Everything You Need to Know to Talk to ATC
That’s missing or very hard to find in government manuals.
Reality Check
- The Aeronautical Information Manual is incomplete, inconsistent, and in many cases, incoherent.
- The transmissions you hear other pilots make are loaded with bad habits, slang, and horrible phrasing.
- There is no such thing as an FAA-standardized syllabus for radio communication for pilots. There is for air traffic controllers, but not for pilots.
No wonder you're searching for answers!
Welcome to the answers to your questions about ATC communication. We’re going to cover everything you need to know to talk to ATC, VFR or IFR, in any phase of flight or ground operation.
This isn’t just about words and phrases–what to say and when to say it. We’ll also talk about the psychological component to talking and listening while flying. For example, it’s ridiculously hard to talk and listen while flying! There are solutions. You’ll find them right here.
And then there’s practice. A lot of hands-on practice, in private, at home, without anyone else listening in. We have hundreds of free practice tips for “chair flying” your way through radio work. If you are looking for comprehensive, guided practice, that’s available in our online courses.
While the topic is serious, and accuracy on the radio is vitally important, we’ll approach ATC communication with some laughs and the occasional poke in the ribs. I mean, what’s the point if you aren’t having fun?
