DEFINITIONS:
Aerodrome control service ATC for aerodrome traffic
Aerodrome control radio station A station communicating between aerodrome tower and
aircraft
Aerodrome traffic All traffic in the vicinity of an aerodrome
Aerodrome traffic circuit Specified path in the vicinity of an aerodrome
Aeronautical fixed A standard for communication and exchange of data
telecommunication network between aeronautical stations
(AFTN)
Aeronautical Mobile Service Mobile service between aeronautical stations and aircraft
stations, and possibly S&R services
Aeronautical station A land station within the aeronautical mobile service
Air-ground communication Two way communication between aircraft and ground
Air to ground communication One way communication from aircraft to ground
Air traffic All aircraft in flight and on the manoeuvring area
Air traffic control clearance Authorisation for an aircraft to proceed by atc
Air traffic service (ATS) Can be FIS, alerting services, air traffic advisory service,
ATCS, approach control, area control service
Air traffic services unit Can be air traffic control unit, flight information centre or
ATS reporting office
Airway A corridor established by radnav aids
Altitude Vertical distance to MSL
Approach control services ATCS for arriving and departing flights
Apron A defined area for loading and offloading aircraft
Area Control Centre A unit that provides ATCS in a certain area
Automatic Terminal Information Current, continuously broadcast information for arriving and
Service (ATIS) departing aircraft. Has QNH, Transition Level and runway
information.
Blind transmission Sending a transmission while you are not sure you could
receive a reply
Broadcast A transmission not for a specific station
Clearance limit The point to which an aircraft receives a ATC clearance
Controlled aerospace A part of the aerodrome were ATCS is provided to controlled
flights
Control zone Controlled airspace from the surface to a limit
Distress Being threatened by serious or imminent danger, requiring
immediate assistance
Expected Approach Time Time ATC expects an aircraft to leave the hold
Flight Information Centre A unit for FIS and alerting service
Flight Information Region (FIR) An airspace in which FIS and alerting are provided
Flight level A isobaric level related to the 1013,2hPa level
Flight plan Information passed from pilot to ATC
Heading The direction of the longitudinal axis of an aircraft
Holding fix A location that is reference for initializing a hold
Holding point Runway holding position
Holding procedure A manoeuvre which keeps an aircraft in a portion of airspace
while waiting for a new clearance
IFR Flight A flight in accordance with instrument flight rules
Instrument Meteorological Flight conditions in terms of visibility, cloud clearance less
Conditions (IMC) than required for visual meteorological conditions
Level A term for the vertical position of an aircraft
Manoeuvring area Part of an aerodrome for take off, landing and taxiing not
including the apron
Missed approach procedure The procedure if a go around is initiated
Movement area Aprons and manoeuvring area together
Radar approach An approach made by an aircraft under radar guidance
Radar identification Matching a radar blip with an aircraft
Radar vectoring Giving an aircraft guidance in the sense of specific headings
Readback If the receiving station repeats (part of) a message
Reduced runway separation When time between departure and arrival on a single
runway is reduced under certain criteria
Reporting point A fix at which a position report must be made
Runway holding point A designated position intended to protect: a runway,
obstacle limitation surface, ILS/MLS critical area.
Runway visual range (RVR) The distance a pilot can still see the runway markings from
the cockpit
Telecommunication Any electromagnetic transmission
Touchdown The point were the glidepath and runway intersect
Track A path over the earth surface
Urgency A condition disadvantageous to safety which does not
require immediate assistance
VFR flight A flight complying with visual flight rules
Visual approach An approach by an IFR flight, which is executed with visual
terrain reference
Way-point A location defined for area navigation routes. Can be flyover
or fly-by
MESSAGE PRIORITY:
Mayday
Pan, pan
Communications for direction finding
Flight safety messages
Meteorological messages
Flight regularity messages
Distress and urgency procedures:
Pan pan is urgency ➔ no immediate assistance required
Mayday is distress ➔ immediate assistance required
Pan pan or mayday should bespoken three times to initiate an emergency call
Better assistance can be provided on a quieter frequency: 121.5 MHz
ELT frequency is 406.0 MHz
The first station to respond shall:
Acknowledge the distress call
Take control of the communications or explicitly transfer communications
Make sure that ATS and operator receive information as soon as possible
Warn other stations as required
Squawk mode C or S if possible (A for IFR):
7500: Hijack
7600: Radio failure
7700: Emergency (mayday)
Radio call:
[Name of recipient], [name of transmitter]
[Nature of distress], [intention of PIC]
[Position level and heading], [additional information]
COMMUNICATION FAILURE PROCEDURES
Flight rules IFR VFR
Flight conditions IMC VMC VMC
Radio calls A2G: “Transmitting
blind” 2x when rx
failure add: “Due to
receiver failure”
Procedures No radar: maintain Continue to fly VMC Squawk 7600
last assigned level Land at nearest
and speed for 20 suitable aerodrome Ground:
minutes Report arrival asap Notify the
surrounding and
Radar: maintain last request relaying or
assigned level and other assistance
speed for 7 minutes
(from reaching the
last assigned level or
squawking 7600
whichever is later)
When having radar
vectors join flight
plan again asap
Proceed according
to flight plan to a
possible hold, hold
until EAT or ETA is
reached (the latter)
Make a regular
instrument approach
Land within 30
minutes of ETA if
possible
CIRCUIT PROCEDURES
From take off to landing the circuit consists of: Upwind, crosswind, downwind, base leg and
final. The circuit is located left unless otherwise specified. Position reports must be given on
downwind and final. A go around is made on the live side of the circuit, due to possible
traffic (gliders, parachutes, etc.) on the other side of the runway.
TCAS PHRASEOLOGY
Circumstances Phraseologies
… When a pilot is unable to comply with a - *Unable
clearance or instruction
… After a flight crew starts to deviate from - *TCAS RA
any ATC clearance or instruction to comply - Roger
with an ACAS RA
… After the response to an ACAS RA is - *Clear of conflict, returning to
completed and a return to the ATC clearance (assigned clearance)
or instruction has been resumed - Roger
… After the response to an ACAS RA is - *Clear of conflict (assigned
completed and the assigned ATC clearance clearance) resumed
or instruction has been resumed - Roger
… After an ATC clearance contradictory to - *Unable TCAS RA
the ACAS RA is received the flight crew will - Roger
follow the RA and inform ATC directly
*Pilot
