Your RT course

A guided path from the alphabet to a full flight — read, practise with the AI controller, then test. Work through it in order, or jump to any module.

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0 / 26 lessons complete

Start: Lesson 1 — Welcome to TowerTalk

Module 1 · Getting started

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Welcome to TowerTalk
How the course works — learn, listen, practise, then test — and a reminder that TowerTalk is a training aid, not a replacement for CAP 413 or an instructor.
Listenwelcome Readthe basics
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What you're training for — the FRTOL
What the FRTOL permits, the communications written exam and the practical test, and what the examiner assesses: accuracy, clarity, brevity and confidence.
Readthe FRTOL & radio licences Listenwhat you're training for

Module 2 · The language of aviation radio

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The phonetic alphabet
Spelling letters, callsigns and registrations phonetically until it's automatic.
Readthe alphabet Listenthe phonetic alphabet Practisecopying
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Saying numbers
Frequencies, altitudes, headings, runways, squawks and time — and decimal pronunciation.
Readsaying numbers Listensaying numbers
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Callsigns
Callsign structure and placement, when (and when not) to abbreviate, the student suffix, and restoring the full callsign.
Readcallsigns Listencallsigns
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Standard words — Roger, Wilco, Report & Standby
What each standard word means and when to use it — and the difference between acknowledging, complying and answering a question.
ReadRoger, Wilco & Report Readmore standard words ListenRoger, Wilco & Report
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What must be read back
The safety-critical instructions you must read back word-for-word — runway, clearances, level, heading, squawk, QNH, frequency — and what doesn't need a full readback.
Readmandatory readbacks Listenwhat you must read back PractiseExercise B — Readbacks PractiseExercise G — Conditional & non-standard

Module 3 · Building a radio call

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Who you are talking to
Tower, Approach, Radar, Information and Radio — what each station can and cannot provide.
Readwho's who (incl. Ground & Delivery)Readstation types Listenwho you're talking to
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The four air traffic services
Basic, Traffic, Deconfliction and Procedural services — what to expect from each and your responsibilities under them.
Readtypes of service Listenthe four air traffic services PractiseExercise E — Services & transits
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Initial contact — ADDPAA
Your initial message, after the station name and callsign: Aircraft type, Departure, Destination, Position, Altitude, Additional (request). A learning aid, not a phrase to recite mechanically.
Readstandard call formats Listeninitial contact — ADDPAA PractiseExercise A — Requests
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Pass your message — CARPAI
The fuller report when a unit says “pass your message”: Callsign, Aircraft type, Route, Position, Altitude (& QNH), Intentions — and how it differs from an initial call.
Readstandard call formats Listenpass your message — CARPAI PractiseExercise A — Requests
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Position reports — CPTANE
A procedural position report: Callsign, Position, Time, Altitude, Next point, Estimate — full and shortened, and reports requested by ATC.
Readstandard call formats Listenposition reports — CPTANE PractiseExercise C — Reports
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Common requests
The requests you'll make most — radio check, taxi, a service, MATZ penetration, zone transit, joining, QDM and frequency change.
Readcommon requests Listencommon requests PractiseExercise A — Requests
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Responding to traffic information
Looking, traffic in sight, negative contact — answering a traffic call without ambiguity, and that traffic information isn't an avoiding-action instruction.
Readresponding to traffic Listenresponding to traffic PractiseExercise K — Airspace & traffic
15
Changing frequency & ending a service
“Contact” vs “freecall”, advising a unit before you leave, listening squawks, and when an acknowledgement or readback is required.
Readservices & frequency changes Listenservices & frequency changes PractiseExercise E — Services & transits

Module 4 · Aerodrome communications

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Joining and the circuit
Obtaining aerodrome information, joining instructions and the standard overhead join — circuit direction, runway in use, QFE and QNH.
Readthe standard overhead join Readways to join (downwind/base/straight-in)Readcircuit instructions Listenjoining and the circuit PractiseExercise J — Joining & the circuit
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The circuit calls
Every call around the circuit — taxi, ready, line-up, take-off, downwind, base, final, touch-and-go, go-around and vacating.
Readflying the circuit Listenthe circuit calls PractiseExercise F — Circuits Practisea circuit scenario
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SAFETYCOM & unattended aerodromes
When SAFETYCOM is used, blind position-and-intention calls, that no clearance is being issued, and air-ground limitations.
ReadSAFETYCOM & unattended aerodromes ListenSAFETYCOM & unattended aerodromes PractiseExercise K — Unattended aerodromes

Module 5 · Airspace, services & transponders

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Crossing controlled airspace & Special VFR
Requesting a zone transit, entry clearance, routing and altitude restrictions, reading back the clearance, and Special VFR principles.
Readzone transit & Special VFR Listencrossing controlled airspace PractiseExercise K — Airspace transit
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MATZ penetration
The penetration request, position and level, routing and squawk — and how a MATZ differs from controlled airspace.
ReadMATZ penetration ListenMATZ penetration PractiseExercise H — Services & MATZ
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Mandatory zones — RMZ & TMZ
Radio and Transponder Mandatory Zones — entry requirements, radio and transponder failures, and the calls and permissions needed.
ReadRMZ & TMZ ListenRMZ & TMZ PractiseExercise I — Mandatory zones
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Transponder squawk codes
Assigned squawks, Mode C altitude reporting, listening squawks, and the emergency codes — confirming and reading back a squawk.
Readsquawk (SSR) codes Listentransponder squawk codes
Coming soon: Verify the 2000 conspicuity code against a source before adding it.

Module 6 · Abnormal & emergency communications

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Emergencies — PAN and MAYDAY
Distress vs urgency, the MAYDAY and PAN-PAN structure, 121.500 MHz, emergency squawks and cancelling an emergency.
Reademergency calls Reademergency frequencies & priority Listenemergencies — PAN & MAYDAY PractiseExercise D — Risks Practisean emergency scenario
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Forced landing — engine failure
Aviate, navigate, communicate — the initial emergency call, position and intentions, and practice forced-landing calls.
Readforced landing Readradio failure & MAYDAY relay Listenforced landing PractiseExercise D — Risks

Module 7 · Consolidation & full-flight practice

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Essential reference topics
The topics best studied with the page in front of you — pressure settings, ATIS, Morse identification, METARs and getting a bearing (VDF).
Readgetting a bearing (VDF)ReadATIS ReadFlight Information Regions Readlight signals Readreading a METAR ReadMorse code Listentopics to study on screen PractiseExercise L — VDF bearings
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A flight from start to finish
Bring the whole course together through one realistic journey — from pre-flight and taxi to position reports, a MATZ or zone, the join and landing — then sit the exams.
Reada flight, start to finish Listena flight, start to finish Practisea complete journey Testfull mock practical TestCommunications exam

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