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Aviation vocabulary · Air Traffic Control & Radiotelephony

Phonetic alphabet

Meaning in aviation, with examples

nounCore term

In aviation, phonetic alphabet means: The standard set of code words used on the radio for the letters of the alphabet, such as Alfa for A, Bravo for B and Charlie for C.

In Turkish: fonetik alfabe, kodlama alfabesi

How it is used

Used to spell call signs, registrations, taxiways, waypoints and passenger names clearly on the radio or phone. Also called the ICAO or NATO alphabet. ICAO spells two words differently from normal English: Alfa and Juliett.

Example sentences

  1. Our instructor tested us on the phonetic alphabet before we were allowed to use the radio.

  2. In the phonetic alphabet, the surname Kaya is Kilo, Alfa, Yankee, Alfa.

Common collocations

  • spell with the phonetic alphabet
  • ICAO phonetic alphabet
  • NATO phonetic alphabet
  • call signThe name and number that identify an aircraft on the radio, such as the airline's radio name plus a flight number. It is used in every transmission.
  • taxiwayA paved path at an airport that connects the runways with the aprons, stands and hangars. Aircraft use taxiways to move around on the ground.
  • waypointA fixed point in the sky, defined by coordinates, that aircraft use to build and follow a route. Most waypoints have five-letter names that can be pronounced.
  • frequencyThe radio channel, given as a number in megahertz, that pilots and a particular ATC unit use to talk to each other.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Air Traffic Control & Radiotelephony

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