to close down when indicated.

CLOSE DOWN ZKJ
Acknowledgments are required

You are correct, or what you have transmitted is

CORRECT C
correct.

An error has been made in this transmission.

Transmission will continue with the last word correctly
transmitted. EEEEEEEE
CORRECTION An error has been made in this transmission (or C
message indicated). The correct version is…… C
That which follows is a corrected version in answer to
your request for verification"

DISREGARD THIS This transmission is in error, disregard it. (This

EEEEEEEE
TRANSMISSION – proword shall not be used to cancel any message
AR
OUT that has been completely transmitted and receipted.

Stations called are not to answer this call, receipt for

this message, or otherwise transmit in connection
DO NOT ANSWER with this transmission. When this proword is F
employed, the transmission shall be ended with the
proword OUT.

Carry out the purport of the message or signal to

EXECUTE which this applies. (To be used only with the IX-----
Executive Method.)

Action on the message or signal that follows is to be

EXECUTE TO carried out upon receipt of the proword EXECUTE.
IX
FOLLOW (To be used only with the Delayed Executive
Method.)

EXEMPT The station(s) immediately following is (are) XMT

 exempted from the collective call or from collective
address

FIGURES Numerals or numbers follow.

FLASH Precedence FLASH. Z

The originator of this message is indicated by the

FROM FM
address designator immediately following

GRID The portion following is a grid reference

This message contains the number of groups

GROUPS GR
indicated by the numeral following.

GROUP NO COUNT The groups in this message have not been counted. GRNC

I AM ASSUMING
I am assuming control of this net until further notice ZKA
CONTROL

The group that follows is the reply to your challenge

I AUTHENTICATE ZNB
to authenticate

IMMEDIATE Precedence IMMEDIATE O

Action on the message or signal following is to be

IMMEDIATE EXECUTE carried out on receipt of the EXECUTE. (To be used IX
only with the Immediate Executive Method.)

The addressees immediately following are addressed

INFO INFO
for information

The following is my response to your instructions to

I READ BACK IRB
read back

I SAY AGAIN I am repeating transmission or portion indicated. IMI

I SPELL I shall spell the next word phonetically.

That which follows has been verified at your request

I VERIFY and is repeated. (To be used only as a reply to C
VERIFY.)

A message that requires recording is about to follow.

(Transmitted immediately after the call. This proword
MESSAGE is not used on nets primarily employed for conveying ZBO
messages. It is intended for use when messages are
passed on tactical or reporting nets.)

Transmitting station has additional traffic for the

MORE TO FOLLOW B
receiving station.

No. Cancel message(s) sent by the Delayed

Executive Method. (NEGAT may be used to cancel a
NEGATIVE (NEGAT) ZUG
single message or a group of messages awaiting
execution.)

All stations are to net their radios on the unmodulated

NET NOW ZRC2
carrier wave that I am about to transmit.

During exercises the words NO PLAY are used to

distinguish real activity from messages concerned
with exercise play e.g. a real emergency or real
NO PLAY
casualty. The first words of any message is to contain
the words exercise (nickname e.g.Red Flag) NO
PLAY

To be used when no reply is received from a call

NOTHING HEARD ZGN
station.

NUMBER Station serial number. NR

This is the end of my transmission to you and no

OUT AR
answer is required or expected.

This is the end of my transmission to you and a

OVER K
response is necessary. Go ahead, transmit
PRIORITY Precedence PRIORITY P

Repeat this entire transmission back to me exactly as

READ BACK G
received

REBROADCAST Link the two nets under your control for automatic
YOUR NET rebroadcast.

Transmit this message to all addressees (or

addressees immediately following this proword). The
RELAY (TO) T or ZOF
address component is mandatory when this proword
is used.

RELAY THROUGH Relay your message through call sign……… ZOK

This is a method of receipt. I have received your last

ROGER R
transmission satisfactorily.

ROUTINE Precedence ROUTINE. R

Repeat all of your last transmission. Followed by

SAY AGAIN identification data means “Repeat………… (portion IMI
indicated).”

SEND YOUR I am ready to receive your message, report, etc. K

(Used only in reply to the offer of a message, etc., on

tactical or reporting nets.)

SERVICE The message that follows is a SERVICE message SVC

The groups that follow are taken from a signal book.

(This proword is not used on nets primarily employed
SIGNALS
for conveying signals. It is intended for use when
tactical signals are passed on non-tactical nets.)

SILENCE (Repeated Cease transmissions on this net immediately. Silence HM HM HM

three or more times) will be maintained until lifted. (Transmissions must be
 authenticated by use of a self authenticated system,
codeword, etc.)

Silence is lifted. (Transmissions must be

ZUG HM
SILENCE LIFTED authenticated by means of self authentication system,
HM HM
codeword, etc.)

Your transmission is too fast. Reduce speed of

SPEAK SLOWER QRS
transmission.

STOP Cut the automatic link between the two nets that are
REBROADCASTING being rebroadcast and revert to normal working.

This transmission is from the station whose

THIS IS DE
designator immediately follows.

THIS IS A DIRECTED
From now until further notice this net is directed. ZKB
NET

THIS IS A FREE NET From now until further notice this net is free. ZUG ZKB

THROUGH ME Relay your message through me ZOE

That which immediately follows is the time or

TIME QTR
datetime group of the message.

The addressees immediately following are addressed

TO TO
for action

The portion of the message to which I have reference

--TO-- is all that which appears between the groups………
and………

The identity of the station with whom I am attempting

UNKNOWN STATION AA
to establish communication is unknown.
USE ABBREVIATED
Call signs are to be abbreviated until further notice.
CALL SIGNS

USE ABBREVIATED As conditions are normal, all stations are to use

PROCEDURE abbreviated procedure until further notice.

