Chapter 11. Phraseology

Section 1. General

1. PURPOSE

This chapter prescribes standardized procedures and phraseologies to be used by a specialist when communicating weather and aeronautical information in broadcast, radiotelephone, and interphone communications. Where position or procedure-specific phraseology is required, reference is to be made to the relevant chapter of this order.

1. PHRASEOLOGY

The annotation PHRASEOLOGY denotes the prescribed words and/or phrases to be used in communications.

1. WORDS AND PHRASES

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

1. ANNOUNCING MISSING ITEMS

With the exception of RVR, announce the word “missing” when any item or component of a weather report is not reported, or in place of unreadable or obviously incorrect items or portions of weather reports. When appropriate, instead of speaking the name of several locations with missing reports, announce: “Other scheduled reports missing.”

1. ICAO PHONETICS

Use the ICAO pronunciation of numbers and, as necessary, individual letters for clarity. The ICAO radiotelephony alphabet and pronunciation guide are contained in TBL 11-1-1.

1. RELAY OF ATC COMMUNICATIONS

Prefix a clearance, information, or a request for information which will be relayed from a control facility to an aircraft with the appropriate phrase “A-T-C clears,” “A-T-C advises,” or “A-T-C requests.”

1. 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 either case, and if time permits, include the reason for this action.

1. WEATHER PHRASEOLOGY

Use the following phraseology and procedures for stating surface weather observations and for information similarly encoded in other aviation weather products and forecasts.

1. Location.

1. Announce the geographic name (not the identifier) once.

1. When the location name is duplicated within 500 miles, follow the location name with the state name.

1. When weather reports originate at more than one airport at the same geographical location, identify the airport.

1. Where it is considered necessary or is requested by the military base commander, broadcast military observations by stating the location, the name of the airport if different, and the controlling military branch.

1. If “AUTO” appears after the date/time element and is presented as a singular report, follow the location with the word “AUTOMATED.”

1. If a special report is the most recent observation available, follow the location with the words “SPECIAL WEATHER REPORT,” (last two digits of the time) “OBSERVATION.”
2. If the weather data is not available, state the location and the word “missing.”
3. Wind Direction and Speed. Announce surface wind direction and speed by stating the word “wind” followed by the separate digits of the wind direction to the nearest 10 degrees and the separate digits of the speed. A “G” between two wind speed values is announced as “gusts.” State local wind as it appears in the report. Announce the variability of wind at the end of the wind group. (See TBL 11-1-2.)

1. Visibility.
   State the word “visibility” followed by the visibility values in miles and/or fractions of miles, except announce values indicated by the figure 0 as “zero.” Announce the separate digits of whole numbers as applicable. (See TBL 11-1-3.)

1. RVR.

1. Provide RVR information by stating the runway, the abbreviation RVR, and the indicated value. The abbreviations “R-V-R” may be spoken in lieu of “visual range.” When the indicated values are separated by a V, preface the values with the words “variable,” followed by the first value, the word “to,” then the second value. (See TBL 11-1-4.)

1. When there is a requirement to issue an RVR value and a visibility condition greater or less than the reportable values of the equipment is indicated, state the condition as “MORE THAN” or “LESS THAN” the appropriate minimum or maximum readable value. (See TBL 11-1-5.)

1. Weather Elements. TBL 11-1-6 depicts sample phraseology for weather element contractions. Intensity refers to precipitation, not descriptors. Proximity is spoken after the phenomenon to which it refers. Descriptors are spoken ahead of weather phenomenon with the exception of “showers” which is spoken after the precipitation. TBL 11-1-7 contains a complete list of weather elements and appropriate phraseology.

1. Ceiling and Sky Coverage.

1. State sky coverage in the same order as reported on the weather observation. Announce ceiling as follows: (See TBL 11-1-8.)

1. State cloud heights in tens, hundreds and/or thousands of feet. (See TBL 11-1-9.)

1. Announce sky conditions as indicated below. (See TBL 11-1-10.)

1. TBL 11-1-11 contains examples of phraseology of sky and ceiling conditions.

1. Announce surface temperature and dew point by stating the words “temperature” or “dew point,” as appropriate, followed by the temperature in degrees Celsius. Temperatures below zero are announced by prefixing the word “minus” before the values. (See TBL 11-1-12.)

