On Frequency
Talking on the radio is the scariest part of a first flight, and the part that improves most with practice. This page covers the basics of phraseology and has a radio simulator: a complete departure from Brasília (SBBR) to Guarulhos, from the gate to Control.
Before you press the button
- Listen. Wait for the frequency to be clear. Don't interrupt an exchange between the controller and another pilot.
- Think. Know what you are going to say before you transmit. Write it down if you need to.
- Speak. Who you are calling, who you are, what you want: "Brasília Ground, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, ready for taxi."
- Read back. Repeat the instructions you received and end with your callsign.
The simulator
Choose a mode and advance message by message:
- Follow along: messages appear one by one, as if you were listening to the frequency.
- Practise as pilot: the pilot's lines are hidden. Say out loud what you would transmit, then check.
- Practise as controller: the same, with the ATC lines.
Apron 1, stand 14. Flight plan filed, Boeing 737 ready. Brasília ATIS is information BRAVO, runway 29L in use.
Brasília Delivery, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, good morning.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, Brasília Delivery, good morning.
Brasília Delivery, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, request ATC clearance, information BRAVO.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, cleared to Guarulhos Airport. Flight plan route. Flight level THREE FOUR ZERO. Runway in use TWO NINE LEFT. Climb via GAXON TWO ALFA departure, ENRUR transition. Squawk FOUR ZERO THREE FIVE. Brasília Control on ONE ONE NINE DECIMAL TWO. Read back.
Cleared to Guarulhos Airport. Flight plan route. Flight level THREE FOUR ZERO. Runway in use TWO NINE LEFT. Climb via GAXON TWO ALFA departure, ENRUR transition. Squawk FOUR ZERO THREE FIVE. Brasília Control on ONE ONE NINE DECIMAL TWO, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, read back correct. Contact Brasília Ground on ONE TWO ONE DECIMAL EIGHT.
Brasília Ground on ONE TWO ONE DECIMAL EIGHT, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
You set squawk 4035 and switch to the Ground frequency.
Brasília Ground, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, apron ONE, stand ONE FOUR, IFR to Guarulhos, request pushback and startup.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, Brasília Ground, pushback and startup approved, report ready for taxi.
Pushback and startup approved, will report ready for taxi, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
Pushback complete, engines running.
Brasília Ground, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, ready for taxi.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, taxi to holding point runway TWO NINE LEFT via KILO, UNIFORM and ZULU. QNH ONE ZERO ONE THREE.
Taxi to holding point runway TWO NINE LEFT via KILO, UNIFORM and ZULU, QNH ONE ZERO ONE THREE, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
In Brasília, Ground hands the aircraft over to Tower before the holding point.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, contact Brasília Tower on ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ONE.
Brasília Tower on ONE ONE EIGHT DECIMAL ONE, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
Brasília Tower, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, holding point runway TWO NINE LEFT, ready for departure.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, Brasília Tower, wind TWO EIGHT ZERO degrees, NINE knots, runway TWO NINE LEFT, cleared for takeoff.
Runway TWO NINE LEFT, cleared for takeoff, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
Shortly after takeoff, Tower hands you over to Control.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, contact Brasília Control on ONE ONE NINE DECIMAL TWO. Good flight!
Brasília Control on ONE ONE NINE DECIMAL TWO, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
Brasília Control, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, passing FIVE THOUSAND feet, climbing via GAXON TWO ALFA, ENRUR transition.
GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, Brasília Control, identified. Climb and maintain flight level ONE TWO ZERO.
Climb and maintain flight level ONE TWO ZERO, GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE.
From here, Control manages the climb and hands you over to Brasília Center. The complete flight, to the gate at Guarulhos, is in the Phraseology Manual.
Pátio 1, posição 14. Plano de voo enviado, Boeing 737 pronto. O ATIS de Brasília está na informação BRAVO, pista 29L em uso.
Tráfego Brasília, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, bom dia.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, Tráfego Brasília, bom dia.
Tráfego Brasília, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, solicita autorização ATC, informação BRAVO.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, autorizado para o aeroporto de Guarulhos. Rota do plano de voo. Nível de voo TRÊS QUATRO ZERO. Pista em uso DOIS NOVE ESQUERDA. Subida via saída GAXON DOIS ALFA, transição ENRUR. Transponder QUATRO ZERO TRÊS CINCO. Controle Brasília em UNO UNO NOVE DECIMAL DOIS. Coteje.
