Requests

The calls in this exercise

1. Prompt 1 of 5

   You are parked at Beccles and ready to taxi. Get a radio check from Beccles Radio on 120.380 and find out what you need to know before you move.

   The point to get right: Beccles is an AGCS aerodrome on 120.380. A radio check is the station, your full callsign, then the words 'radio check' and the frequency: 'Beccles Radio, G-ABCD, radio check 120.380'. Expect a readability figure back. Then ask for 'taxi information' — that phrasing is AGCS-only, because an Air/Ground station cannot instruct you to taxi; at an ATC aerodrome it would be 'request taxi'.

2. Prompt 2 of 5

   You are leaving Beccles Radio to work Norwich Radar on 119.355. Tell them you are changing frequency.

   The point to get right: Beccles is an AGCS station — information only. It cannot APPROVE a frequency change, so you do not request one: you tell them. Phrase: 'Beccles Radio, G-ABCD, changing to Norwich Radar 119.355'. Expect an acknowledgement, not a clearance. (At an ATC unit it is the other way round — the controller ISSUES the change, 'contact <station> <frequency>', and that is a mandatory readback.)

3. Prompt 3 of 5

   You are parked at Norwich and ready to taxi. Get a radio check from Norwich Tower on 124.255, then ask to taxi.

   The point to get right: Norwich is an ATC aerodrome (Tower) on 124.255. The radio check is 'Norwich Tower, G-ABCD, radio check 124.255'. Wait for the readability figure, then 'G-ABCD, <aircraft type>, request taxi' — 'request taxi' here, not 'taxi information', which is AGCS only. Be ready to read back the taxi instruction, the runway in use and the QNH in full.

4. Prompt 4 of 5

   Airborne and clear of the circuit, 4 miles north of Norwich climbing to altitude 2400 feet, VFR to your next reporting point. Request a BASIC SERVICE from Norwich Radar 119.355.

   The point to get right: Initial call to a new radar unit is brief: 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, request Basic Service'. Wait for 'pass your message' before giving your details — don't pass the full report on the first call.

5. Prompt 5 of 5

   You are 6 miles west of Lakenheath, heading 090, at altitude 2000 feet, QNH 1013, VFR to your next reporting point, routing through their MATZ. Request a TRAFFIC SERVICE and MATZ PENETRATION from Lakenheath Radar.

   The point to get right: Initial call states what you want: 'Lakenheath Radar, G-ABCD, request Traffic Service and MATZ penetration'. On 'pass your message' give the CARPAI report (callsign, type, route, position, level + QNH, intentions) — and for a MATZ include your HEADING with the position, because the controller is separating you from military traffic and needs to know which way you are pointing. MATZ penetration is a request, not a clearance — you still need their agreement.

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