Lesson 3 of 5 — Module 2: The language of aviation radio

Callsigns

Callsign structure and placement, when (and when not) to abbreviate, the STUDENT prefix, and restoring the full callsign.

Listen to this lesson (~1 min)

Callsigns — placement, abbreviation & student — narrated, hands-free

Callsigns — placement, abbreviation & STUDENT

Use your FULL callsign (every letter, phonetically) on first contact with a station.
Abbreviation is led by ATC: only once the controller shortens your callsign — first letter plus the last two, e.g. G-ABCD → “G-CD” — may you use the short form. Never abbreviate first, and never drop the callsign entirely.
Placement: on an initial call the callsign follows the station name (“<station>, <callsign>”); on a read-back it may go at the start or the end.
Solo student pilots prefix the callsign with “STUDENT” on initial contact with a unit (CAP 413 §2.35); once acknowledged it need not be repeated.

Finished this lesson?

Study aid only — always defer to CAP 413 and current official publications, and to your instructor and examiner.