Did you know that 90% of aviation communications use less than 20 standard phrases?
It's true. Most student pilots get overwhelmed thinking they need to memorize hundreds of variations. The reality is much simpler.
This cheat sheet contains the 20 phrases you'll use constantly. Memorize these, and you'll have the foundation for practically any VFR communication.
The 20 essential phrases
1. Request taxi (Towered airport) **Phrase:** "[Airport] Ground, [Callsign], [Location] with Information [Letter], [Type of flight] to [Destination], request taxi."
Example: "Oakland Ground, Cessna 1234 Bravo, north ramp with Information Delta, VFR to Hayward, request taxi."
2. Readback taxi instructions **Phrase:** "Taxi to runway [Number] via [Taxiways], [Callsign]."
Example: "Taxi to runway 27 via Alpha, Bravo, Cessna 34 Bravo."
⚠️ Important: CRITICAL: ALWAYS include the runway number in your readback.
3. Ready for departure **Phrase:** "[Airport] Tower, [Callsign], ready for departure [Runway], [Direction of flight]."
Example: "Oakland Tower, Cessna 1234 Bravo, ready for departure runway 27, remaining in the pattern."
4. Readback takeoff clearance **Phrase:** "Cleared for takeoff runway [Number], [Callsign]."
Example: "Cleared for takeoff runway 27, Cessna 34 Bravo."
⚠️ Important: CRITICAL: ALWAYS read back "cleared for takeoff" and runway number.
5. Downwind call (Non-towered) **Phrase:** "[Airport] Traffic, [Callsign], [Left/Right] downwind, runway [Number], [Full stop/Touch and go], [Airport]."
Example: "Livermore Traffic, Cessna 1234 Bravo, left downwind, runway 25, full stop, Livermore."
6. Final call (Non-towered) **Phrase:** "[Airport] Traffic, [Callsign], final, runway [Number], [Full stop/Touch and go], [Airport]."
Example: "Livermore Traffic, Cessna 1234 Bravo, final, runway 25, full stop, Livermore."
7. Clear of runway **Phrase:** "[Airport] [Tower/Traffic], [Callsign], clear of runway [Number]."
Example - Towered: "Oakland Tower, Cessna 34 Bravo, clear of runway 27."
Example - Non-towered: "Livermore Traffic, Cessna 34 Bravo, clear of runway 25, Livermore."
8. Request flight following **Phrase:** "[Facility] [Approach/Center], [Callsign], request."
[Wait for acknowledgment]
"[Callsign] is [Distance/Position], [Altitude], VFR to [Destination], request flight following."
Example: "Oakland Center, Cessna 1234 Bravo, request." [Wait] "Cessna 1234 Bravo is 15 miles east of Livermore, 4,500, VFR to Sacramento, request flight following."
9. Say again (Didn't understand) **Phrase:** "[Callsign], say again."
Example: "Cessna 34 Bravo, say again."
When to use: ALWAYS when you don't completely understand an instruction.
10. Unable (Can't comply) **Phrase:** "[Callsign], unable [instruction], [reason if safety related]."
Example: "Cessna 34 Bravo, unable immediate turn, traffic in sight."
Phonetic alphabet (MEMORIZE)
| Letter | Phonetic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alpha | AL-fah |
| B | Bravo | BRAH-voh |
| C | Charlie | CHAR-lee |
| D | Delta | DELL-tah |
| E | Echo | ECK-oh |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS-trot |
| G | Golf | GOLF |
| H | Hotel | hoh-TELL |
| I | India | IN-dee-ah |
| J | Juliett | JEW-lee-ett |
| K | Kilo | KEY-loh |
| L | Lima | LEE-mah |
| M | Mike | MIKE |
| N | November | no-VEM-ber |
| O | Oscar | OSS-car |
| P | Papa | pah-PAH |
| Q | Quebec | keh-BECK |
| R | Romeo | ROW-me-oh |
| S | Sierra | see-AIR-rah |
| T | Tango | TANG-go |
| U | Uniform | YOU-nee-form |
| V | Victor | VIK-tah |
| W | Whiskey | WISS-key |
| X | X-ray | ECKS-ray |
| Y | Yankee | YANG-key |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO-loo |
Common phraseology mistakes
❌ Saying: "Taking the active" ✅ Say: "Crossing runway 27" or wait for clearance
❌ Saying: "With you" ✅ Say: Just your callsign when changing frequencies
❌ Saying: "Any traffic in the area please advise" ✅ Say: Nothing (unnecessary and annoying)
❌ Saying: "Last call" ✅ Say: Your position normally
Practice techniques
Technique 1: Flashcards Create flashcards with the situation on front, phrase on back.
Front: "You just received clearance to land on runway 9" Back: "Cleared to land runway 9, [callsign]"
Technique 2: Daily verbal practice Each morning, say the 20 phrases out loud. Takes 5 minutes.
Technique 3: Apps with voice recognition Practice with apps like ATC One that verify you're saying the phraseology correctly.
Technique 4: Group by context Memorize in groups: - Ground operations (1-4) - Pattern work (5-7) - En route (8) - Universal (9-10)
Learn one group per week.
Conclusion: Master these 20 and fly with confidence
These 20 phrases are your foundation. With these, you can handle: - Any departure - Any arrival - Complete pattern work - Flight following - Emergency situations
Action items: 1. Print this cheat sheet 2. Put on your kneeboard 3. Practice each phrase 5 times today 4. Use before each flight for 30 days
In one month, these phrases will be automatic. You won't think WHAT to say, only WHEN to say it.
That's the difference between student pilots who struggle with radio and those who sound confident from the start.
Start today. 5 minutes. 20 phrases. Infinite confidence.