USE FULL CALL

Call signs are to be sent in full until further notice
SIGNS

USE FULL As conditions are not normal, all stations are to use
PROCEDURE full procedure until further notice.

Verify entire message (or portion indicated) with the

originator and send correct version. (To be used only
VERIFY J
at the discretion of, or by, the addressee to which the
questioned message was directed.)

WAIT I must pause for a few seconds AS

WAIT – OUT I must pause for longer than a few seconds. AS AR

I have Received your signal, understand it, and will

comply.
WILCO To be used only by the addressee. Since the
meaning of ROGER is included in that of WILCO, the
two prowords are never used together.

The word of the message to which I have reference is

WORD AFTER WA
that which follows…………..

The word of the message to which I have reference is

WORD BEFORE WB
that which precedes…………..

Communication is difficult. Transmit each phrase (or

WORDS TWICE each code group) twice. (This proword may be used QSZ
as an order, request, or as information.)

Your last transmission was incorrect. The correct

WRONG ZWF
version is…….
Examples of radio communication using procedure
words[edit]
Example 1[edit]
Two helicopters, call signs "Swiss 610" and "Swiss 613", are flying in formation :
Swiss 610: "613, I have a visual on you at my 3 o'clock. 610"
Swiss 613: "ROGER 613"
Swiss 610: "613, Turn right to a heading of 090. 610"
Swiss 613: "WILCO 613"
Anytime a radio call is made (excepting "standby", where the correct response is
silence), there is some kind of response indicating that the original call was
heard. 613's "ROGER" confirms to 610 that the information was heard. In the
second radio call from 610, direction was given. 613's "WILCO" means "will
comply."
Reading back an instruction confirms that it was heard correctly. For example, if
all 613 says is "WILCO", 610 cannot be certain that he correctly heard the
heading as 090. If 613 replies with a read back and the word "Wilco" ("Turn right
zero-niner-zero, Wilco") then 610 knows that the heading was correctly
understood, and that 613 intends to comply.

Example 2[edit]
The following is the example of working between two stations, EG93 and VJ50
demonstrating how to confirm information:
EG93: "Victor Juliet five zero, Victor Juliet five zero, this is Echo Golf niner three.
Request rendezvous at 51 degrees 37.0N, 001 degrees 49.5W. Read back for check.
Over"
VJ50: "Echo Golf niner three, this is Victor Juliet five zero. I read back: five one degrees
three seven decimal zero north, zero zero one degrees four niner decimal five west.
Over."
EG93: "Victor Juliet five zero, this is Echo Golf niner three. Correct, Out"

Commonly[citation needed] misused prowords[edit]

Clear[edit]
"Clear" is sometimes heard in amateur radio transmissions to indicate the sending station is done
transmitting and leaving the airways, i.e. turning off the radio, but the Clear proword is reserved
for a different purpose, that of specifying the classification of a 16-line format radio message as
one which can be sent in the clear (without encryption), as well as being reserved for use in
responding to the Radio Check proword to indicate the readability of the radio transmission.[citation
needed]

Affirmative[edit]
"Confirm" or "yes" and sometimes shortened to Affirm is heard in several radio services, but is
not listed in ACP-125 as a proword because in poor radio conditions it can be confused
with Negative. Instead, the proword Correct is used.[citation needed]

Negative[edit]
Means "no", and can be abbreviated to Negat. Because over a poor quality connection the words
"affirmative" and "negative" can be mistaken for one another (for example over a sound-powered
telephone circuit), United States Navy instruction omits the use of either as prowords.[19] Sailors
are instructed to instead use "yes" and "no".[citation needed]
SMCP Procedure words[edit]
 "Yes" when the answer to a question is in the affirmative
 "No" when the answer to a question is in the negative
 "Stand by" when the information requested is not immediately available
 "No information" when the information requested cannot be obtained

Proword Meaning Notes

Let me know that you have

ACKNOWLEDGE received and understood this
message

AFFIRM Yes.

Permission for proposed action

APPROVED
granted.

I hereby indicate the separation

BREAK between portions of the
message.

I hereby indicate the separation

between messages transmitted
BREAK BREAK
to different aircraft in a very
busy environment

Annul the previously transmitted

CANCEL
clearance

CHECK Examine a system or procedure

Authorized to proceed under

CLEARED
conditions specified.

I request verification of:

CONFIRM (clearance, instruction, action
information).
CONTACT Establish communications with...

CORRECT True or Accurate

An error has been made in this

transmission (or message
CORRECTION
indicated). The correct version
is...

DISREGARD Ignore

HOW DO YOU What is the readability of my

READ transmission

I SAY AGAIN I repeat for clarity or emphasis.

Often used by terminal

controllers when instructing the
MONITOR Listen out on (frequency) recipient to tune into a different
frequency and listen in, but refrain from
creating unnecessary radio traffic.

"No" or "Permission not

NEGATIVE granted", or "That is not correct"
or "Not capable"

My transmission is ended, and I

OVER
expect a response from you.

This exchange of transmissions

OUT is ended and no response is
expected.

Repeat all, or the specified part,

READ BACK 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.

Pass me the following

REPORT
information...

REQUEST I should like to know...

I have received all of your last

ROGER
transmission.

Repeat all, or the following part,

SAY AGAIN
of your last transmission.

Normal rate of speech is to never

exceed 100 words per minute. This
SPEAK SLOWER Reduce your rate of speech rate is still too fast for most people to
write or type, so SPEAK SLOWER
means a significant drop.

STANDBY Wait and I will call you.

I cannot comply with your

UNABLE request, instruction, or
clearance.

I understand your message and

WILCO
will comply with it.

(As a request) Communication

WORDS TWICE is difficult. Please send every
word, or group of words, twice.