1. Altimeter Setting.

1. State the word “altimeter” followed by the four digits of the altimeter setting. (See TBL 11-1-13.)

1. Identify the source of all altimeter settings when issued, if not given as part of an identified surface observation. Provide the time of the report if more than one hour old.

1. If a request for the altimeter setting in MBs is received, announce the separate digits of the MB equivalent value, using the MB conversion chart, followed by the word “millibars.” If the MB setting is not a whole number, always round down. (See TBL 11-1-14.)

1. When altimeter is in excess of 31.00:

1. Advise all aircraft.

1. Advise VFR aircraft to set altimeter to 31.00 en route.

1. WEATHER REMARKS

Announce pertinent remarks from surface weather observations in accordance with FAA Order JO 7340.2, Contractions, and as shown in the following tables. Do not state additive data or other information intended for NWS analysis or processing that does not contribute to the description of the conditions occurring at the station.

1. Sky and Ceiling (See TBL 11-1-15.)

1. Obscuring Phenomena. (See TBL 11-1-16.)

1. Visibility. (See TBL 11-1-17.)

1. Weather and obstruction to visibility. (See TBL 11-1-18.)

1. Wind. (See TBL 11-1-19.)

1. Pressure. (See TBL 11-1-20.)

1. Maintenance Data. (See TBL 11-1-21.)

1. WEATHER ADVISORIES

1. When announcing weather advisories, include the complete advisory description including the product name and alphanumeric identification. Specify Eastern, Central, or Western section as applicable when stating WSTs.

1. Do not read the OUTLOOK section of WSTs when stating the advisory. Data contained in the OUTLOOK concerning convective activity location, movement, and intensity may be extracted for compilation in forecast summarizations.

1. VNR. When VFR flight is proposed and sky conditions or visibilities are present or forecast, surface based or aloft that, in your judgment, would make visual flight doubtful, include one of the following statements:

1. RADAR

Use the following phraseology and procedures for communicating radar products:
Radar displays. When stating precipitation intensity from a radar display (such as NEXRAD), use the following four categories as appropriate:

1. Light (equates to radar return levels of less than 30 dBZ).
2. Moderate (equates to radar return levels of 30 to 40 dBZ).
3. Heavy (equates to radar return levels of greater than 40 to 50 dBZ).
4. Extreme (equates to radar return levels of greater than 50 dBZ).

1. WINDS AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT FORECAST (FB)

When announcing the FB, use the following phraseology and procedures:

1. State the altitude, then announce wind direction and speed by the separate digits of the wind direction to the 5 or 10-degree multiple, the word AT, and the separate digits of the speed.

1. When the forecast speed is less than 5 knots, the coded group is 9900 and read, “light and variable.”
2. Encoded wind speed 100 to 199 knots have 50 added to the direction code and 100 subtracted from the speed.
3. If wind speed is forecast at 200 knots or greater, the wind group is coded as 199 knots; for example, 7799 is decoded 270 degrees at 199 knots or greater.
4. A six-digit group includes forecast temperature. Provide temperatures on request only, stating the word ”temperature,” followed by the word “minus,” as appropriate, and the separate digits. (See TBL 11-1-22.)

1. NUMBER USAGE

State numbers as follows:

1. Serial numbers. The separate digits. (See TBL 11-1-23.)

1. 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. (See TBL 11-1-24.)

1. Altitudes may be restated in group form for added clarity if the specialist chooses. (See TBL 11-1-25.)

1. Flight levels. The words “flight level,” followed by the separate digits of the flight level. (See TBL 11-1-26.)

1. MDA/DH Altitudes. The words “minimum descent altitude” or “decision height,” followed by separate digits of the MDA/DH altitude. (See TBL 11-1-27.)

1. Time.

1. General time information. The four separate digits of the hour and minutes in terms of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). (See TBL 11-1-28.)

