Outbound Flight (Controlled to Uncontrolled)
Preliminaries
The flowchart alongside shows the sequence of units involved in this flight. The aircraft departs from a controlled aerodrome, crosses controlled airspace, continues en route under the flight information service and lands at an uncontrolled aerodrome served by an aeronautical station.
For practical purposes, we will simulate the flight of PT-VBR, a Cessna 172, between Pampulha (SBBH) and Ipatinga (SBIP), under visual flight rules, cruising at 7,500 ft.
Assume the transition level is 080. The entire flight takes place below it, so the vertical reference is always altitude in feet on QNH, and flight level is never mentioned.
Communications are presented in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Additional notes and variations appear in remarks boxes at the end of each stage, and they are worth checking.
Use of Spanish in phraseology
Spanish should only be used in the airspaces where it is authorised, both by DECEA and by the CAOPs officially established between Vatsim Brasil and other divisions. By default, indiscriminate use of this language in routine aeronautical communication is prohibited, even if both pilot and ATC are able to use it.
flowchart TD
ATIS(ATIS);
ATIS --> GND(GROUND);
GND --> TWR(TOWER);
TWR --> APP(CONTROL);
APP --> FIS(INFORMATION);
FIS --> RDO(RADIO); 
Solo / 
Ground / 
Tierra
Engine start and taxi
Before calling Ground, listen to the ATIS and have the QNH, the runway in use and the information letter at hand. In visual flight, the initial contact already includes the position on the apron, the aircraft type, the flight rules and the destination.
A few remarks...
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At aerodromes that have a DELIVERY position, the VFR departure clearance is issued before taxi. In that case, Ground handles only engine start and taxi.
PAPA TANGO VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, Tráfego Pampulha, autorizado saída VFR para Ipatinga, mantenha VFR, após a decolagem saída pela perna do vento à esquerda, transponder QUATRO DOIS ZERO UNO. Coteje.
PAPA TANGO VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, Pampulha Delivery, cleared VFR departure to Ipatinga, maintain VFR, after departure leave via left downwind, squawk FOUR TWO ZERO ONE. Read back.
PAPA TANGO VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, Pampulha Autorización, autorizada salida VFR para Ipatinga, mantenga VFR, después del despegue salida por el tramo con viento en cola por la izquierda, transponder CUATRO DOS CERO UNO. Colacione. -
General aviation aircraft rarely need a pushback. When the parking position allows leaving under the aircraft's own power, request engine start only.
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If you intend to stay in the circuit for training, say so already on contact with Ground, because it changes the Tower's planning.
Solo Pampulha, PAPA TANGO VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, pátio da aviação geral, um Cessna 172, voo local no circuito de tráfego, informação ALFA, solicita acionamento e instruções de táxi.
Pampulha Ground, PAPA TANGO VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, general aviation apron, a Cessna 172, local flight in the traffic circuit, information ALFA, request startup and taxi instructions.
Pampulha Tierra, PAPA TANGO VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, plataforma de aviación general, un Cessna 172, vuelo local en el circuito de tránsito, información ALFA, solicita puesta en marcha e instrucciones de rodaje.
Torre / Tower / Torre
Takeoff and leaving the circuit
The Tower clears the takeoff and states how the aircraft should leave the traffic circuit. This is where VFR operations differ most from IFR, since there is no published departure procedure to follow.
A few remarks...
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The Tower may make the departure conditional on existing traffic, keeping the aircraft in the circuit until there is room.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, pista UNO TRÊS, decolagem autorizada, vento UNO TRÊS ZERO graus, ZERO OITO nós. Mantenha o circuito, aguarde instruções para a saída.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, runway ONE THREE, cleared for take-off, wind ONE THREE ZERO degrees, ZERO EIGHT knots. Remain in the circuit, standby for departure instructions.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, pista UNO TRES, autorizado despegue, viento UNO TRES CERO grados, CERO OCHO nudos. Manténgase en el circuito, espere instrucciones para la salida. -
It is also common for the Tower to restrict the altitude while the aircraft is within the CTR.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, após a decolagem, saída em frente, mantenha DOIS MIL pés ou abaixo até deixar a CTR, reporte livre do circuito.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, after departure, straight out, maintain TWO THOUSAND feet or below until leaving the CTR, report clear of the circuit.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, después del despegue, salida en línea recta, mantenga DOS MIL pies o inferior hasta abandonar la CTR, reporte libre del circuito. -
If the takeoff is from an intersection, state it in the holding point report, exactly as in instrument flight.
