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Aviation vocabulary · Air Traffic Control & Radiotelephony

Affirm

Meaning in aviation, with examples

/əˈfɜːrm/phraseCommon term

In aviation, affirm means: The standard radio word for 'yes' in ICAO phraseology, used to answer a question or confirm information. The opposite is 'negative'.

In Turkish: evet, olumlu

How it is used

Used instead of everyday 'yes' or 'OK'. American and military radio often use 'affirmative' instead. Pilots answer questions such as 'confirm you have information Bravo' with 'Affirm'.

Example sentences

  1. Controller: 'Fastair 345, confirm you have information Bravo.' Pilot: 'Affirm, Fastair 345.'

  2. He answered 'affirm' to the question, but he had misunderstood it.

Common collocations

  • affirm, Fastair 345
  • answer affirm
  • affirm or negative
  • rogerA radio word meaning 'I have received all of your last message'. It confirms that you heard something; it does not mean yes, and it does not mean you will do it.
  • wilcoA radio word, short for 'will comply', meaning 'I have understood your message and I will do what you ask'.
  • say againThe standard radio phrase for asking someone to repeat all or part of their last message.
  • readbackRepeating an ATC clearance or instruction back to the controller, so that the controller can confirm it was heard and understood correctly.

More terms: Air Traffic Control & Radiotelephony

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