1. 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. (See TBL 11-1-29.) The term “ZULU” may be used to denote UTC.

1. 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 8 seconds or more are stated as the succeeding quarter minute. (See TBL 11-1-30.)

1. Abbreviated time. The separate digits of the minutes only. (See TBL 11-1-31.)

1. Field elevation. The words “field elevation,” followed by the separate digits of the elevation. (See TBL 11-1-32.)

1. The number “0” is stated as “zero,” except where it is used in approved “group form” for authorized aircraft callsigns and in stating altitudes.

1. 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. (See TBL 11-1-33.)

1. Radar beacon codes. The word squawk followed by the separate digits of the four-digit code. (See TBL 11-1-34.)

1. 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 letter “L,” “R,” or “C “ is included in the designation. (See TBL 11-1-35.)

1. Frequencies.

1. The separate digits of the frequency, inserting the word “point” where the decimal occurs. When the frequency is in the L/MF or HF band, include the word “kilohertz.” (See TBL 11-1-36.)

1. Issue MLS/TACAN frequencies by stating the assigned two- or three- digit channel number.

1. Speeds.

1. The separate digits of the speed followed by the word knots. (See TBL 11-1-37.)

1. For Mach speeds, the word “mach,” followed by the separate digits of the Mach number inserting the word “point” where the decimal occurs. (See TBL 11-1-38.)

1. Miles. The separate digits of the mileage followed by the word mile(s). (See TBL 11-1-39.)

1. FACILITY IDENTIFICATION

Identify facilities as follows:

1. Airport traffic control towers. State the name of the facility followed by the word “tower.” Where military and civil airports are located in the same general area and have similar names, state the name of the military service followed by the name of the military facility and the word “tower.”

1. Function within a terminal facility. State the name of the facility followed by the name of the function.

1. Approach control facilities, including TRACONs, RAPCONs, RATCFs, and ARACs. State the name of the facility followed by the word approach. Where military and civil facilities are located in the same general area and have similar names, state the name of the military service followed by the name of the military facility and the word “approach”.

1. Air route traffic control centers. State the name of the facility followed by the word “center.”
2. When calling or replying on an interphone line which connects only two facilities, you may omit the facility's name.

1. Flight service stations.

1. Inflight position. State the name of the FSS followed by the word “radio,” and position if appropriate.

1. When calling or replying on interphone lines connecting more than one facility, state the name of the FSS followed by the word “radio.”

1. When answering public access telephone lines, state the geographical name of the FSS and the words “Flight Service.” Contract facilities must answer public access lines by stating the name of the service provider and type.

1. Radar facilities having ASR or PAR but not providing approach control service. State the name of the facility followed by the letters “G-C-A.”

1. AIRCRAFT IDENTIFICATION

1. Civil. State the aircraft type, the model, the manufacturer's name, or the prefix “November,” followed by the numbers/letters of the aircraft registration.

1. Air carrier and other civil aircraft having FAA authorized call signs. State the call sign, in accordance with FAA Order JO 7340.2, Contractions, followed by the flight number in group form.

1. If aircraft identification becomes a problem, the call sign must be restated after the flight number of the aircraft involved.

1. Air taxi and commercial operators not having FAA-authorized call signs. State the prefix “TANGO” on initial contact, if used by the pilot, followed by the registration number. The prefix may be dropped in subsequent communications.

1. MEDEVAC aircraft.

1. Air carrier/taxi/ambulance. State the prefix “MEDEVAC” if used by the pilot, followed by the call sign and flight number in group form.

1. Civilian airborne ambulance. State the word “MEDEVAC,” followed by the numbers/letters of the registration number.

1. U.S. Military. State one of the following:

1. The service name followed by the word “copter,” when appropriate, and the last 5 digits of the serial number.

1. If aircraft identification becomes a problem when the above procedures are used, the call sign must be restated after the flight number of the aircraft involved in accordance with FAA Order JO 7210.3, paragraph 2-1-14, Aircraft Identification Problems, will apply.

