Section 2. Interphone Communications

2-2-1. GENERAL

The following procedures and phraseologies apply to inter-facility and intra-facility telephone communications conducted from any position of operation.

  1. Interphone use is restricted to authorized official business only.
  2. Monitor interphones continuously. At facilities without ringers, keep speaker volume at a level sufficient to hear all transmissions. In the event of interphone failure, use authorized backup procedures (for example, commercial telephone, aircraft radio relay).
  3. Use the words or phrases in interphone communications as contained in the Pilot/Controller Glossary.

2-2-2. TRANSMISSION PRIORITIES

Give priority to interphone transmissions as follows:

  1. First priority.Emergency messages including essential information on aircraft accidents or suspected accidents. After actual emergency has passed, give a lower priority to messages relating to an accident.
  2. Second priority.Clearance and control instructions.
  3. Third priority.Movement and control messages using the following order of precedence when possible:
    1. Progress reports.
    2. Departure or arrival reports.
    3. Flight plans.
  4. Fourth priority.Movement messages on VFR aircraft.
  5. Fifth priority.NOTAM coordination.
  6. Sixth priority. Administrative messages (for example, outages).

2-2-3. PRIORITY INTERRUPTION

Use the words “EMERGENCY” or “CONTROL” for interrupting lower priority messages when you have an emergency or control message to transmit.

2-2-4. MESSAGE INITIATION

Initiate interphone messages as follows:

  1. Assure line is not in use.
  2. If line is not in use, establish contact with the desired facility and/or position.
  3. State the name of the FSS and position, if appropriate. At the in-flight position, state the name of the FSS followed by the word “RADIO.”
  4. When calling or replying on an interphone line that only connects two facilities, you may omit the facility's name.

2-2-5. MESSAGE TERMINATION

Terminate interphone messages with your operating initials.