The RT practical examination (BPL/PPL RT licence) tests your ability to communicate clearly and correctly using standard phraseology. In the UK, the CAA administers the RT Licence (FRTOL). In the US, no specific RT licence is required for domestic operations, but correct phraseology is expected.
VHF Radio Basics
| Term | Details |
|---|
| Frequency range | 118.000–136.975 MHz |
| Channel spacing | 25 kHz (8.33 kHz in Europe — required equipment) |
| Maximum range | Line-of-sight — approximately 1.23 × √altitude (ft) in nm |
| Squelch | Suppresses background noise when no signal |
| Simplex | Transmit and receive on same frequency (normal aviation) |
| Duplex | Transmit and receive on different frequencies (rare in aviation) |
| Guard frequency | 121.5 MHz — international distress, always monitored |
Radio Checks
Standard radio check request and response readability scale:
| Response | Meaning |
|---|
| "Readability 5" | Perfectly readable |
| "Readability 4" | Readable |
| "Readability 3" | Readable but with difficulty |
| "Readability 2" | Unreadable at times |
| "Readability 1" | Unreadable |
Pilot: "Biggin Hill Radio, Golf Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta,
radio check 129 decimal 225."
Radio: "Golf Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta, Biggin Hill Radio,
readability 5."
Pilot: "Readability 5, Golf Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta."
Callsigns
Aircraft Callsign Types
| Type | Format | Example | When Abbreviated |
|---|
| Full registration | Nationality + alpha-numeric | Golf Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta | Golf Charlie Delta (last 3 after first call) |
| Airline callsign | Company designator + flight number | Speedbird Four Five Six | Speedbird Four Five Six (not abbreviated) |
| Military | Unit callsigns | Wildcat Two One | As instructed |
ATC Unit Callsigns
| Unit Type | Callsign Suffix |
|---|
| Aerodrome control (tower) | Tower |
| Ground movement control | Ground |
| Approach control (radar) | Approach / Radar |
| En-route control | Control |
| Delivery (clearance) | Delivery |
| AFIS (non-ATC) | Information / Radio |
| ATIS | Information [phonetic letter] |
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Q-Codes Reference
| Q-Code | Full Meaning | Practical Use |
|---|
| QNH | Altimeter sub-scale so altitude reads AMSL at field | Sea level pressure reference |
| QFE | Altimeter sub-scale so altimeter reads zero on the ground | Height above aerodrome |
| QNE | ISA standard setting 1013.25 hPa | Flight levels (FL) |
| QDM | Magnetic heading to steer to reach station (zero wind) | NDB homing |
| QDR | Magnetic bearing FROM the station | NDB radial |
| QTE | True bearing FROM the station | DF service |
| QGH | Controlled descent through cloud | Legacy procedure |
| QSY | Change to another frequency | "Suggest QSY 119.725" |
| QRB | Distance to station | NDB/DF operations |
| QTF | Position by radio direction finding | Position fix |
Key Read-Back Requirements
Items that MUST be read back in full: Runway in use, Altimeter settings (QNH/QFE), Level instructions, Heading and speed instructions, SSR codes (squawk), ATC route clearances, Instructions to enter, taxi on, hold short of, cross, line up, or take off from any runway.
Items NOT requiring read-back: ATIS content, traffic information, wake turbulence categories (when given as information only), general weather information.
Phonetic Alphabet and Numbers in RT
Key Number Pronunciation
| Number | RT Pronunciation |
|---|
| 0 | Zero |
| 3 | Tree |
| 4 | Fower (older practice) / Four |
| 5 | Fife |
| 9 | Niner |
| 100 | Hundred |
| 1000 | Thousand |
| FL350 | Flight Level Three Five Zero |
| 118.525 | One one eight decimal five two five |
- Time is always UTC (Zulu): "time one four three zero" = 14:30Z
- Altimeter: "QNH one zero one two" (not "QNH one thousand and twelve")
RT Exam Tips
Exam Preparation Checklist
- Always identify yourself and the station you are calling first
- Use standard phrases; never say "affirmative" (say "affirm") or "yes" or "no"
- Read back all mandatory items — even if it seems obvious
- Speak at normal conversational pace — not too fast
- Listen before transmitting — wait for a gap in frequency
- Press PTT, wait 1 second, then speak; release PTT after last word
- In the exam: simulate normal RT discipline even if working alone