The Aviation Alphabet

In the world of aviation, pilots and air traffic controllers use special jargon to communicate with one another. This special jargon, called the Aviation
Alphabet, uses the same 26 letters many of us learned in kindergarten. Each letter has a corresponding word used to identify aircraft, often called
the tail number, and taxiways, which are just like the roads we drive on.

PHONETIC ALPHABET
Phonetic Alphabet
Letter

Spelt

Pronounced

ALFA or ALPHA

AL-FAH

BRAVO

BRAH-VOH

CHARLIE

CHAR-LEE or SHAR-LEE

DELTA

DELL-TAH

ECHO

ECK-OH

FOXTROT

FOKS-TROT

GOLF

GOLF

HOTEL

HOH-TELL

INDIA

IN-DEE-AH

JULIETT or JULIET

JEW-LEE-ETT

KILO

KEY-LOH

LIMA

LEE-MAH

MIKE

MIKE

NOVEMBER

NO-VEM-BER

OSCAR

OSS-CAH

PAPA

PAH-PAH

QUEBEC

KEH-BECK

ROMEO

ROW-ME-OH

SIERRA

SEE-AIR-AH

TANGO

TANG-GO

UNIFORM

YOU-NEE-FORM or OO-NEE-FORM

VICTOR

VIK-TAH

WHISKEY

WISS-KEY

Xray

ECKS RAY

YANKEE

YANG-KEY

ZULU

ZOO-LOO

Overview
The NATO phonetic alphabet, more formally the international radiotelephony spelling alphabet, is the
most widely used spelling alphabet. Though often called "phonetic alphabets", spelling alphabets have no
connection to phonetic transcription systems like the International Phonetic Alphabet. Instead, the NATO
alphabet assigns code words to the letters of the English alphabet acrophonically so that critical
combinations of letters (and numbers) can be pronounced and understood by those who transmit and
receive voice messages by radio or telephone regardless of their native language, especially when the
safety of navigation or persons is essential. The paramount reason is to ensure intelligibility of voice
signals over radio links.
Language
Most of the words are recognizable by native English speakers because English must be
used upon request for communication between an aircraft and a control tower whenever
two nations are involved, regardless of their native languages. English is not required
domestically, thus if both parties to a radio conversation are from the same country, then
another phonetic alphabet of that nation's choice may be used.
In most versions of the alphabet, the non-English spellings Alfa and Juliett are found. Alfa is
spelled with an f as it is in most European languages. The English and French spelling alpha
would not be properly pronounced by speakers of other languagesnative speakers of
those languages would not know that ph should be pronounced as f. Juliett is spelled with a
tt for the benefit of native French speakers because they will treat a single t as silent. In
English versions of the alphabet, like that from ANSI, one or both may revert to their
standard English spelling.
Usage
The alphabet is used to spell out parts of a message containing letters and numbers to
avoid confusion, because many letters sound similar,
Digits/Numbers
for instance "n" and "m" or "b" and "d". For instance
Digit
Spelt
the message "proceed to map grid DH98" could be
0
ZERO
transmitted as "proceed to map grid Delta-HotelNiner-Ait". Using "Delta" instead of "D" avoids
1
ONE
confusion between "BH98" and "DH98".
2
TWO
In addition to the traditional military usage, civilian industry
uses the alphabet to combat similar problems in the
transmission of messages over telephone systems. For
example, it is often used in the retail industry where customer
or site details are spoken over the telephone (in order to

Pronounced
ZE-RO
WUN
TOO

THREE

TREE

FOUR

FOW-ER

FIVE

FIFE

SIX

SIX

SEVEN

SEV-EN

EIGHT

AIT

NINE

NIN-ER

authorize a credit agreement or confirming stock codes), although ad hoc coding is often used in that instance. It has found heavy usage in the information technology industry to accurately and quickly
communicate serial/reference codes (which can be and are frequently extremely long) or other specialised information by voice.
Alphabet and pronunciation
The pronunciation of the words in the alphabet as well as numbers may vary according to the language habits of the speakers. In order to eliminate wide variations in pronunciation,
posters illustrating the pronunciation desired are available from the ICAO.
RADIO USAGE PROCEEDURE TIPS

be using the channel. If more than one station is transmitting at the same time, garbled transmission will result.

