What you will learn
- Make confident, professional radio calls at towered and non-towered airports.
- Copy and read back IFR clearances accurately using the CRAFT format.
- Know exactly what requires a readback and what can simply be acknowledged.
- Handle emergency communications including Mayday and Pan-Pan procedures.
- Communicate effectively in busy airspace and during complex operations.
Topics covered
Radio Basics & Technique
Microphone technique, frequency management, proper callsign usage, phonetic alphabet, and listening before transmitting.
CTAF & Uncontrolled Airports
Self-announce procedures at non-towered airports, position reporting, traffic pattern calls, and UNICOM usage.
Tower Communications
Taxi clearances, takeoff and landing clearances, pattern work, go-arounds, and progressive taxi instructions.
Ground Control
Taxi instructions, hold-short instructions, runway crossing clearances, and ATIS acknowledgment.
Clearance Delivery & IFR
IFR clearance format (CRAFT), departure instructions, altitude assignments, squawk codes, and void times.
Approach & Departure Control
Radar vectors, traffic advisories, approach clearances, handoff procedures, and flight following.
Readback Requirements
What must be read back (hold-short, altitudes, headings, clearances), what can be acknowledged, and common readback errors.
Emergency Communications
Mayday and Pan-Pan calls, squawk 7700/7600/7500, declaring emergencies, and communicating with search and rescue.
Prerequisites
- •Basic understanding of airport operations and traffic patterns.
- •Familiarity with the phonetic alphabet is helpful.