Sample ATC Communication: A Simple Guide for Student Pilots

Talking to Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a big part of being a safe and smart pilot. So let's practice some sample ATC communication!

This guide will show you a sample conversation between a student pilot and ATC, and explain what it means in simple words.

Sample atc communication
Situation 1:airport Taxi
Instructions 

Let’s pretend you are at a small airport, sitting in your airplane on the ground. You’ve finished your safety checks, and you’re ready to move to the runway and take off. You need to call Ground Control (a part of ATC) to ask for permission to taxi.

Pilot (you):
“Greenville Ground, Cessna 172SP, at the general aviation ramp, ready to taxi with information Alpha.”

ATC (Ground Control):
“Cessna 172SP, Greenville Ground, taxi to Runway 22 via Taxiway Alpha, hold short of Runway 18.”

Pilot:
“Taxi to Runway 22 via Taxiway Alpha, hold short of Runway 18, Cessna 172SP.”

What Does This Mean?

Let’s look at what the controller said and explain it step by step:

1. “Taxi to Runway 22 via Taxiway Alpha”
   This means you can start moving your airplane on the ground (this is called "taxiing") along a special road called Taxiway Alpha. You’re going to Runway 22 to get ready to take off.
2. “Hold short of Runway 18”
   This means you must stop before you get to Runway 18. Do not cross that runway unless the controller says you can. This is very important to keep everyone safe.

Important Words to Know

Taxi: This means to drive the airplane slowly on the ground.

Hold Short: This means to stop before a certain spot, like before a runway.

Information Alpha: This is the name of the weather and airport information you listened to before calling. It changes during the day (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc.).

Tips for Talking to ATC

Listen Carefully:
Always pay close attention to what the controller says. If you don’t understand, it’s okay to ask them to repeat it. Say, “Say again.”

Repeat the Instructions:
Always say back what they told you. This is called a “readback.” It helps the controller know you understood.

Use Clear Words:
Use aviation words like “Affirmative” for yes and “Negative” for no. Don’t use casual words like “Yeah.”

Be Aware:
Watch signs and lines on the taxiways and runways. Look around so you don’t get lost or go the wrong way.

What to Do When
You’re Told to Hold Short

Say it back to ATC:
Example: “Hold short of Runway 18, Cessna 172SP.”

Stop at the Line:
On the ground, you will see yellow lines before the runway. Stop before those lines.

Wait:
Do not go past the line until ATC gives you permission.

What If You’re Not Sure?

Even experienced pilots sometimes get confused. If that happens to you, it’s okay!

• Ask Again:
  Example: “Greenville Ground, Cessna 172SP, can you confirm hold short of Runway 18?”
• Ask for Help:
  If you don’t know where to go, say: “Request progressive taxi.” This means the controller will guide you step by step.

Why This Is So Important

Listening to ATC and doing what they say helps keep you and everyone else safe. If you go on a runway without permission, it could cause a very dangerous situation. That’s why it’s super important to stop when told and always follow directions.

Situation 2: returning to
the towered airport

Imagine that you have to come back after practice to your home airport.  What would it look like? 

In general you want to contact ATC fifteen minutes before needing to enter their airspace.  This is what you will do in the airline world too.

Some things to know and do first

When giving your position to ATC they want to it in nautical miles or in time.  Check out both scenarios and personally I'd recommend using distance and aircraft type (let ATC figure out the time.)

The structure is the same.

Here is a sample ATC communication.

Pilot
“Greenville Tower Cessna 172SP, one fife miles east of Greenville airport at tree tousand (three thousand) fife hundred feet.   Inbound and request landing, with information ALFA. 

ATC (Tower Control):
“Cessna 172SP, Greenville Tower.  Left base runway 22.  Report base."

Pilot:
“Left base runway 22.  Report base, Cessna 172P."

When on the left base

Pilot:
Greenville tower, Cessna 172 SP, established left base runway 22.

ATC:
Cessna 172 SP, cleared to land runway 22.

Pilot:
Cleared to land runway 22, Cessna 172 SP.

Let's see what's happening

Pilot
“Greenville Tower Cessna 172SP, one fife miles east of Greenville airport at tree tousand (three thousand) feet.   Inbound with information ALFA.

1. Greenville Tower (the agency you are talking to)
2. Cessna 172SP (you and your aircraft
3. one fife miles (fifteen miles) east (your location)
4. at tree tousand fife hundred (your altitude)
5. inbound and request landing (you're coming to land)
   
6. with Alfa (with ATIS information...you give it on first contact)

Other things that can be
said and what they mean

Imagine coming at the airport.  The tower controller could say these things too:

In the traffic pattern:

Cessna 172 SP go straight to the numbers

meaning:  Skip doing the pattern and proceed direct to the runway

Cessna 172 SP dogleg to final

meaning:  cut the downwind and base to go straight to the final approach

Cessna 172SP left tree sixty

meaning: do a left three hundred and sixty degree turn and then get back on the traffic pattern.

When you're landing:

cleared for touch and go:  This means that you can do a "touch and go" landing.  This is where you land the plane then take off again without stopping.

cleared for the option: This means that you, as the pilot, can  choose to either do a touch and go or land the plane.

Practice Makes Perfect

Learning how to talk to ATC takes time. The more you practice, the better you will get. Use flight simulators, watch YouTube videos of real radio calls, and try talking like a pilot. Ask your flight instructor to quiz you or pretend to be ATC.

For more on that here's a classic book called "Say again, Please."

Rather watch me explain it?

Watch me explain and practice with me as we go over different ATC communication situations.

Final Thoughts

Talking to ATC is like learning a new language. But don’t worry—it gets easier with practice. Just remember to:

• Listen
• Repeat the instructions
• Ask if you’re unsure
• Stay safe by following all directions

Fill out the information below and we will get you started.  You’ll be a confident and clear communicator in no time! 

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