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General

Issuance of Clearance

ATC Clearance Given to a Pilot:

  • (Aircraft Call Sign) CLEARED TO (or FOR) (Clearance)
    • Example: "N52515, runway 10, cleared to land."
    • Example: "N11444, runway 33R, cleared for take-off."

Reporting a Clearance from Another ATC Unit:

  • (Name of Unit) CLEARS (Aircraft Call Sign) TO (Clearance)

Modified Clearance Given by ATC:

  • RECLEARED (Amended Clearance Details) [Rest of Clearance Unchanged]
  • RECLEARED (Amended Route Portion) TO (Significant Point of Original Route) [Rest of Clearance Unchanged]

Clearance may apply to departure, arrival, crossing zones, flight plan changes, etc.

Indicating Route and Clearance Limit:

  • FROM (Location) TO (Location)
  • TO (Location)
  • TO (Location), DIRECT
  • TO (Location), VIA (Route and/or Significant Points)
  • TO (Location), FLIGHT PLANNED ROUTE
  • TO (Location), VIA (Distance) DME ARC (Direction) OF (Name of DME Station)

When Clearance Cannot Be Issued or Followed by ATC or Pilot:

  • (Route) NOT AVAILABLE DUE (Reason). ALTERNATIVE(S) IS/ARE (Routes). ADVISE.
  • CANNOT BE ISSUED
  • UNABLE, TRAFFIC (Direction) BOUND (Type of Aircraft) (Level)
  • ESTIMATED (or OVER) (Significant Point) AT (Time) CALL SIGN
  • (Call Sign) ADVISE INTENTIONS.

Level Instructions

Air traffic control (ATC) instructions or clearancesATC may containinstruct aircraft to fly at a specific level assignment. Levels are, transmitted using the following formats:as:

  • FLIGHT LEVEL (number)Number)
  • (number)Number) METRES
  • (number)Number) FEET

Examples:

  • FLIGHT LEVEL 90
  • 300 METRES
  • 8500 FEET

Speed Control

ATC may instruct aircraft to adjust their speed for separation, sequencing, or operational efficiency.

ATC Speed Instructions:

  • REPORT SPEED
  • MAINTAIN (number)Number) KILOMETRES PER HOUR (or KNOTS) [OR GREATER / OR LESS] [UNTIL (point)Point)]
  • DO NOT EXCEED (number)Number) KILOMETRES PER HOUR (or KNOTS)
  • MAINTAIN PRESENT SPEED
  • INCREASE (or REDUCE) SPEED TO (number)Number) KILOMETRES PER HOUR (or KNOTS) [OR GREATER / OR LESS]
  • INCREASE (or REDUCE) SPEED BY (number)Number) KILOMETRES PER HOUR (or KNOTS)
  • RESUME NORMAL SPEED
  • REDUCE TO MINIMUM APPROACH SPEED
  • REDUCE TO MINIMUM CLEAN SPEED
  • RESUME PUBLISHED SPEED

Canceling Speed Restrictions:

  • NO [ATC] SPEED RESTRICTIONS

Pilot Response to Speed Queries:

  • SPEED (number)Number) KILOMETRES PER HOUR (or KNOTS)

Transponder Mode and Code

ATC Instructions to Change or Check Transponder Mode and Code:

  • RESET SQUAWK [(Mode)] (Code)
  • CONFIRM SQUAWK (Code)

Pilot Readback:

  • RESETTING [(Mode)] (Code)
  • SQUAWKING (Code)

Squawk IDENT Procedure:

  • SQUAWK [(Code)] [AND] IDENT

ATC Request for Suspension of Transponder Operation:

  • SQUAWK STANDBY

ATC Request for Emergency Squawk (MAYDAY):

  • SQUAWK MAYDAY [CODE SEVEN-SEVEN-ZERO-ZERO]

ATC Request for ADS-B Altitude Transmission:

  • SQUAWK CHARLIE
  • TRANSMIT ADS-B ALTITUDE

Level Changes, Reports, and Rates

Climb Instructions:

  • CLIMB TO (level)Level)
  • CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN BLOCK (level)Level) TO (level)Level)
  • CLIMB TO REACH (level)Level) AT (timeTime or significantSignificant point)Point)
  • CLIMB TO (level)Level), REPORT LEAVING/REACHING/PASSING (level)Level)
  • CLIMB AT (number)Number) FEET PER MINUTE [OR GREATER/LESS]
  • CLIMB AT (number)Number) METRES PER SECOND [OR GREATER/LESS]
  • REPORT STARTING ACCELERATION (or DECELERATION) (supersonic jets only)

Descent Instructions:

  • DESCEND TO (level)Level)
  • DESCEND TO AND MAINTAIN BLOCK (level)Level) TO (level)Level)
  • DESCEND TO REACH (level)Level) AT (or BY) (timeTime or significantSignificant point)Point)
  • DESCEND, REPORT LEAVING (or REACHING, or PASSING) (level)Level)
  • DESCEND AT (number)Number) FEET PER MINUTE [OR GREATER/LESS]
  • DESCEND AT (number)Number) METRES PER SECOND [OR GREATER/LESS]

Pilot Request for Flight Level Change:

  • REQUEST DESCENT AT (time)

Instructions for Climb and Descent Modification

  • MAINTAIN AT LEAST (number) METRES (or FEET) ABOVE (or BELOW) (aircraft call sign)
  • STOP CLIMB (or DESCENT) AT (level)
  • CONTINUE CLIMB (or DESCENT) TO (level)
  • EXPEDITE CLIMB (or DESCENT) [UNTIL PASSING (level)]
  • WHEN READY CLIMB (or DESCEND) TO (level)
  • EXPECT CLIMB (or DESCENT) AT (time or significant point)

Adding Restrictions to Climb or Descent:

  • CROSS (significant point) AT (or ABOVE, or BELOW) (level)
  • CROSS (significant point) AT (time) OR LATER (or BEFORE) AT (level)
  • CRUISE CLIMB BETWEEN (levels) (or ABOVE (level))
  • CROSS (distance) MILES, (GNSS or DME) [(direction)] OF (DME station name) AT (or ABOVE or BELOW) (level)

Altimeter Setting Verification:

  • CHECK ALTIMETER SETTING AND CONFIRM (level)
  • REQUEST LEVEL (or FLIGHT LEVEL or ALTITUDE)

Emergency and ACAS Procedures

TCAS Alert Management:

Pilot response after initiating deviation due to ACAS (RA):

  • Pilot: TCAS RA
  • ATC: ROGER

When clear of conflict and returning to ATC clearance:

  • Pilot: CLEAR OF CONFLICT, RETURNING TO (assignedAssigned clearance)Clearance)
  • ATC: ROGER (or alternativeAlternative instructions)Instructions)

When resuming original clearance after RA resolution:

  • Pilot: CLEAR OF CONFLICT, (assignedAssigned clearance)Clearance) RESUMED
  • ATC: ROGER (or alternativeAlternative instructions)Instructions)

If ATC issues a contradictory instruction during an RA event:

  • Pilot: UNABLE, TCAS RA
  • ATC: ROGER

Vectoring and Maneuver Instructions

Vectoring for Spacing or Separation:

  • MAKE A THREE SIXTY TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) [reason]Reason]
  • ORBIT LEFT (or RIGHT) [reason]Reason]
  • MAKE ALL TURNS RATE ONE (or RATE HALF, or (number)Number) DEGREES PER SECOND), START AND STOP ALL TURNS ON THE COMMAND "NOW"
  • TURN LEFT (or RIGHT) NOW
  • STOP TURN NOW

Vectoring Reasons:

  • DUE TRAFFIC
  • FOR SPACING
  • FOR DELAY
  • FOR DOWNWIND (or BASE, or FINAL)

Transfer of Control and Frequency Changes

ATC Transfer Instructions:

  • CONTACT (unitUnit callCall sign)Sign) (frequency)Frequency) [NOW]
  • WHEN READY CONTACT (unitUnit callCall sign)Sign) (frequency)Frequency)
  • REMAIN THIS FREQUENCY

Pilot Request for Frequency Change:

  • REQUEST CHANGE TO (frequency)Frequency)
  • ATC: FREQUENCY CHANGE APPROVED

Aerodrome and Meteorological Information

Runway and Surface Conditions:

  • RUNWAY SURFACE CONDITION RUNWAY (number)Number) (condition)Condition)
  • CAUTION CONSTRUCTION WORK (location)Location)
  • CAUTION (reason)Reason) LEFT/RIGHT/BOTH SIDES OF RUNWAY (number)Number)

Wind and Weather Reports:

  • [SURFACE] WIND (number)Number) DEGREES (speed)Speed) (units)Units)
  • RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE (or RVR) RUNWAY (number)Number) (distance)Distance) (units)Units)
  • PRESENT WEATHER (details)Details)
  • TEMPERATURE [MINUS] (number)Number) (and/or DEWPOINT [MINUS] (number)Number))
  • QNH (number)Number) [units]Units]

Final Notes

  • Use standard phraseology to ensure clear and efficient communication.
  • Readbacks are mandatory for safety-critical instructions.
  • Vectoring, speed, and level changes should follow structured ICAO procedures.
  • Emergency procedures must be followed strictly, with priority given to aircraft in distress.

By maintaining strict adherence to phraseology standards, controllers and pilots can ensure efficient, safe, and professional communication in all operational scenarios.

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