1. Special military operations. State one of the following followed by the last 5 digits of the serial number:

1. Air evacuation flights. “AIR EVAC,” “MARINE AIR EVAC,” or “NAVY AIR EVAC.”

1. Rescue flights. (Service name) “RESCUE.”

1. Air Mobility Command. “REACH.”

1. Special Air Mission. “SAM.”

1. USAF Contract Aircraft. “LOGAIR.”

1. Military tactical and training.

1. U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, Military District of Washington priority aircraft, and USAF civil disturbance aircraft. Pronounceable words of 3 to 6 letters followed by a 1 to 5 digit number.

1. Navy or Marine fleet and training command aircraft. The service name and 2 letters or a digit and a letter (use letter phonetic equivalents) followed by 2 or 3 digits.

1. Foreign registry. State one of the following:

1. Civil. State the aircraft type or the manufacturer's name followed by the letters/numbers of the aircraft registration, or state the letters or digits of the aircraft registration or call sign.

1. Air carrier. The abbreviated name of the operating company followed by:

1. The letters or digits of the registration or call sign.

1. The flight number in group form, or separate digits may be used if that is the format used by the pilot.

1. Foreign Military. Except for military services identified in FAA Order JO 7340.2, Contractions, state the name of the country and the military service followed by the separate digits or letters of the registration or call sign. For military services listed in FAA Order JO 7340.2, state the approved telephony followed by the separate digits of the flight number.

1. Presidential aircraft and Presidential family aircraft.

1. When the President is aboard a military aircraft, state the name of the military service followed by the word “One.”

1. When the President is aboard a civil aircraft, state the words “Executive One.”
2. When a member of the President's family is aboard any aircraft, if the U.S. Secret Service or the White House Staff determines it is necessary, state the words “Executive One Foxtrot.”

1. Vice Presidential aircraft.

1. When the Vice President is aboard a military aircraft, state the name of the military service followed by the word ”Two.”

1. When the Vice President is aboard a civil aircraft, state the words “Executive Two.”
2. When a member of the Vice President's family is aboard any aircraft, if the U.S. Secret Service or the White House Staff determines it is necessary, state the words “Executive Two Foxtrot.”

1. DOT and FAA flights. The following alphanumeric identifiers and radio/ interphone call signs are for use in air/ground communications when the Secretary of Transportation, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, FAA Administrator, or FAA Deputy Administrator have a requirement to identify themselves:

1. Department of Transportation.

1. Secretary:

1. Identifier - DOT-1.
2. Call Sign - Transport-1.

1. Deputy Secretary:

1. Identifier - DOT-2.
2. Call Sign - Transport-2

1. Federal Aviation Administration.

1. Administrator:

1. Identifier - FAA-1.
2. Call Sign - Safeair-1.

1. Deputy Administrator:

1. Identifier - FAA-2
2. Call Sign - Safeair-2.

1. Other special flights.

1. Flight Inspection of navigational aids. State the call sign “Flight Check,” followed by the digits of the registration number.

1. USAF aircraft engaged in aerial sampling/surveying missions. State the call sign "SAMP," followed by the last three digits of the serial number.

1. Flights conducted by U.S. governmental organizations (federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial) using FAA authorized U.S. special call signs for purposes of national security and defense, homeland security, intelligence, and law enforcement. These flights may be identified in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.67, Air Traffic Management Security Services for Special Operations.

1. Use a pilot's name in identification of an aircraft only in special or emergency situations.

1. DESCRIPTION OF AIRCRAFT TYPES

Except for heavy aircraft, describe aircraft as follows:

1. Military.

1. Military designator with number spoken in group form; or
2. Service and type; or
3. Type only if no confusion or misidentification is likely.

1. Air Carrier.

1. Manufacturer's model or type designator.
2. Add the manufacturer's name, company name or other identifying features when confusion or misunderstanding is likely.

1. General Aviation and Air Taxi.

1. Manufacturer's model or type designator.
2. Manufacturer's name, or add color when considered advantageous.

1. AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT CODES

When communicating this information (aircraft equipment suffixes) state the aircraft type, the word “slant,” and the appropriate phonetic letter equivalent of the suffix.

