Exams
Weather
Aircraft Information
General Knowledge
- VFR Circuit
- VFR Minima
- Airspace
- ATC Air Traffic Control
- Flight Rules
- Overhead Join
- QNH/QFE/QNE
- TA Transition Altitude TL Transition Level Semicircular Rule
ATC Services
CAA Phraseology
- Free Call Technique
- CAA AGCS VFR Circuits
- CAA AGCS Arrivals
- CAA AGCS Departures
- CAA AGCS RNP Approach
- CAA AFIS VFR Circuit
- CAA AFIS Arriving
- CAA AFIS Departure
- CAA AFIS RNP Approach
- CAA ATC VFR Circuit
- CAA ATC VFR Arrivals
- CAA ATC VFR Departure
- CAA ATC VFR Transit Class D
ICAO Phraseology
- ICAO AFIS Circuits
- ICAO AFIS Arrival
- ICAO AFIS Departure
- ICAO ATC Arrival
- ICAO ATC Departure
In this lesson, we will give an example of a pilot at an airport within class D airspace requesting to perform VFR circuits.
We are parked on the West Apron at Leeds Bradford, the first task if a controller is online is to tune the ATIS on 118.030, once we have established the runway in use QNH we can plan our circuits and make the initial call to the Tower. | ||
Explanation | Exchange | |
On the first call use both your full callsign and that of the station being addressed. If you have more than one apron, giving your position will help the radio operator identify your location. | ![]() |
“Leeds Tower, G-VACS, Cessna 152 on the west apron QNH 1010 with information Alpha. Requesting engine start” |
The controller will give you clearance to start your engine, and give you the QNH/QFE | ![]() |
“G-VACS, Leeds Tower, engine start approved QFE 988 hectopascals.” |
When you are ready to taxi contact the controller. | ![]() |
“Leeds Tower, G-CS request taxi to the active runway for Circuits.” |
The controller may clear you at your current location or more commonly in the XU they will tell you to expect clearance at the hold. | ![]() |
“G-CS, taxi holding point F1, QFE 988 hectopascals.” |
The controller will issue you taxi instructions and may include the QNH again, if so read all back. | ![]() |
“Taxi holding point F1, QFE 988 hectopascals.” |
Some controllers will inform you they have your clearance and ask you to report once you are ready to receive and near the holding point. | ![]() |
“G-CS, I have your clearance report ready to copy.” |
You can either tell them you are ready or to stand by. | ![]() |
“Roger, we are ready to copy the clearance.” |
The circuit clearance is long, you can preempt much of the clearance. The parts in bold do not change.
G-VACS, hold position, after departure, runway 16, cleared right/left-hand circuits, VFR, not above altitude/height 2000ft, QNH/QFE 1010, Squawk 7010 |
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The controller will issue the clearance, not the word hectopascals this is only used when the QNH/QFE is below 1000. | ![]() |
“G-VACS, hold position, after departure, runway 16, cleared left-hand circuit, VFR, not above height 1000ft QFE 988 hectopascals, Squawk 7010” |
Read back the whole clearance. | ![]() |
“hold position, after departure, runway 16, cleared left-hand circuit, VFR, not above height 1000ft QFE 988 hectopascals, Squawk 7010, G-VACS” |
The controller will confirm you read back the clearance correctly or will correct your mistakes. | ![]() |
“G-CS, readback correct, report ready for departure.” |
Report when you are ready for departure. | ![]() |
“Ready for departure, G-CS.” |
The controller may issue traffic information. | ![]() |
“G-CS, traffic is a C152 on the crosswind leg, report the traffic insight.” |
Report once you have the traffic insight. | ![]() |
“Traffic insight, G-CS.” |
The controller will issue take-off clearance, note if you are taking off from an intersection that will be included. | ![]() |
“G-CS, Via F, runway 16, surface winds 180 degrees 10 knots, cleared for take-off.” |
Report on the downwind leg. | ![]() |
“Downwind, runway 16, touch and go, G-CS.” |
The controller will issue an instruction to report final, or they may put you in an orbit depending on the situation. To perform an orbit you make a 360-degree turn away from the airport and runway. | ![]() |
“G-CS, Number 2 follow the C152 on base, report final runway 16” |
Acknowledge the instruction. | ![]() |
“Number 2, report final, G-CS.” |
Report Final | ![]() |
“Final runway 16, G-CVS.” |
The controller will give you the winds, and clearance to perform the touch and go. | ![]() |
“G-CS, runway 16, surface winds 190 degrees 10 knots, cleared touch and go.” |
Read back the runway and clearance, you do not need to read back the weather information. | ![]() |
“Runway 16 cleared touch and go, G-CS.” |
Report on the downwind leg. The term full stop means you wish to land. | ![]() |
“Downwind, runway 16, full stop, G-CS.” |
Acknowledge the instruction. | ![]() |
“G-CS, report final runway 16” |
Report Final | ![]() |
“Final runway 16, G-CVS.” |
The controller will give you the winds, and clearance to land. | ![]() |
“G-CS, runway 16, surface winds 190 degrees 10 knots, cleared to land.” |
Read back the runway and clearance, you do not need to read back the weather information. | ![]() |
“Runway 16, cleared to land, G-CS.” |
Vacate the runway, and pull past the stop bars (The closed holding point) Do not stop before them as you are considered on the active runway until you have past the holding point. | ![]() |
“Vacated via F, holding F1, G-CS.” |
The controller will issue you taxi instructions. | ![]() |
“G-CS taxi back to the west apron via F.” |
The controller’s job is to provide you with traffic information to ensure you are safe, but that does not mean they are responsible for your separation. When flying VFR you are responsible for your own separation.
Not to be used for real world aviation.