do not speak too fast. Have the microphone close to your mouth but test so as to not cause distortion.

e going to say before you press the microphone switch. Divide your message into natural phrases instead of individual words so that it flows smoothly.

miliar words using the phonetic alphabet if necessary.

cations between stations should be restricted to official messages or those of an emergency nature only.

ations should be kept as brief and accurate as possible allowing others time to use the frequency.

ansmitting station has said "over", reply immediately. When a transmitting station fails to receive an immediate reply, there is doubt as to whether;

io frequencies is in no doubt as to who is talking to whom.

ys to be used BEFORE that of the transmitting station, even in an emergency it would start "all stations"...this is... declaring an emergency.....
Phrases: The following list and explanations explain most of the common phrases which may be used in message texts;
Phrase

Explanation

"RADIO CHECK"

Request a report on reception of the transmission at your location.

"SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER"

A request for the sender to re-transmit all of the transmission after a particular word of phrase.

"I SPELL"

Means that the next word will be spelled out. In poor conditions, phonetics will be used.

"NO DUFF"

May be used during an exercise to indicate that this is not an exercise message. A genuine message.

"NEGATIVE"

Means NO more distinctly.

"AFFIRMATIVE"

Means YES more distinctly

"I SAY AGAIN"

A repeated word or phrase or a correction.

"FIGURES"

The following part of the text in numerals.

"MESSAGE CORRECT"

The read-back was correct.

"READ BACK"

The message just sent will be re-transmitted for clarity.

"STOP"

Indicates a FULL STOP punctuation mark in the message.

Procedures
"This is" should be used as to separate the callsign of the station being called from the callsign of the calling station.
"OVER" or "OUT". When a transmission has not ended with either "OVER" or "OUT", delays and misunderstandings can result. A receiving station would have no indication that the
transmitting station has said all that it wants to say unless one of these words is used.
When "OUT" is not used to complete a series of transmissions, either stations on the frequency will have no clear indication that the frequency is free for other users.
OVER means" I have finished transmitting" "please go ahead with your reply."

"OUT" means " This conversation is ended " the frequency is now free for other users. These definitions indicate that the phrase "OVER AND OUT" is contradictory and should
not be used.
Proceedure Word (Prowords)
Prowords are standard, easily pronounced words which have been assigned special meanings to speed up messages handling on radio networks. They should be used whenever appropriate.
A proword, or combination of prowords must never be substituted for any word or phrase in the text of a message.
The following prowords are acceptable for general use:
Phrase

Explanation

"ACKNOWLEDGE"

Receipt of this message must be acknowledge by the addressee. (The person to whom it is addressed)

"ALL BEFORE/AFTER"

Used when asking to repeat that portion of a message preceding or following a key word of the text.

"CORRECTION"

Indicates that an error has been made and that the transmission will continue from the last word correctly used.

"DISREGARD THIS"

This transmission has been made in error TRANSMISSION" disregard.

"FIGURES"

Numerals follow.

"FROM"

Originator of the message is ..........................

"I SAY AGAIN"

I will re-transmit the message or part message.

"I SPELL"

The next word will be spelled. In poor conditions, use phonetics.

"RELAY TO"

Transmit this message to the addressee indicated.

"ROGER"

Message received and understood.

"ROGER SO FAR"

(query) Have you received my message so far? (answer) Message received so far carry on.

"SAY AGAIN"

Re-transmit all (or all after ) your transmission.

"WAIT"

I am pausing for a few seconds.

"WAIT OUT"

I will call you again a pause for longer that a few seconds.

"WILCO"

I Will Comply with your message ( to be used only by the person who intends to comply)