Talking to air traffic control is something most new pilots dread, but fear not! This guide will explain the basics of talking to ATC. I began flight simming in 2008 using FS2002, and now hold a Commerical Pilot license and Instrument Rating with 250 hours of real-life flight time, as well as 700 hours in VATSIM as of 2023. If I can do it, you can do it too! Thank you all for your support! :)

Step one is realizing that ATC is human just like you. They aren't trying to get you in trouble, and they're willing to help you if you just simply ask. Once you begin to grasp the contents of this guide, things should be pretty smooth for you. I also highly recommend picking up a copy of the Pilot's Aeronautical Handbook of Knowledge, which is a free physical + E-book which IRL pilots use to train. It is jam packed with knowledge that is useful for flight simulator!

Basic vocabulary:
Roger = Yes, I acknowledge what you just said
Wilco = Will comply/will do
Affirm = Yes
Negative = No
Say again = Say again (this will be your best friend)
Request = Requesting something

(Disclaimer: Some if not all of the phraseology and procedures in this guide may not apply to countries other than the U.S.)

ChadScott
MattH2580
Air_Holland
K20017
Boris_Jeltsin
ReachForTheSkyline
John Mark

In most Class B airports, there will be a frequency for clearance delivery. This is where you get clearance to go to where you're going. Here are the five things that make up any basic transmission:

1. Who you're talking to
2. Who you are
3. Where you are
4. What you want
5. Current ATIS info (so they know that you listened to the ATIS freq.)

VFR clearance delivery:
San Francisco clearance delivery, Cessna N760PL, requesting VFR to Monterey, with whiskey.
At which point they will respond somethinng along the lines of: Cessna 0PL, San Francisco clearance delivery, cleared out of the class bravo airspace to Monterey, VFR at or below 3500, squawk 1234.
Cleared out of the class bravo to Monterey, VFR at or below 3500, squawk 1234. Cessna 0PL.

Fun fact: VFR cruise altitudes always end in 500, and IFR altitudes are to the thousanth. Notice the altitude assigned in the next section.

You might notice that the controller only said the last 3 characters of the callsign. Once you make your initial call, you typically only have to use the last 3 characters (unless told otherwise) to keep things quick. Also, when reading back instructions (which you should always do), be sure to put your callsign at the end of the call, so ATC knows it's you talking.

If you're flying VFR out of an airport with no clearance delivery, contact ground instead for clearance.

For IFR flights, the idea is the same but they'res some changes.

IFR clearance delivery:

San Francisco clearance delivery, Cessna N760PL, requesting IFR to Monterey, with whiskey.
Cessna 0PL, San Francisco clearance delivery, cleared to the Monterey airport via the
SFO4 departure, radar vectors OAK, then as filed. Climb maintain 3000. departure 135.65, squawk 1234.
Cleared to the Monterey airport via the SFO4 departure, radar vectors OAK, then as filed. Climb maintain 3000, departure 135.65, squawk 1234, Cessna 0PL.
Cessna 0PL, readback correct. Expect runway 01R for departure.

No readback is required for that last part.

Just like clearance delivery, follow the same pattern of them, you, what, and with.

Example:
San Francisco gound, Cessna N760PL is ready for taxi, with whiskey.
Cessna 0PL, San Francisco ground, taxi 01R, taxi via alpha, mike.
Taxi to runway 01R via alpha, mike, Cessna 0PL.

For arrivals, just replace the everything after your callsign with, "request taxi to ramp/gate".

Theres two interaction types with tower controllers: arriving and departing. Both of which follow the same pattern as the rest, but sound different because during the arrival interaction, you must state where you are and subtract the "info" phase.

Departing:
San Francisco tower, Cessna N760PL is ready at runway 01R for departure.
Cessna 0PL, San Francisco tower, winds 270 at 6, runway 01R, cleared for takeoff.
Cleared for takeoff, runway 01R, Cessna 0PL.

Friendly reminder: Always remember to read back any and all instructions a controller tells you! Excluding "standby" in which you... stand by.

VFR arrival:
Monterey tower, Cessna N760PL is 12 miles north of (airport/VOR/intersection), at 3500 requesting to land.
Cessna 0PL, Monterey tower, fly left downwind, runway 28L
Left downwind runway 28L, Cessna 0PL.

Once you enter the downwind, ATC will say this:

Cessna 0PL, winds 120 at 4, cleared to land runway 28L.
Cleared to land runway 28L, Cessna 0PL.

Remember, you don't have to readback the winds.

For IFR flights, you'll probably be using an instrument approach, which I assume you guys know how to perform.

IFR arrival:

Monterey tower, Cessna N760PL is on final runway 28L.
Cessna N760PL, Monterey tower, cleared to land runway 28L, winds 120 at 4.
Cleared to land runway 28L, Cessna 0PL.

Once you take off, the tower will send you to the departure frequency, so you gotta learn to talk to them. This one is pretty simple: Who they are, who you are, "with you at (current altitude) climbing (planned altitude)."

