This document provides an overview of basic air traffic control communication procedures. It reviews the roles and responsibilities of each ATC position including clearance delivery, ground control, tower control, departure control, center control, approach control, and provides examples of pilot-controller communications. It emphasizes that while procedures vary between facilities, the basic information exchanged is consistent, including aircraft callsign, route clearance, altitude assignments, frequencies changes. The document concludes with a review example of a flight from Miami to Nashville.

1. BASIC ATC
COMMUNICATION
C104 / Israel Reyes

2. ATC COMMUNICATION
Many new pilots are afraid to pick-up
the radio and say hello. In this lesson we will
prepare you to do just that. The positions air
traffic controllers staff don’t change; only the
voices do.
In the next few slides, we will review each
position and the basics behind communication.
To be fair, there is no one way to speak with
ATC. Each controller has his or her own style.
However they will all need the same basic
information that we will cover here.

3. ATC COMMUNICATION
THE ATC POSITIONS
• DEL = Clearance Delivery – Get your route
• GND = Ground – Get taxi to/from Runway
• TWR = Tower – Get take-off/landing clearance
• DEP = Departure – Vectors / Climb
Instructions
• APP = Approach – Vectors / Arrival
Instructions
• CTR = Center – Monitors / Re-Routes as
needed

4. Clearance Delivery (DEL)
DEL is the first position you will speak to when you are park at a
gate. DEL controller is responsible for checking your field flight plan.
They will make amendments as needed and inform you of any
changes made. They will also give you the specific details related to
your departure clearance. Lets look at two basic examples. Radar
Vectors and RNAV clearances. In this example you are AAL2387.
Kennedy Clearance Delivery, American 2387, request IFR to Miami as filed.
American 2387, Kennedy Clearance Delivery, Cleared to Miami International Airport via the Kennedy 3
Departure, radar vectors to WHITE than as filed. Climb and maintain 5000. Expect FL280 10min after
departure. Departure will be on 132.7. Squawk 0507.
Cleared to Miami via the Kennedy3 Dep. Initial 5000, expect 280 10after dep. Dep on 132.7 Squawk 0507
for AAL2387.
NWK_DEL, AAL2387, request IFR to Miami with information Alpha.
AAL2387, NWK_DEL, Cleared to KMIA via the PORTT3 DEP. Climb via SID top altitude 5000. Expect FL280
10min after dep. DEP_FRQ 132.7. Squawk 2371.
2371 AAL2387.
Its is important to know, that clearances can be amended for any number of reasons. Some can
include, weather, incorrect SID filed, invalid exit gates, incorrect altitudes and so on. Your
instructor will review some examples with you.

5. Ground - GND
The ground controller is tasked with all movement areas
on the airport located between the ramp area and runways.
Each airport is very different and require your understanding
of the airport diagram.
Example 1 – KJFK
http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1705/00610AD.PDF
Example 2 – KMIA
http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1705/00257AD.PDF
Your instructor will use the provided diagrams to
illustrate a number of different taxi instructions.

8. Tower - TWR
The tower controller, will issue you take-off and landing
clearance. They will also provide you with a wind check and initial
vectors if not departing RNAV. The tower will also provide you with an
initial traffic advisory if it’s needed.
JFK_TWR, AAL2387, Short of 4L ready to go.
AAL2387, JFK_TWR, wind 045@7, runway 4L cleared for take-off.
Cleared for take-off, AAL2387.
NWK_TWR, AAL2387, Short of 4L ready to go.
AAL2387, NWK_TWR, on dep fly heading 060, wind 048@8, runway
4L cleared for take-off.
Cleared for take-off, 060 on dep, AAL2387.
Again, different variations are possible depending on the
airport you are departing. Speak with your instructor for more
examples.

9. Departure - DEP
Departure controllers get you from the initial
climb to the start of your en-route stage.
NY_NWK_DEP, AAL2387, climbing 1.5 for 5.
AAL2387, NY_NWK_DEP, radar contact turn
right heading 110 climb and maintain 7000.
110 and up to 7 for AAL2387.
AAL2387, contact NY_CTR on 132.05.
Over to CTR on 132.05, thanks, AAL2387.

10. Center - CTR
The center controller, gets you to your cruise level and monitors
your flight progress. Center will continue to hand you off center to
center until you commence your approach into your destination.
NY_CTR, AAL2387, with you 7000.
AAL2387, NY_CTR, radar contact, proceed direct MERIT, climb and
maintain FL210.
Direct, Merit up to FL210, AAL2387.
AAL2387, Contact Boston Center on 134.5.
Over to 134.5, thanks for your service.
Boston Center, AAL2387, with you climbing 15000 for FL210.
AAL2387, Boston_CTR, radar contact, 24miles from Bradley VOR,
Welcome Aboard
And so on, until reaching your approach area.

11. Approach – APP
The approach controller is tasked with guiding you to your terminal airspace.
There job is to position you to shoot the approach.
REG_APP, AAL2387, with you, descending via the WHINY4 arrival.
AAL2387, REG_APP, cross HILLZZ @ 6000 expect ILS RNW 18R approach,
DFW alt 2992.
HILLZZ@6000, expect ILS18R approach, AAL2387.
(**you may receive vectors to final or follow RNAV instructions as
needed**)
AAL2387, you are 8 miles from YOHAN, descend and maintain 2000 until
established. Cleared ILS RNW 18R Approach.
Descend and maintain 2000 until established, Cleared ILS RNW18R APP, AAL2387.
AAL2387, Contact DFW_TWR on 134.3.
Over to tower, AAL2387, See Ya!
Again, many different things can happen here. The instructions can be split
or given all at one time. Speak with your instructor for more examples.

