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AIM 

4/20/23

 

4

2

6

Radio Communications Phraseology

4

2

7. Phonetic Alphabet

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) phonetic alphabet is used by FAA personnel when
communications conditions are such that the information cannot be readily received without their use. ATC
facilities may also request pilots to use phonetic letter equivalents when aircraft with similar sounding
identifications are receiving communications on the same frequency. Pilots should use the phonetic alphabet
when identifying their aircraft during initial contact with air traffic control facilities. Additionally, use the
phonetic equivalents for single letters and to spell out groups of letters or difficult words during adverse
communications conditions. (See TBL 4

2

2.)

TBL 4

2

2

Phonetic Alphabet/Morse Code

Character

Morse Code

Telephony

Phonic

(Pronunciation)

A

  y

Alfa

(AL

FAH)

B

y

 

 

 

Bravo

(BRAH

VOH)

C

y

 

 

y

 

Charlie

(CHAR

LEE) or

(SHAR

LEE)

D

y

 

 

Delta

(DELL

TAH)

E

Echo

(ECK

OH)

F

 

 

y

 

Foxtrot

(FOKS

TROT)

G

y  y  

Golf

(GOLF)

H

 

 

 

Hotel

(HOH

TEL)

I

 

India

(IN

DEE

AH)

J

 

y

 

y

 

y

Juliett

(JEW

LEE

ETT)

K

y

 

 

y

Kilo

(KEY

LOH)

L

 

y

 

  

Lima

(LEE

MAH)

M

y  y

Mike

(MIKE)

N

y  

November

(NO

VEM

BER)

O

y

 

y

 

y

Oscar

(OSS

CAH)

P

 

y  y

 

Papa

(PAH

PAH)

Q

y

 

y  

 

y

Quebec

(KEH

BECK)

R

 

y

 

Romeo

(ROW

ME

OH)

S

 

 

Sierra

(SEE

AIR

RAH)

T

y

Tango

(TANG

GO)

U

 

 

y

Uniform

(YOU

NEE

FORM) or

(OO

NEE

FORM)

V

 

 

 

y

Victor

(VIK

TAH)

W

 

y

 

  y

Whiskey

(WISS

KEY)

X

y

 

 

 

y

Xray

(ECKS

RAY)

Y

y

 

 

y

 

y

Yankee

(YANG

KEY)

Z

y

 

y

 

 

Zulu

(ZOO

LOO)

1

  y  y  y  y

One

(WUN)

2

    y  y  y

Two

(TOO)

3

      y  y

Three

(TREE)

4

        y

Four

(FOW

ER)

5

        

Five

(FIFE)

6

y        

Six

(SIX)

7

y  y      

Seven

(SEV

EN)

8

y  y  y    

Eight

(AIT)

9

y  y  y  y  

Nine

(NIN

ER)

0

y  y  y  y  y

Zero

(ZEE

RO)