VFR departure:
Norcal departure, Cessna N760PL is at 1000, climbing 3,500.
Cessna 0PL, radar contact, maintain VFR at or below 3,500.
VFR at or below 3,500, Cessna 0PL.

Keep in mind, VFR pilots usually only get squawk codes in class B or C airspace or if they're under flight following.

IFR departure:

Norcal departure, Cessna N760PL is at 1,000, climbing 3,000.
Cessna 0PL, radar contact, climb maintain 3,000 and resume own navigation.
Climb maintain 3,000 and own navigation, Cessna 0PL.

With approach, you gotta do the whole shabang.

VFR approach:
Norcal approach, Cessna N760PL is at 2,000, requesting to land, with whiskey.
Cessna 0PL, Norcal approach, expect runway 28L.
Runway 28L, Cessna 0PL.

After a bit, you'll be handed to tower and be instructed on how to enter the pattern.

IFR approach:

Norcal approach, Cessna N760PL is at 2,000, request RNAV 28L, with whiskey.
Cessna 0PL, Norcal approach, fly heading 170, expect RNAV runway 28L approach.
Heading 170 and RNAV 28L, Cessna 0PL.

Similar to VFR flights, once you're lined up, they'll say this:

Cessna 0PL, you're 2 miles from JEJMA, fly heading 300, maintain 2,000, cleared RNAV runway 28L approach.
Fly heading 300, maintain 2,000, cleared RNAV 28L approach, Cessna 0PL.

You will then be handed off to tower.

Once you're out of the class B airspace, you're gonna be sent to a center. These are usually pretty crowded, so listen before transmitting. Talking to a center follows the same pattern as departure. These only apply to IFR flights, however you may request flight following if you're flying VFR.

Example:
Oakland center, Cessna N760PL is at 3000.
Cessna 0PL, roger.

Unless told a command, you don't have to respond to this one.

Flight following is a tool that can help VFR pilots, which include traffic advisories and other safety alerts. ATC will act as an extra pair of eyes if you decide to request it.

If you'd like to request flight following, say this:

Oakland center, Cessna N760PL, requesting flight following to Monterey.
Cessna 0PL, Oakland center, roger, squawk 1234.
Squawk 1234, Cessna 0PL.

Once you're ready to descend, contact center again and request descent.

Example:
Oakland center, Cessna 0PL, requesting descent/lower.
Cessna 0PL, descend 2,000, contact Norcal approach on 123.4.

Remember, many airports don't have approach and departure, so you may be handed directly to tower.

Talking to a center controller is very simple, tell them what you want, they answer, and you repeat what they said.

Some airports don't have towers or anything at all, however the law requires you to let other pilots know what you're doing. This is what the traffic frequency is for. Basically, you just state where you are relative to the airport and where you are in the pattern/on the ground. UNICOM/CTAF frequencies are shared between multiple airports, so be sure to say what airport you're talking about.

Example:
Monterey traffic, Cessna N760PL is on left downwind, runway 28L, full stop/touch and go, Monterey.

Notice how I say the name of the airport at the end of the transmission as well. This is to ensure that any pilot's that only heard the butt end of my transmission know which airport I'm talking about.

Cleared…
You're allowed to do whatever the ATC just said.

Cleared for the option:
You're allowed to land full-stop, or touch and go.

Continue:
Keep doing stuff.

Go ahead:
Talk.

Report…
Report whatever the ATC told you to report when able.

State intentions:
What do you want?

Maintain…
Stay at a certain altitude.

Climb to/descend to…
Go to the altitude they give you.

Fly heading…
Fly in the specific heading given to you by ATC.

Make [left/right] closes:
Make a left or right turn in the traffic pattern.

You're number [two] following a...
The traffic has a queue, and you're number two for it.

Traffic at two o'clock [low], [six miles] is a [Piper Archer]:
Look for the Piper Archer below you six miles away at your 2 o'clock and tell them if you see it or not.

Check wheels down:
Make sure your gear is down if applicable.

Confirm...
Repeat something that ATC just told you.

Hold short of...
Stop before the location ATC tell you to go to.

Line up and wait:
Go on to the runway and wait in position to take off.

Hold position:
Stop moving.

Recycle:
Turn off your transponder and turn it back on again.

Ident:
Press the lil' "ident" button on your transponder.

Radar contact:
You're on the radar! Sweet!

Contact [tower] on [118.5]:
♥♥♥♥ off, go to this frequency.

Cleared out of class [bravo]:
You can leave now.

Radar service is terminated:
ATC is no longer following you.

Squawk VFR:
Change your transponder code to 1200.

Frequency change approved:
You can change frequencies now. Be polite and say goodbye.

Do you want a flight following?:
Do you wanna know if there's a plane right above you? If so, say yes.

Taxi to [runway 29] [via Juliet and Echo]:
Follow a taxiway to a place.

Extend downwind:
Make your downwind leg longer.

I'll call your base:
I'll tell you when to turn base leg, BASEically.

Do an orbit to the [left]:
Make a BIG 360 and enter the pattern again.

It's not too hard to talk to ATC. They're humans just like you, and just wanna do their job. Be nice, and they'll be nice. Happy flying!

-Krypt