Autorizado para o aeroporto de Guarulhos. Rota do plano de voo. Nível de voo TRÊS QUATRO ZERO. Pista em uso DOIS NOVE ESQUERDA. Subida via saída GAXON DOIS ALFA, transição ENRUR. Transponder QUATRO ZERO TRÊS CINCO. Controle Brasília em UNO UNO NOVE DECIMAL DOIS, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, cotejamento correto. Chame o Solo Brasília em UNO DOIS UNO DECIMAL OITO.
Chamará o Solo Brasília em UNO DOIS UNO DECIMAL OITO, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
Você ajusta o transponder para 4035 e troca para a frequência do Solo.
Solo Brasília, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, pátio UNO, posição UNO QUATRO, IFR para Guarulhos, solicita pushback e acionamento.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, Solo Brasília, autorizado pushback e acionamento, chame pronto para o táxi.
Autorizado pushback e acionamento, chamará pronto para o táxi, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
Pushback concluído e motores acionados.
Solo Brasília, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, pronto para o táxi.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, táxi para o ponto de espera da pista DOIS NOVE ESQUERDA via KILO, UNIFORM e ZULU. Ajuste de altímetro UNO ZERO UNO TRÊS.
Táxi para o ponto de espera da pista DOIS NOVE ESQUERDA via KILO, UNIFORM e ZULU, ajuste UNO ZERO UNO TRÊS, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
Em Brasília, o Solo transfere a aeronave para a Torre antes do ponto de espera.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, chame a Torre Brasília em UNO UNO OITO DECIMAL UNO.
Chamará a Torre Brasília em UNO UNO OITO DECIMAL UNO, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
Torre Brasília, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, ponto de espera da pista DOIS NOVE ESQUERDA, pronto para decolagem.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, Torre Brasília, pista DOIS NOVE ESQUERDA, decolagem autorizada, vento DOIS OITO ZERO graus, ZERO NOVE nós.
Decolagem autorizada, pista DOIS NOVE ESQUERDA, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
Logo após a decolagem, a Torre transfere para o Controle.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, chame o Controle Brasília em UNO UNO NOVE DECIMAL DOIS. Bom voo!
Chamará o Controle Brasília em UNO UNO NOVE DECIMAL DOIS, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
Controle Brasília, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, passando CINCO MIL pés, subindo via GAXON DOIS ALFA, transição ENRUR.
GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE, Controle Brasília, identificado. Suba e mantenha o nível de voo UNO DOIS ZERO.
Sobe e mantém o nível de voo UNO DOIS ZERO, GOL UNO QUATRO UNO NOVE.
Daqui em diante, o Controle conduz a subida e transfere você ao Centro Brasília. O voo completo, até o portão em Guarulhos, está no Manual de Fraseologia.
The complete flight
The communication example in the Phraseology Manual follows the same flight to the gate at Guarulhos, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, with notes on the most common variations.
What to always read back
A readback is repeating the instruction so the controller can confirm you understood. Always read back:
- route, departure and arrival clearances;
- levels, altitudes, headings and speeds;
- runways: enter, line up, take off, land, cross, hold short;
- squawk code and frequencies;
- altimeter setting.
Always end with your callsign. If the controller says "read back correct", carry on; if they correct you, read back again.
Words you will use
| Portuguese | English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Afirmativo | Affirm | Yes |
| Negativo | Negative | No, or "not approved" |
| Ciente | Roger | I have received your message |
| Cumprirei | Wilco | I understand and will comply |
| Repita | Say again | Repeat your last message |
| Incapaz | Unable | I cannot comply |
| Prossiga | Go ahead | Send your message |
| Aguarde | Standby | Wait, I will call you back |
Numbers and letters
On the radio, every number is said digit by digit: GOL ONE FOUR ONE NINE, flight level THREE FOUR ZERO. NINE is often pronounced NINER. The decimal point in a frequency is DECIMAL. Letters use the phonetic alphabet: A is ALFA, B is BRAVO, C is CHARLIE. In Portuguese, some digits change: 1 is UNO and 6 is MEIA.
It's OK to make mistakes
Every controller has heard a nervous first flight. If you freeze, take a breath and say "say again". If you can't do what was asked, say "unable". Nobody expects perfection; they expect safety and clarity.
Ready? Test yourself in the pilot quiz.