Phraseology — Page 97, Lesson 81

I want to walk you through the standard phraseology used in radar-controlled airspace, starting with speed-related instructions that ATC might issue to you. First, when ATC wants you to return to your normal operating speed, they'll say "RESUME NORMAL SPEED". If they need you to slow down for an approach, you'll hear "REDUCE TO MINIMUM APPROACH SPEED" — that's the lowest speed you can fly while still in the landing configuration. There's also "REDUCE TO MINIMUM CLEAN SPEED", which means the slowest speed with the aircraft clean — no flaps or landing gear extended. And if ATC lifts any speed constraints they previously gave you, they'll say "NO [ATC] SPEED RESTRICTIONS". Now let's move to position reporting. Under normal circumstances, you report at compulsory points. But when you're under radar control, ATC can tell you to stop those routine reports. The phrase is "OMIT POSITION REPORTS [UNTIL (specify)]" — they'll tell you until when. They might also say "NEXT REPORT AT (significant point)" to give you a single future reporting point, or "REPORTS REQUIRED ONLY AT (location(s))" to limit reports to specific places. When they want you back on the normal reporting schedule, it's "RESUME POSITION REPORTING". Next is traffic information and action. When ATC gives you traffic, they'll start with "TRAFFIC", then the clock position — for example, "TRAFFIC 2 O'CLOCK" — followed by the distance, then the direction the traffic is moving relative to you. They'll use phrases like "SLOW MOVING", "FAST MOVING", "CLOSING", "OPPOSITE (or SAME) DIRECTION", "OVERTAKING", or "CROSSING LEFT TO RIGHT (or RIGHT TO LEFT)". If they know it, they'll add the TYPE and LEVEL of the traffic. If you need to avoid that traffic, you can request vectors by saying "REQUEST VECTORS". If you're climbing or descending through traffic, you'd say "CLIMBING (or DESCENDING)" before that request. When ATC sees you're passing unknown traffic and wants to offer help, they'll ask "DO YOU WANT VECTORS?". Once you're clear, they'll say "CLEAR OF TRAFFIC" followed by appropriate instructions. For immediate avoiding action, the controller will say "TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) IMMEDIATELY (number) DEGREES" or "HEADING (three digits) TO AVOID [UNIDENTIFIED] TRAFFIC (bearing by clock reference and distance)". Now let's cover communications and loss of communications. If you lose radio contact, ATC will issue instructions starting with "[IF] RADIO CONTACT LOST (instructions)". They might also say "IF NO TRANSMISSIONS RECEIVED FOR (number) MINUTES (or SECONDS) (instructions)" — that sets a time limit after which you should follow those instructions. "REPLY NOT RECEIVED (instructions)" is used when they didn't get your acknowledgment. They can also say "IF YOU READ [manoeuvre instructions or SQUAWK (code or IDENT)]" — and if you comply, they'll confirm with "manoeuvre (or SQUAWK) OBSERVED". Finally, they might say "POSITION (Position of aircraft). WILL CONTINUE TO PASS INSTRUCTIONS" to keep the communication going despite the difficulty. For termination of radar service, you'll hear "RADAR CONTROL TERMINATED [DUE (reason)]" or "RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED (instructions)". If they're about to lose your blip, they'll warn you with "WILL SHORTLY LOSE IDENTIFICATION (appropriate instructions or information)". And if they've already lost it, "IDENTIFICATION LOST [reasons] (instructions)". Finally, let's look at radar in approach control service, specifically vectoring for approach. The controller will tell you what kind of approach you're being vectored for. For a pilot-interpreted aid like an NDB or VOR, it's "VECTORING FOR (type of pilot-interpreted aid) APPROACH RUNWAY (number)". For a visual approach, "VECTORING FOR VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY (number) REPORT FIELD (or RUNWAY) IN SIGHT". For a circuit position, "VECTORING FOR (positioning on the circuit)". For a surveillance radar approach, "VECTORING FOR SURVEILLANCE RADAR APPROACH RUNWAY (number)". And for a precision approach like an ILS, "VECTORING FOR PRECISION APPROACH RUNWAY (number)" — but if that approach isn't available, they'll say "(type) APPROACH NOT AVAILABLE DUE (reason) (alternative instructions)". When they're vectoring you for an ILS or other pilot-interpreted aid, they'll give you a position relative to a fix: "POSITION (number) KILOMETRES (or MILES) from (fix). TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) HEADING (three digits)". Then they'll tell you where you'll intercept the aid: "YOU WILL INTERCEPT (radio aid or track distance) FROM (significant point or TOUCHDOWN)".