1) Radio communications use electromagnetic waves to transmit signals in the air band between 118-136.975 MHz, allowing aircraft to communicate.
2) Proper radio procedures include checking frequencies are clear before transmitting, using standard phraseology, and prioritizing distress/emergency messages.
3) In the event of radio failure, aircraft in controlled airspace should follow ATC instructions to exit airspace safely while uncontrolled aircraft should land at the nearest airfield.
1) Radio communications use electromagnetic waves to transmit signals in the air band between 118-136.975 MHz, allowing aircraft to communicate.
2) Proper radio procedures include checking frequencies are clear before transmitting, using standard phraseology, and prioritizing distress/emergency messages.
3) In the event of radio failure, aircraft in controlled airspace should follow ATC instructions to exit airspace safely while uncontrolled aircraft should land at the nearest airfield.
1) Radio communications use electromagnetic waves to transmit signals in the air band between 118-136.975 MHz, allowing aircraft to communicate.
2) Proper radio procedures include checking frequencies are clear before transmitting, using standard phraseology, and prioritizing distress/emergency messages.
3) In the event of radio failure, aircraft in controlled airspace should follow ATC instructions to exit airspace safely while uncontrolled aircraft should land at the nearest airfield.
1) Radio communications use electromagnetic waves to transmit signals in the air band between 118-136.975 MHz, allowing aircraft to communicate.
2) Proper radio procedures include checking frequencies are clear before transmitting, using standard phraseology, and prioritizing distress/emergency messages.
3) In the event of radio failure, aircraft in controlled airspace should follow ATC instructions to exit airspace safely while uncontrolled aircraft should land at the nearest airfield.
COMMUNICATIONS EASA Part-FCL – PPL(A) RADIO COMMUNICATIONS • Radio wave propagation theory • Radio signals are carried by electromagnetic waves
• Speed of light = 300.000 km/sec
• Frequency = number of cycles per second RADIO COMMUNICATIONS • How to use the radio?
• Air band (VHF)
• From 118,000 to 136,975 MHz 760 channels available! (Soon 8,33 KHz spacing mandatory…) Intercom • Transmitting • Check COM selector, squelch, frequency, volume • Make sure no conversation is ongoing on the frequency! Check volume! • PTT (Push To Talk) button, speak clearly, close to the micro, volume • Reception RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Range of VHF communications
No reception? You may be too far or too low…
Range (Nm) = 1,35 x (√height in feet)
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Radio failure? • First of all, make sure that: • Your headset is plugged in! • Frequency is active/correct! • Volume! • PTT! • ATIS
• Rules to follow: • Transponder Code 7600 • Outside controlled area => land to the closest airfield and inform Air Traffic Control ASAP; never enter a CTR without a radio contact • Within controlled area => leave the zone as soon as possible, by the most direct exit • Within circuit of controlled aerodrome => use visual signals RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Radio failure: visual Ground-Air signals RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Categories of messages and order of priority
1. Distress : « MAYDAY »
2. Emergency : « PAN-PAN » or « PAN-PAN MEDICAL »
3. Radiogoniometry: QDM
4. Safety: Clearances
5. Weather: non-urgent messages
6. Regularity: fuel, delays, etc.
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • ICAO Alphabet – Digits, Letters and Morse Code RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Transmitting numbers • FL 180 (flight level one eight zero) • Heading 285° (two eight five degrees) • Wind 240°15Kt (two four zero degrees one five knots) • QNH 1029 (Quebec November Hotel one zero two nine) • Runway 05 (zero five) • Make a 360° to the left (three sixty) • Altitude 2500 feet (two thousand five hundred) • Visibility 4500 m (four thousand five hundred) • Cloud base/Ceiling 1200 feet (one thousand two hundred) • Frequency 120,325 (one two zero decimal three two five) • Frequency 118,000 (one one eight decimal zero) • Frequency 121,300 (one two one decimal three) • Time (UTC) 09h20 (two zero OR zero nine two zero) • Airborne 16h43 (four three OR one six four three) • Traffic at (your) 11 o’clock • Squawk 7000 (seven thousand OR seven zero zero zero OR VFR) RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Call Signs • Aircraft • Full = OO-JET (Oscar Oscar Juliet Echo Tango) • Abbreviated = O-ET or O-JET • Solo call sign suffix • Ground Stations • CONTROL - Ex: “Brussels Control” • APPROACH - Ex: “Charleroi Approach” • TOWER - Ex: “Charleroi Tower” • GROUND – Ex: “Charleroi Ground” • INFORMATION – Ex: “Brussels Information” • RADIO – Ex: “Namur Radio”
• Transmitting Procedures • No transmission should be sent to an aircraft which is taking off, on final approach or when landing, except for safety reasons • For first transmission: • AIRCRAFT: Charleroi Tower, OO-JET, Good morning/afternoon…. • GROUND STATION: OO-JET, Charleroi Tower, Go ahead RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Communications Checks • Before or during flight: “Radio check / How do you read?”
• Readability Scale • 1. Unreadable (= bad) • 2. Readable now and then (= poor) • 3. Readable but with difficulty (= fair) • 4. Readable (= good) • 5. Perfectly readable (= excellent) RADIO COMMUNICATIONS (cont’d) • Communications disrupted • From air to ground: “Transmitting blind” or “Transmitting blind due to receiver failure”
• Distress • Send message on the frequency used • “MAYDAY” (three times) • Call sign of the aircraft • Type of distress and intention of the PIC • Position, Level, Heading… • Emergency • Send message on the frequency used • “PAN PAN” (three times) • Call sign of the aircraft • Type of emergency and intention of the PIC • Position, Level, Heading… STANDARD WORDS & PHRASES General (1) • Abort takeoff • Acknowledge • Affirm • Approved • Backtrack / Request backtrack • Break • Cancel • Cleared • Confirm • Contact • Correct • Correction • Disregard • In respect of STANDARD WORDS & PHRASES (cont’d) General (2) • Go ahead • How do you read? • Inbound / Outbound • Line up and wait • Monitor • Negative • Read back • Ready for departure • Report • Request • Roger • Say again / I say again • Speak Slower • Stand by • Wilco STANDARD WORDS & PHRASES (cont’d) Level, Maneuvers • Flight Level • Maintain (level) to (significant point) • Climb / Descend (to level), Heading (three digits) • Stop Climb / Descend (at level) • Continue Climb (to level) • Expedite Climb (until passing level) • When ready, climb (to level) • Expect descent at (time) • Descend immediately • Ready for immediate departure? / Take off at your own discretion • Go around • Orbit left (or right) / Make a 360° to the left (or right) • Request straight-in approach • Line-up and wait runway (number) • Airborne (time) STANDARD WORDS & PHRASES (cont’d) Position • Abeam • Approaching • Overhead • Report passing (significant point) • Omit Position Reports • Report before rejoining • Report distance from (significant point) Transponder • Advise type of transponder (Mode Alpha, Charlie, Sierra) • Squawk Charlie / Squawk Ident • Recycle Traffic • No reported traffic • Looking out • Traffic in sight • Negative contact / No visual contact • Traffic in your vicinity / at your 10 o’clock STANDARD WORDS & PHRASES (cont’d) Runway • Runway (number) in use • Runway wet (or damp or flooded…) or covered with patches of dry snow (or wet snow or slush or ice…) • Caution work in progress • Arresting gear installed • Hold short of runway
