Exercise J · RT practice for UK pilots
Joining & the circuit
Inbound joins, the standard overhead join, and circuit instructions — orbit, land after, and go-around.
5 prompts, worked here at Norwich (EGSH). In the app the same prompts use your own home aerodrome and callsign.
The calls in this exercise
Prompt 1 of 5
You are G-ABCD, a Cessna 152, inbound to Norwich from Beccles, 8 miles to the south at altitude 2000 feet. Make your inbound call to Norwich Tower 124.255 requesting joining instructions.
The point to get right: Initial inbound call: 'Norwich Tower, G-ABCD, Cessna 152, 8 miles south, altitude 2000 feet, inbound from Beccles, request joining instructions'. Keep it concise — the controller will reply with the join, runway and QFE/QNH for you to read back.Prompt 2 of 5
Norwich Tower replies: "G-ABCD, join overhead, runway 09, QFE 1011 hectopascals." Read it back.
The point to get right: Runway and altimeter settings are mandatory readbacks. e.g. 'Join overhead runway 09, QFE 1011 hectopascals, G-ABCD'. 'Hectopascals' is only required when the setting is below 1000 (CAP 413 §2.69(10), §3.4); with 1011 it is optional, so the readback is correct with or without it. The standard overhead join is: overfly at 2000 ft above aerodrome elevation, determine circuit direction, descend dead side to circuit height, then cross the upwind end to position downwind.Prompt 3 of 5
On final you are catching the aircraft ahead. Norwich Tower instructs: "G-ABCD, for spacing, orbit right." Read it back.
The point to get right: An orbit is a 360° turn to create spacing. Read back the instruction and comply: 'Orbit right, wilco, G-ABCD'. Note the controller has abbreviated your callsign, so you may now use the short form too.Prompt 4 of 5
Norwich Tower clears you: "G-ABCD, runway 09, land after the landing Cessna." Read it back.
The point to get right: A 'land after' clearance lets you land while the preceding aircraft is still on the runway, provided it will be clear before you reach it, it is daylight, and you can see it. Read it back: 'Runway 27, land after the Cessna, G-ABCD'. Responsibility for separation from that aircraft is yours.Prompt 5 of 5
Just before touchdown the runway becomes blocked and Norwich Tower transmits: "G-ABCD, go around, I say again, go around." Respond.
The point to get right: Acknowledge and act immediately: 'Going around, G-ABCD'. Apply full power, climb away on the runway heading (or as instructed) and rejoin the circuit. Don't read back a long message — fly the aeroplane first, then a brief acknowledgement.
Now say them to a controller
Push-to-talk, at your own aerodrome. The AI controller answers and the grader tells you what CAP 413 says about each call.
Prompts and notes are written in our own words against CAP 413 (Edition 24) and the UK AIP. Frequencies are for training only. Practice aid only — not the official FRTOL test and not a guaranteed pass. Always defer to CAP 413, your instructor or examiner and the CAA; check the current UK AIP before flying.