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Wind with a speed of zero knots (00000KT) must be reported as wind calm.
Controle / Control / Control
Leaving the CTR and the TMA
Within controlled airspace, visual flight remains subject to clearance. Control maintains surveillance, provides traffic information and releases the aircraft when it leaves its airspace.
A few remarks...
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When traffic information is provided, the expected response is straightforward: traffic in sight or negative contact. If the traffic is not in sight, ATC will provide another form of separation.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, tráfego não avistado.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, negative contact.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, tráfico no a la vista. -
Termination of radar service follows the same standard as in instrument flight, detailed in the Important Tips of the Aeronautical Phraseology Manual. Replace the minute with the actual termination time, read digit by digit.
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Not every visual flight leaves controlled airspace. On short flights, Control may hand the aircraft over directly to the destination Tower.
Informação / Information / Información
En-route flight under the flight information service
Outside controlled airspace, the pilot operates under the flight information service. Here there are no clearances, only information. The pilot reports position and intentions, and the operator responds with conditions, known traffic and acknowledgement.
A few remarks...
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En-route level changes outside controlled airspace are the pilot's decision. The operator only acknowledges them.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, descendo para CINCO MIL E QUINHENTOS pés devido nuvens.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, descending to FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED feet due to clouds.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, descendiendo a CINCO MIL QUINIENTOS pies debido a nubes.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, Informação Brasília ciente.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, Brasília Information roger.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, Brasília Información recibido. -
Weather deviations are reported, not requested.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, desviando à direita devido formação.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, right deviation due weather.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, desviando a la derecha debido a formación. -
If the flight needs to re-enter controlled airspace, the operator provides the frequency to be contacted.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, ao ingressar no espaço aéreo controlado, chame o Controle Belo Horizonte em UNO UNO NOVE DECIMAL UNO.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, when entering controlled airspace, contact Belo Horizonte Control on ONE ONE NINE DECIMAL ONE.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, al ingresar en el espacio aéreo controlado, llame Belo Horizonte Control en UNO UNO NUEVE DECIMAL UNO.
Rádio / Radio / Radio
Arrival at the uncontrolled aerodrome
At an aerodrome served by an aeronautical station, the pilot requests information, receives the conditions and states their intentions. The station does not clear landings, does not sequence and does not separate traffic. The pilot decides, based on the information received.
A few remarks...
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The runway reported by the aeronautical station is the runway being used by other aircraft, not an assigned runway. The final choice belongs to the pilot in command, who must take into account the wind, existing traffic and aircraft performance.
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If the aerodrome is below visual minima, the station reports the condition and leaves the decision to the pilot.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, vento ZERO OITO ZERO graus, ZERO SETE nós, ajuste de altímetro UNO ZERO UNO DOIS, temperatura TRÊS DOIS graus, aeródromo abaixo dos mínimos visuais, visibilidade estimada DOIS MIL metros, teto MEIA ZERO ZERO pés, informe intenções.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, wind ZERO EIGHT ZERO degrees, ZERO SEVEN knots, altimeter setting ONE ZERO ONE TWO, temperature THREE TWO degrees, aerodrome below visual minima, estimated visibility TWO THOUSAND meters, ceiling SIX HUNDRED feet, advise intentions.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO, viento CERO OCHO CERO grados, CERO SIETE nudos, ajuste de altímetro UNO CERO UNO DOS, temperatura TRES DOS grados, aeródromo por debajo de los mínimos visuales, visibilidad estimada DOS MIL metros, techo SEIS CERO CERO pies, informe intenciones.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO ciente, irá prosseguir para a alternativa Governador Valadares.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO roger, will proceed to alternate Governador Valadares.
VICTOR BRAVO ROMEO recibido, procederá al alternativo Governador Valadares. -
When no aeronautical station is on the air, reports are still made, as blind transmissions, on the aerodrome frequency. Announce your position and intentions on each leg, even without a reply.
Traffic circuit and landing
From joining to touchdown, each leg generates a report. At an uncontrolled aerodrome, the reports allow other traffic to build their own situational awareness.
Never say this on an aeronautical station
Expressions such as cleared to land, cleared for take-off, cleared to join and number TWO for landing imply air traffic control and may not be used by a RADIO station. If you are staffing the position, inform and acknowledge, never clear.
Taxi and closing
After vacating the runway, the pilot reports where they intend to park and closes the flight plan.
Do not invent requests
As in instrument flight, avoid requests not provided for in the regulations, such as "request shutdown and disembarkation". Report only what is operationally relevant.