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Phraseology

How to use this page

The page has two parts. The first gives the instructions to the pilot that accompany a transfer, from Chapter IV of MCA 100-16. The second gives the messages between units, from Annex II of the same manual1. Pilot transmissions are marked with *. The callsigns, frequencies and names are those used in the examples of the manual. Replace them with those of your position.

The messages between units appear in MCA 100-16 in Portuguese only. The English column is a rendering for reference, in standard ICAO coordination style.

Transfer of communications

Portuguese English
ARG 9230, contato Centro Brasília em 126,4. ARG 9230, contact Brasília Center 126,4.
PT PRF, troque para frequência 123,7. PT PRF, change frequency to 123,7.
PT LPS, mantenha esta frequência. PT LPS, remain on this frequency.
PT EGR, desça e mantenha FL 100. Ao passar FL 200, contato Controle Bauru em 121,3. PT EGR, descend and maintain FL 100. When passing FL 200, contact Bauru Control 121,3.
PT BBC, chame Centro Manaus 124,7. PT BBC, contact Manaus Center 124,7.
PT MMH, se não estabelecer contato, retorne nesta frequência. PT MMH, if contact not established, return to this frequency.
TAM 3305, aprovada troca de frequência. TAM 3305, frequency change approved.
GLO 1921, serviço radar terminado, chame Controle Campo Grande em 119,0. GLO 1921, radar service terminated, contact Campo Grande Control 119,0.

Source: Arts. 91, 98, 118 and 170.

On departure

Portuguese English
TAM 3702, taxie para o ponto de espera da pista 10, via taxiway "G", próximo do ponto de espera chame Torre 118,1. TAM 3702, taxi to holding point, runway 10, via taxiway "G", approaching holding point contact Tower 118,1.
PT ABC, no través da taxiway Q, monitore Torre Brasília em 118,1. PT ABC, abeam taxiway Q, monitor Brasília Tower on 118,1.
TAM 3661, decolado aos 26, chame o Controle Rio, 119,0. TAM 3661, airborne at 26, contact Rio Control 119,0.
GLO 1224, decolado aos 26, curva à direita para interceptar a radial 150 do VOR CAX, chame Controle Rio 119,0. GLO 1224, airborne at 26, turn right to intercept 150 radial CAX VOR, contact Rio Control 119,0.

"Monitor" means keeping a listening watch on the frequency without calling: the next unit calls the aircraft when it needs to2.

Source: Arts. 125 and 127.

On arrival

Portuguese English
PT CTA, chame Torre Brasília, frequência 118,10. PT CTA, contact Brasília Tower, frequency 118,10.
TAM 3320, no solo aos 02, após livrar a pista chame Solo 121,9. TAM 3320, on the ground at 02, after vacating the runway contact Ground 121,9.

Source: Arts. 116 and 133.

Entering or leaving controlled airspace

Portuguese English
PT OGR, ao ingressar no espaço aéreo controlado, frequência do Centro Brasília 126,75; frequência do Controle Salvador 119,35. PT OGR, when entering controlled airspace, Brasília Center frequency 126,75, Salvador Control frequency 119,35.
PT WEI, no espaço aéreo G não está sujeito a autorização, voe a critério e quando próximo ao limite da Área Terminal chame o Controle Recife na frequência 119,5 e solicite a autorização requerida para ingresso no espaço controlado. PT WEI, in G airspace is not subject to authorization, fly at your discretion and when close to the Terminal Area boundary call Recife Control on frequency 119,5 and request the clearance required to enter the controlled airspace.
PP EHJ, voo IFR cancelado às 13:42 Z, não há tráfego conhecido, troca de frequência aprovada. PP EHJ, IFR flight cancelled at 13:42 Z, no reported traffic, frequency change approved.

Source: Arts. 59, 151 and 152.

Messages between units

General rules

  • When answering, give the name of the unit and "go ahead" ("prossiga") or "stand by" ("aguarde"). On a direct line, the name may be omitted3.
  • When there is no readback, acknowledge with "roger" ("recebido") or "understood" ("entendido")4.
  • Prepare the message before calling and check that you are talking to the right addressee5.
  • Use the phonetic alphabet to spell proper names, abbreviations and words whose pronunciation is doubtful6.

Estimates

Who Portuguese English
ACC-CW "Estimado do VRG 3256, de Cuiabá para Guarulhos, FL 330, estima VARGA aos 55." "Estimate VRG 3256, Cuiabá to Guarulhos, FL 330, VARGA at 55."
ACC-PV "Estimado do VRG 2485, de Porto Velho para Rio Branco, FL 280, UW10, ROSA aos 48." "Estimate VRG 2485, Porto Velho to Rio Branco, FL 280, UW10, ROSA at 48."
APP-RB "Ciente, VRG 2485, Porto Velho/Rio Branco, FL 280, UW 10, ROSA aos 48." "Roger, VRG 2485, Porto Velho/Rio Branco, FL 280, UW 10, ROSA at 48."
SETOR 1 "GLO 1797 desceu para FL 290, estima través Pirassununga aos 23." "GLO 1797 descended to FL 290, estimating abeam Pirassununga at 23."

