Flying the circuit on the radio

The circuit is where most of your transmitting happens, and it is busy exactly when you are also flying the aeroplane. The calls are short on purpose. Knowing which ones are reports and which ones are instructions you must read back is most of the job.

The calls, in the order you make them

Four positions, four calls. At a busy field these are the only transmissions you should need.

Joining: State how you're joining, e.g. “<callsign>, joining overhead” or “<callsign>, joining downwind runway 27”.
Downwind: The key circuit report: “<callsign>, downwind” (for the runway). At a Tower you'll get your landing sequence.
Final: “<callsign>, final” — at an AGCS field add intentions, e.g. “final, to land” or “final, touch-and-go”.
Runway vacated: Once clear of the runway: “<callsign>, runway vacated”.

Exact circuit calls vary by airfield and service. At a controlled (Tower) field, read back clearances; at an Air/Ground (“Radio”) field you give your position and intentions and make your own decisions.

Getting into the circuit

How you join changes what you say, and the join is agreed before you get there. These are the methods you will be given.

Overhead join: The standard join where the procedure isn't otherwise notified: overfly at 2000 ft above aerodrome elevation, descend on the dead side, then cross the upwind end to position downwind.
Downwind join: Join directly onto the downwind leg at circuit height when advised/cleared, e.g. “join downwind runway 27”.
Base join: Join onto the base leg and turn final from there — when the traffic and controller allow it.
Crosswind join: Join on the crosswind leg (after the upwind end) to slot into the downwind leg.
Straight-in approach: Approach straight to the runway without flying the circuit, traffic permitting — report your range on final, e.g. “8 miles, straight-in approach runway 27”.

The join you use depends on the aerodrome, the traffic and the controller. At an ATC unit you're given joining instructions to read back; at an AGCS (“Radio”) field you choose, report your join and intentions, and make your own decisions.

The standard overhead join

The one you will be asked to describe, and the one that goes wrong when a step is skipped.

Overfly the aerodrome at 2000 ft above aerodrome elevation.
If you don't already know it, determine the circuit direction from the signals square, other traffic or the windsock.
Descend on the “dead side” to circuit height.
Join by crossing the upwind end of the runway at circuit height, then position downwind.

What you must read back

A report tells the controller something. An instruction tells you to do something, and several of the circuit ones must come back word for word. Anything involving the runway is in that group.

““… for spacing, orbit right””: ““Orbit right, wilco, <callsign>” — a 360° turn to create spacing.”
““… runway 27, land after the [traffic]””: ““Runway 27, land after the [traffic], <callsign>” — you may land while the preceding aircraft is still on the runway, provided it will be clear, it's daylight, and you can see it. Read it back.”
““… go around, I say again go around””: ““Going around, <callsign>” — abandon the approach, climb away and rejoin.”

Practise this at your airfield

Reading it is the easy half. Pick your own airfield, with its real frequencies and today’s weather, and say these calls out loud until they stop being something you remember and start being something you do.

Find your airfield →

Written from the same vetted study data the app uses, and checked against it on 11 September 2026. TowerTalk is a training aid: your instructor and your examiner are the authority on whether you are ready.

The calls, in the order you make them

Four positions, four calls. At a busy field these are the only transmissions you should need.

Joining

State how you're joining, e.g. “<callsign>, joining overhead” or “<callsign>, joining downwind runway 27”.

Downwind

The key circuit report: “<callsign>, downwind” (for the runway). At a Tower you'll get your landing sequence.

Final

“<callsign>, final” — at an AGCS field add intentions, e.g. “final, to land” or “final, touch-and-go”.

Runway vacated

Once clear of the runway: “<callsign>, runway vacated”.

Getting into the circuit

How you join changes what you say, and the join is agreed before you get there. These are the methods you will be given.

Overhead join

The standard join where the procedure isn't otherwise notified: overfly at 2000 ft above aerodrome elevation, descend on the dead side, then cross the upwind end to position downwind.

Downwind join

Join directly onto the downwind leg at circuit height when advised/cleared, e.g. “join downwind runway 27”.

Base join

Join onto the base leg and turn final from there — when the traffic and controller allow it.

Crosswind join

Join on the crosswind leg (after the upwind end) to slot into the downwind leg.

Straight-in approach

Approach straight to the runway without flying the circuit, traffic permitting — report your range on final, e.g. “8 miles, straight-in approach runway 27”.

The standard overhead join

The one you will be asked to describe, and the one that goes wrong when a step is skipped.

Overfly the aerodrome at 2000 ft above aerodrome elevation.

If you don't already know it, determine the circuit direction from the signals square, other traffic or the windsock.

Descend on the “dead side” to circuit height.

Join by crossing the upwind end of the runway at circuit height, then position downwind.

What you must read back

A report tells the controller something. An instruction tells you to do something, and several of the circuit ones must come back word for word. Anything involving the runway is in that group.

““… for spacing, orbit right””

““Orbit right, wilco, <callsign>” — a 360° turn to create spacing.”

““… runway 27, land after the [traffic]””

““Runway 27, land after the [traffic], <callsign>” — you may land while the preceding aircraft is still on the runway, provided it will be clear, it's daylight, and you can see it. Read it back.”

““… go around, I say again go around””

““Going around, <callsign>” — abandon the approach, climb away and rejoin.”