Exercise L · RT practice for UK pilots
Getting a bearing (VDF)
Requesting and using VHF Direction Finding bearings — QDM, QDR, QTE — and the phraseology peculiar to a VDF call.
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, unsure of your exact position and want a magnetic heading to steer towards Norwich. Norwich Radar offers VDF. Make the request.
The point to get right: A QDM is the magnetic heading TO the station (in nil wind) — the bearing you normally ask for to steer towards a field. Repeat your callsign at the END of a VDF call so the station can take the fix: 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, request QDM, G-ABCD'.Prompt 2 of 5
Norwich Radar replies: "G-ABCD, QDM 045, class bravo." Acknowledge it.
The point to get right: Acknowledge the bearing and the accuracy class — 'QDM 045, G-ABCD'. The class (A is best, down to D) tells you how reliable the bearing is. Then turn onto roughly 045° magnetic to track towards the station, allowing for wind.Prompt 3 of 5
You now want your magnetic bearing FROM Norwich to plot your position. Make the request to Norwich Radar.
The point to get right: A QDR is the magnetic bearing FROM the station — the reciprocal of the QDM. Request: 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, request QDR, G-ABCD'. Remember the callsign at the end of the VDF call.Prompt 4 of 5
Working Norwich Radar, you are uncertain of your position and want a heading to steer. Tell them the situation and make the request.
The point to get right: Say what is wrong before you say what you want, so they can judge how much help you need: 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, uncertain of position, request QDM, G-ABCD'. The callsign goes at the END of a VDF call as well as the start, so the station has enough transmission to take the bearing on. A QDM request is the first, low-key step — if you became genuinely lost or short of fuel, it escalates to a PAN-PAN.Prompt 5 of 5
You require a TRUE bearing from Norwich (a QTE) for a navigation plot. Make the request to Norwich Radar.
The point to get right: A QTE is the TRUE bearing FROM the station (CAP 413 §6.37).For a true bearing, prefix the request with 'true bearing, true bearing': 'Norwich Radar, G-ABCD, true bearing, true bearing, request QTE, G-ABCD'.
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.