Requests and restrictions

Who Portuguese English
APP-MO "Estimado do PT LUX de Aracaju para Natal, UKARI 15:48, FL 110. Solicita FL 090 a partir do VOR Recife." "Estimate PT LUX, Aracaju to Natal, UKARI 15:48, FL 110. Requests FL 090 from Recife VOR."
APP-RF "Autorizado PT LUX para o FL 090, a partir VOR Recife." "PT LUX approved FL 090 from Recife VOR."
APP-SN "Nível mais baixo à disposição, no VOR STM, FL 070." "Lowest level available at STM VOR, FL 070."
ACC-BL "Ciente, TAM 3235 desce para FL 070." "Roger, TAM 3235 descending to FL 070."
APP-RJ "Hora estimada de aproximação do VRG 2205 aos 35." "Expected approach time VRG 2205 at 35."
ACC-BS "Ciente, estimado de aproximação do VRG 2205 aos 35." "Roger, expected approach time VRG 2205 at 35."

ATC clearances

Who Portuguese English
TWR-SP "Autorização GLO 1912." "Request clearance GLO 1912."
ACC-BS "GLO 1912, autorizado para Curitiba, UA 309, FL 290." "GLO 1912, cleared to Curitiba, UA 309, FL 290."
TWR-SP "Ciente, GLO 1912, autorizado para Curitiba, UA 309, FL 290." "Roger, GLO 1912, cleared to Curitiba, UA 309, FL 290."
ACC-RE "VRG 2252 autorizado para Recife, FL 290, UA 314, com limite de decolagem às 21:50." "VRG 2252 cleared to Recife, FL 290, UA 314, clearance void if not airborne by 21:50."

Transfer of control

Who Portuguese English
ACC 1 "Transferência do VRG 2321, 10 NM para VUKUS, mantém FL 310, chamará em 126,1." "Transfer VRG 2321, 10 NM to VUKUS, maintaining FL 310, will call on 126,1."
ACC 2 "VRG 2321, FL 310, 10 NM para VUKUS, em 126,1." "VRG 2321, FL 310, 10 NM to VUKUS, on 126,1."
SETOR 1 "Transferência do BRA 4177, passando FL 160, sul de Campinas, solicita direto Bonsucesso." "Transfer BRA 4177, passing FL 160, south of Campinas, requesting direct Bonsucesso."
SETOR 2 "Autorizado Bonsucesso, contato em 129,75." "Direct Bonsucesso approved, contact on 129,75."
SETOR 1 "Ciente, chamará em 129,75." "Roger, will call on 129,75."
APP-MN "Transferência do PT LBQ, chamará estabilizado na radial 283 a 5 NM do VOR." "Transfer PT LBQ, will call established on radial 283, 5 NM from the VOR."
TWR-EG "Ciente, PT LBQ, chamará na radial 283, 5 NM do VOR." "Roger, PT LBQ, will call on radial 283, 5 NM from the VOR."
APP-BR "Transferência do PT JPM, chamará na perna do vento, setor sul." "Transfer PT JPM, will call on downwind, south sector."
TWR-BR "Ciente, PT JPM, chamará na perna do vento, setor sul." "Roger, PT JPM, will call on downwind, south sector."

Between APP and TWR

Who Portuguese English
APP-MN "VRG 2320, estimado de pouso aos 15." "VRG 2320, estimated landing at 15."
TWR-MN "Ciente, VRG 2320, pouso aos 15." "Roger, VRG 2320, landing at 15."
APP-SP "FAB 2115 arremetendo agora, prosseguindo para pouso em Congonhas." "FAB 2115 going around now, proceeding to land at Congonhas."
TWR-GR "Entendido, FAB 2115 arremetendo." "Understood, FAB 2115 going around."
APP-SP "Informo grande sequência de aproximações, previsão de atraso nas decolagens." "Advise long approach sequence, departure delays expected."
TWR-SP "Ciente do atraso nas decolagens, iniciaremos restrições de acionamento." "Roger the departure delays, will begin start-up restrictions."

Source: MCA 100-16, Annex II, items 1 and 2. The examples for adjacent ACC and APP are in items 2.1 to 2.5, those for APP and TWR in items 2.6 and 2.10, and those for transfer of control in items 2.8 to 2.10.

  1. MCA 100-16, Fraseologia de Tráfego Aéreo (Air Traffic Phraseology). ↩

  2. MCA 100-16, Art. 39, Table 14 (Glossary of terms): "MONITORE: mantenha a escuta (frequência)" (MONITOR: listen out on (frequency)). ↩

  3. MCA 100-16, Annex II, item 1.1. ↩

  4. MCA 100-16, Annex II, item 1.2. ↩

  5. MCA 100-16, Annex II, item 1.3. ↩

  6. MCA 100-16, Annex II, item 1.4. ↩