12. Tower - TWR
We are now back with tower. Like before towers job, is to
provide you with a wind check, traffic and wake turbulence advisories
as need and finally clear you to land at the airport.
DFW_TWR, AAL2387, established ILS 18R.
AAL2387, DFW_TWR, wind 170@15, RNW 18R Cleared to land.
Cleared to land, AAL2387.
DFW_TWR, AAL2387, with you 18R to land.
AAL2387, DFW_TWR, wind 170@15, #2 behind company 777 on 4
mile final, caution wake-turbulence, RNW18R, Cleared to Land.
Cleared to land, #2 behind the company heavy, AAL2387.
Once more, depending on the situation, multiple factors can
change your clearance or cause you to go around. Speak with
your instructor for more examples.

13. NOTE
This is a good time to give you some differences from real world flying
and VATSIM flying. In the real world, you will always have an air traffic
controller to assist you. In VATSIM this may NOT always be the case. You
might find your self departing JFK without speaking to anyone. This is due
to individual availability.
To solve this, VATSIM has implemented a top down control system. What
does this mean to you.
You might find yourself speaking to NY_CTR for an IFR clearance instead
of JFK_DEL. To further this, if no controller is online, you are authorized to
depart any field on unicom freq 122.800. This is a text only freq. It is a
way to allow pilot coordination when no controller is available.
Note that if a controller comes online, they will send you a contact
request, you MUST contact the controller within a reasonable time. DO
NOT ignore the request. It can cause you to be flagged by that controller
and a VATSIM supervisor may disconnect you and even suspend your
account.

14. REVIEW
This review will follow AAL1013 from KMIA-
KBNA.
Miami Ground, AAL1013 request IFR to Nashville.
AAL1013, Miami Ground, Cleared to Nashville International Airport,
Via the WINCO2 departure, WINCO transition than as filed. Climb via
SID, top altitude 5000. Expect FL340 ten min after departure. Dep
frequency 119.45. Squawk 0437.
0437 in the box for AAL1013.
AAL1013, Read back correct, push and start at your discretion.
Information Delta is current. Contact ground on 121.8 ready to taxi.
Delta Current, ground on 121.8 when ready, AAL1013.

15. REVIEW CONT.
Miami Ground, AAL1013, short of P on Y, ready to taxi to the active.
AAL1013, Miami Ground, RNW 8L taxi via P, M, M1, give way to the
A321 taxing left to right on P.
8L via P, M, M1 will give way to the JetBlue on P, AAL1013.
AAL1013, contact Miami tower on 118.3, have a good flight.
Over to tower 118.3, AAL1013, See Ya!
Miami tower, AA1013, short of 8R, ready to go.
AAL1013, Miami tower, wind 090@10 runway 8R LUAW for spacing.
8R LUAW, AAL1013.

16. REVIEW CONT.
AAL1013, RNW 8R, cleared for take-off.
Cleared for take-off, AAL1013.
AAL1013, Contact Miami Dep on 119.45, Good day.
9.45 for AAL1013, See Ya!
Miami Departure, AAL1013, 2.3 for 5.
AAL1013, Miami Dep, Radar contact, climb and maintain 11000,
rnav winco.
up to 11000, rnav winco, AAL1013.

17. REVIEW CONT.
AAL1013, contact Miami Center on 124.7.
Center on 124.7, AAL1013. Thanks
Miami Center, AAL1013, with you climbing 9000 for 11000.
AAL1013, Miami Center, climb and maintain FL340.
Up to 340, AAL1013.
SKIP to Memphis Center
AAL1013, Contact Memphis Center on 133.125

18. REVIEW CONT.
Memphis on 133.125, AAL1013. Thanks
Memphis Center, AAL1013 with you FL340.
AAL1013, Memphis CTR, Radar contact 43 miles east of ZLU VOR,
welcome aboard.
AAL1013, at pilots discretion, descend via SWFFT2 arrival, cross
ZANZA at FL240.
ZANZA at FL240, AAL1013.
AAL1013, Contact Nashville East APP on 118.4.
Over to approach, AAL1013.

19. REVIEW CONT.
Nashville APP, AAL1013 with you, descending via the SWFFT2 app.
AAL1013, Nashville APP, Cross BRETH at 6000. Expect RNAV Y RNW
20L.
BRETH at 6000, Expecting RNAV Y RNW 20L, AAL1013.
AAL1013, you area 10miles east of WAYLN, cleared RNAV Y RNW 20L
APP.
Cleared RNAV Y RNW 20L APP, AAL1013.
AAL1013, Contact Nashville TWR on 118.6, Good Day.
Tower on 118.6, AAL1013

20. REVIEW CONT.
Nashville TWR, AAL1013, RNAV Y for 20L.
AAL1013, Nashville TWR, caution traffic is B737, will depart 20L
prior to your arrival, wind 192@12 rnw 20L cleared to land.
Copy the traffic, 20L cleared to land, AAL1013.
AAL1013, welcome to Nashville vacate right when able.
Clear on H3, AAL1013.
AAL1013, Contact Ground on 121.9.
Ground on 121.9, AAL1013.

21. REVIEW CONT.
Nashville GND, AAL1013 on H3 looking to taxi to the gates.
AAL1013, Nashville GND, taxi to the gates via H, J, T5.
Gates via H, J, T5, AAL103.
When your ground controller is a DEP controller or above it
is a good curtsey to inform them when you are parked. This is
because most of them, have multiple airports under their control
at one time.

22. END