CFC Aviation Phraseology & Standard Terminology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In standard aviation phraseology, what does 'WILCO' mean?
- I have received your last transmission
- I will comply with the clearance only
- I have received your message, understand it, and will comply (Correct answer)
- Acknowledged, standing by
Correct answer: I have received your message, understand it, and will comply
WILCO combines received, understood, and will comply in one word per FAA phraseology standards.
Question 2: What does the distress call 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY' indicate in aviation radio communications?
- An urgency condition affecting the safety of persons
- Grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance (Correct answer)
- A request for priority medical handling
- A precautionary emergency declaration
Correct answer: Grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance
MAYDAY is the internationally recognized distress signal indicating the aircraft faces grave and imminent danger.
Question 3: The urgency signal 'PAN-PAN' (spoken three times) indicates:
- Grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance
- An urgency condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or person (Correct answer)
- A mandatory precautionary landing request
- An avionics navigation system failure only
Correct answer: An urgency condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or person
PAN-PAN signifies an urgency condition, which is serious but one level below a MAYDAY distress call.
Question 4: When transmitting the altitude '11,500 feet' in standard aviation phraseology, a pilot would say:
- Eleven five
- Eleven thousand, five hundred (Correct answer)
- One-one-five-zero-zero
- One-one-five hundred
Correct answer: Eleven thousand, five hundred
Altitudes are stated in thousands and hundreds of feet using plain language per FAA communication standards.
Question 5: What is the correct response format when a ground station requests a 'radio check'?
- State aircraft type and full registration
- State your current position and altitude
- Report signal strength and readability using the 1-to-5 scale (Correct answer)
- Confirm the operating frequency being used
Correct answer: Report signal strength and readability using the 1-to-5 scale
A radio check response includes the station called, the calling station, and a readability assessment on the five-point scale.
Question 6: In aviation communications, 'ROGER' means:
- I understand and will comply with the clearance
- I have received all of your last transmission (Correct answer)
- Affirmative, proceed as planned
- Ready and standing by for further instructions
Correct answer: I have received all of your last transmission
ROGER means the last transmission was received in full; it does not imply understanding or intent to comply.
Question 7: What does the abbreviation 'ATIS' stand for in aviation communications?
- Air Traffic Information Service
- Automatic Terminal Information Service (Correct answer)
- Airport Terminal Information System
- Automated Traffic Identification Signal
Correct answer: Automatic Terminal Information Service
ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) broadcasts continuously updated airport operational information on a dedicated frequency.
CFC Aviation Phraseology & Standard Terminology 1
In standard aviation phraseology, what does 'WILCO' mean?