1. AIRWAYS AND ROUTES

Describe airways, routes, or jet routes as follows:

1. VOR/VORTAC/TACAN airways or jet routes. State the word “Victor” or the letter “J,” followed by the number of the airway or route in group form.

1. VOR/VORTAC/TACAN alternate airways. State the word “Victor,” followed by the number of the airway in group form and the alternate direction.

1. Colored/L/MF airways. State the color of the airway followed by the number in group form.

1. Named Routes. State the words “North American Route” or “Bahama Route,” followed by the number of the route in group form.

1. Military Training Routes ( MTRs). State the letters “I-R” or “V-R,” followed by the number of the route in group form.

1. Published RNAV routes.

1. High Altitude - State the letter “Q” followed by the route number in group form.

1. Low Altitude - State the letter of the route phonetically, followed by the number of the route in group form.

1. NAVAID TERMS

1. Announce NAVAIDs as follows in TBL 11-1-40:

1. Describe radials, arcs, courses, bearings, and quadrants of NAVAIDs as follows:

1. VOR/VORTAC/TACAN/GPS Waypoint. State the name of the NAVAID or GPS Waypoint followed by the separate digits of the radial/azimuth/bearing (omitting the word “degrees”) and the word “radial/azimuth/ bearing.”

1. Arcs about VOR-DME/VORTAC/ TACAN NAVAIDs. State the distance in miles from the NAVAID followed by the words “mile arc,” the direction from the NAVAID in terms of the eight principal points of the compass, the word “of,” and the name of the NAVAID.

1. Quadrant within a radius of NAVAID. State direction from NAVAID in terms of the quadrant; e.g. NE, SE, SW, NW, followed by the distance in miles from the NAVAID.

1. Nondirectional beacons. State the course to or the bearing from the radio beacon, omitting the word “degree,” followed by the words “course to” or “bearing from,” the name of the radio beacon, and the words “radio beacon”.

1. MLS. State the azimuth to or azimuth from the MLS, omitting the word “degrees” followed by the words “azimuth to” or “azimuth from,” the name of the MLS, and the term MLS.

1. Navigation Reference System (NRS) Waypoint. State the single letter corresponding to the ICAO Flight Information Region (FIR) identifier, followed by the letter corresponding to the FIR subset (ARTCC area for the CONUS), the latitude increment in single digit or group form, and the longitude increment.

1. NAVAID FIXES

Describe fixes determined by reference to a radial/localizer/azimuth and distance from a VOR-DME/VORTAC/TACAN/ILS-DME or MLS as follows:

1. When a fix is not named, state the name of the NAVAID, followed by a specified radial/localizer/azimuth, and state the distance in miles followed by the phrase “mile fix.”

1. When a fix is charted on a SID, STAR, en route chart, or approach plate, state the name of the fix followed by the phrase “D-M-E fix” or “waypoint,” as appropriate.

1. Use specific terms to describe a fix. Do not use expressions such as “passing Victor Twelve” or “passing J Eleven.”

1. RUNWAY CONDITIONS

1. State factual information as reported by airport management concerning the condition of the runway surface and describing the accumulation of precipitation. Furnish quality of braking action as received from pilots to all aircraft as follows:

1. Describe the quality of braking action using the terms “good," “good to medium," “medium,” “medium to poor,” “poor,” or “nil.” If the pilot reports braking action in other than the approved terms, ask them to categorize braking action in these terms.
2. Include the type of aircraft from which the report is received.

1. If the braking action report affects only a portion of a runway, obtain enough information from the pilot to describe braking action in terms easily understood by other pilots.

1. State runway friction measurement readings/values as received from airport management to aircraft as follows:

1. At airports with friction measuring devices, provide runway friction reports, as received from airport management, to pilots on request. State the runway number followed by the MU number for each of the three runway zones, the time of the report in UTC, and a word describing the cause of the runway friction problem.

1. Issue the runway surface condition and/or the runway condition reading (RCR), if provided, to all USAF and ANG aircraft. Issue the RCR to other aircraft upon request.