Section 3. General Phraseology

2-3-1. PURPOSE

This section prescribes standardized procedures and phraseology for specialist to use when communicating weather and aeronautical information in broadcast, radiotelephone, and interphone communications. Where position or procedure-specific phraseology is required, there are references to the relevant chapter of this order.

2-3-2. WORDS AND PHRASES

Use the words or phrases in broadcast, radiotelephone, and interphone communications as contained in the Pilot/Controller Glossary.

2-3-3. ICAO PHONETICS

Use the ICAO pronunciation of numbers and, as necessary, individual letters for clarity. The ICAO radiotelephony alphabet and pronunciation guides are contained in TBL 2-3-1 and TBL 2-3-2.

TBL 2-3-1
ICAO Phonetics – Numbers

TBL 2-3-2
ICAO Phonetics – Individual Letters

2-3-4. NUMBER USAGE

State numbers as follows:

1. Serial numbers. Separate digits.

   EXAMPLE-
   

   Number	Phraseology
   11,495	ONE ONE FOUR NINER FIVE
   20,069	TWO ZERO ZERO SIX NINER

2. Altitudes or flight levels.
   1. Altitudes. Pronounce each digit in the number of hundreds or thousands followed by the word “HUNDRED” or “THOUSAND,” as appropriate.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Altitude	Phraseology
      5,000	FIVE THOUSAND
      10,000	ONE ZERO THOUSAND
      11,500	ONE ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED

   2. Altitudes may be restated in group form for added clarity if the specialist chooses.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Altitude	Phraseology
      10,000	TEN THOUSAND
      11,500	ELEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED

   3. Flight levels. The words “FLIGHT LEVEL,” followed by the separate digits of the flight level.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Flight Level	Phraseology
      180	FLIGHT LEVEL ONE EIGHT ZERO
      270	FLIGHT LEVEL TWO SEVEN ZERO

   4. Minimum descent altitude/decision height/decision altitude (MDA/DH/DA). The words “MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE,” “DECISION HEIGHT,” or “DECISION ALTITUDE” followed by separate digits of the MDA/DH/DA altitude.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Altitude	Phraseology
      1,320	MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE ONE THREE TWO ZERO
      486	DECISION HEIGHT FOUR EIGHT SIX
      744	DECISION ALTITUDE SEVEN FOUR FOUR

3. Time.
   1. General time information. The four separate digits of the hour and minutes in terms of UTC.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Time	Phraseology
      0115 (UTC)	ZERO ONE ONE FIVE
      1315 (UTC)	ONE THREE ONE FIVE

   2. Upon request. The four separate digits of the hours and minutes in terms of UTC followed by the local time equivalent; or the local time equivalent only. Local time may be based on the 24-hour clock system. The term “Zulu” may be used to denote UTC.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Time	Phraseology
      2:30 P.M.	TWO THIRTY P-M LOCAL
      2230 (UTC), 2:30 P.M.	TWO TWO THREE ZERO ZULU, TWO THIRTY P-M LOCAL
      2230 (UTC), 1430 PST	TWO TWO THREE ZERO, ONE FOUR THREE ZERO PACIFIC

   3. Time check. The word “TIME” followed by the four separate digits of the hour and minutes, and nearest quarter minute. Fractions of a quarter minute less than eight seconds are stated as the preceding quarter minute; fractions of a quarter minute of eight seconds or more are stated as the succeeding quarter minute.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Time	Phraseology
      1415:06	TIME, ONE FOUR ONE FIVE
      1415:10	TIME, ONE FOUR ONE FIVE AND ONE-QUARTER

   4. Abbreviated time. The separate digits of the minutes only.

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Time	Phraseology
      1415	ONE FIVE
      1420	TWO ZERO

4. Field elevation. The words “FIELD ELEVATION,” followed by the separate digits of the elevation.

   EXAMPLE-
   

   Elevation	Phraseology
   17 feet	FIELD ELEVATION ONE SEVEN
   187 feet	FIELD ELEVATION ONE EIGHT SEVEN
   2,817 feet	FIELD ELEVATION TWO EIGHT ONE SEVEN

5. Zero. The number “0” is stated as “ZERO,” except where it is used in approved group form for authorized aircraft call signs and in stating altitudes.
6. Heading. The word “HEADING,” followed by the three separate digits of the number of degrees, omitting the word “degrees.” Use heading 360 degrees to indicate a north heading.

   EXAMPLE-
   

   Heading/Degrees	Phraseology
   5 degrees	HEADING ZERO ZERO FIVE
   30 degrees	HEADING ZERO THREE ZERO
   360 degrees	HEADING THREE SIX ZERO

7. Radar beacon codes. The word squawk followed by the separate digits of the four-digit code.

   EXAMPLE-
   

   Code	Phraseology
   1000	SQUAWK ONE ZERO ZERO ZERO
   2100	SQUAWK TWO ONE ZERO ZERO

8. Runways. The word “RUNWAY” followed by the separate digits of the runway designation. For a parallel runway, state the word “LEFT,” “RIGHT,” or “CENTER” if the letters “L,” “R,” or “C” are included in the designation.

   EXAMPLE-
   

   Runway Designation	Phraseology
   3	RUNWAY THREE
   8L	RUNWAY EIGHT LEFT
   27R	RUNWAY TWO SEVEN RIGHT

9. Frequencies.
   1. The separate digits of the frequency, inserting the word “POINT” where the decimal occurs. When the frequency is in the low/medium frequency or high frequency band, include the word “KILOHERTZ.”

      EXAMPLE-
      

      Frequency	Phraseology
      302 kHz	THREE ZERO TWO KILOHERTZ
      5631 kHz	FIVE SIX THREE ONE KILOHERTZ
      126.55 MHz	ONE TWO SIX POINT FIVE FIVE
      135.275 MHz	ONE THREE FIVE POINT TWO SEVEN FIVE

   2. Provide TACAN frequencies by stating the assigned two- or three-digit channel number.
10. Speeds.
    1. The separate digits of the speed followed by the word knots.

       EXAMPLE-
       

       Speed	Phraseology
       95	NINER FIVE KNOTS
       185	ONE EIGHT FIVE KNOTS
       250	TWO FIVE ZERO KNOTS

    2. For Mach speeds, the word “MACH,” followed by the separate digits, and inserting the word “POINT” where the decimal occurs.

       EXAMPLE-
       

       Mach Number	Phraseology
       0.64	MACH POINT SIX FOUR
       0.7	MACH POINT SEVEN
       1.5	MACH ONE POINT FIVE

11. Miles. The separate digits of the mileage followed by the word “MILE(S)”.

    EXAMPLE-
    

    Miles	Phraseology
    30	THREE ZERO MILES

2-3-5. EXPEDITIOUS COMPLIANCE

1. Use the word “IMMEDIATELY” only when expeditious compliance is required to avoid an imminent situation.
2. Use the word “EXPEDITE” only when prompt compliance is required to avoid the development of an imminent situation.
3. In both cases, and if time permits, include the reason for this action.