JO 7110.10 Flight ServicesJO 7110.10EE · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026
Chapter 2 · Section 3
General Phraseology
5 Paragraphs2-3-1–2-3-5
2-3-1 PURPOSE
This section prescribes standardized procedures and phraseology for specialist to use when communicating weather and aeronautical information in broadcast, radiotelephone, and interphone communications. Where position or procedure-specific phraseology is required, there are references to the relevant chapter of this order.
2-3-2 WORDS AND PHRASES
Use the words or phrases in broadcast, radiotelephone, and interphone communications as contained in the Pilot/Controller Glossary.
2-3-3 ICAO PHONETICS
Use the ICAO pronunciation of numbers and, as necessary, individual letters for clarity. The ICAO radiotelephony alphabet and pronunciation guides are contained in TBL 2-3-1 and TBL 2-3-2.
NOTE
Emphasize pronunciation of syllables in boldface.
TBL 2-3-1 ICAO Phonetics – Numbers
| Character | Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Zero | ZE-RO |
| 1 | One | WUN |
| 2 | Two | TOO |
| 3 | Three | TREE |
| 4 | Four | FOW-ER |
| 5 | Five | FIFE |
| 6 | Six | SIX |
| 7 | Seven | SEV-EN |
| 8 | Eight | AIT |
| 9 | Nine | NIN-ER |
TBL 2-3-2 ICAO Phonetics – Individual Letters
| Character | Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa | ALFAH |
| B | Bravo | BRAHVOH |
| C | Charlie | CHARLEE |
| D | Delta | DELLTAH |
| E | Echo | ECKOH |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKSTROT |
| G | Golf | GOLF |
| H | Hotel | HOHTELL |
| I | India | INDEE AH |
| J | Juliett | JEWLEE ETT |
| K | Kilo | KEYLOH |
| L | Lima | LEEMAH |
| M | Mike | MIKE |
| N | November | NOVEMBER |
| O | Oscar | OSSCAH |
| P | Papa | PAHPAH |
| Q | Quebec | KEHBECK |
| R | Romeo | ROWME OH |
| S | Sierra | SEEAIRAH |
| T | Tango | TANGGO |
| U | Uniform | YOUNEE FORM |
| V | Victor | VIKTAH |
| W | Whiskey | WISSKEY |
| X | X-Ray | ECKSRAY |
| Y | Yankee | YANGKEY |
| Z | Zulu | ZOOLOO |
2-3-4 NUMBER USAGE
State numbers as follows:
Serial numbers. Separate digits.
| Number | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 11,495 | ONE ONE FOUR NINER FIVE |
| 20,069 | TWO ZERO ZERO SIX NINER |
Altitudes or flight levels.
Altitudes. Pronounce each digit in the number of hundreds or thousands followed by the word “HUNDRED” or “THOUSAND,” as appropriate.
| Altitude | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 5,000 | FIVE THOUSAND |
| 10,000 | ONE ZERO THOUSAND |
| 11,500 | ONE ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED |
Altitudes may be restated in group form for added clarity if the specialist chooses.
NOTE
Group form is the pronunciation of a series of numbers as the whole number, or pairs of numbers they represent rather than pronouncing each separate digit. The use of group form may, however, be negated by four-digit identifiers or the placement of zeros in the identifier.
| Altitude | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 10,000 | TEN THOUSAND |
| 11,500 | ELEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED |
Flight levels. The words “FLIGHT LEVEL,” followed by the separate digits of the flight level.
| Flight Level | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 180 | FLIGHT LEVEL ONE EIGHT ZERO |
| 270 | FLIGHT LEVEL TWO SEVEN ZERO |
Minimum descent altitude/decision height/decision altitude (MDA/DH/DA). The words “MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE,” “DECISION HEIGHT,” or “DECISION ALTITUDE” followed by separate digits of the MDA/DH/DA altitude.
| Altitude | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 1,320 | MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE ONE THREE TWO ZERO |
| 486 | DECISION HEIGHT FOUR EIGHT SIX |
| 744 | DECISION ALTITUDE SEVEN FOUR FOUR |
Time.
General time information. The four separate digits of the hour and minutes in terms of UTC.
| Time | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 0115 (UTC) | ZERO ONE ONE FIVE |
| 1315 (UTC) | ONE THREE ONE FIVE |
Upon request. The four separate digits of the hours and minutes in terms of UTC followed by the local time equivalent; or the local time equivalent only. Local time may be based on the 24-hour clock system. The term “Zulu” may be used to denote UTC.
| Time | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 2:30 P.M. | TWO THIRTY P-M LOCAL |
| 2230 (UTC), 2:30 P.M. | TWO TWO THREE ZERO ZULU, TWO THIRTY P-M LOCAL |
| 2230 (UTC), 1430 PST | TWO TWO THREE ZERO, ONE FOUR THREE ZERO PACIFIC |
Time check. The word “TIME” followed by the four separate digits of the hour and minutes, and nearest quarter minute. Fractions of a quarter minute less than eight seconds are stated as the preceding quarter minute; fractions of a quarter minute of eight seconds or more are stated as the succeeding quarter minute.
| Time | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 1415:06 | TIME, ONE FOUR ONE FIVE |
| 1415:10 | TIME, ONE FOUR ONE FIVE AND ONE-QUARTER |
Abbreviated time. The separate digits of the minutes only.
| Time | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 1415 | ONE FIVE |
| 1420 | TWO ZERO |
NOTE
Change to the next minute is made at the minute plus 30 seconds.
Field elevation. The words “FIELD ELEVATION,” followed by the separate digits of the elevation.
| Elevation | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 17 feet | FIELD ELEVATION ONE SEVEN |
| 187 feet | FIELD ELEVATION ONE EIGHT SEVEN |
| 2,817 feet | FIELD ELEVATION TWO EIGHT ONE SEVEN |
Zero. The number “0” is stated as “ZERO,” except where it is used in approved group form for authorized aircraft call signs and in stating altitudes.
EXAMPLE
“Field elevation one six zero.” “Heading three zero zero.” “One zero thousand five hundred.” “Western five thirty.” “Ten thousand five hundred.” “EMAIR One Ten.”
Heading. The word “HEADING,” followed by the three separate digits of the number of degrees, omitting the word “degrees.” Use heading 360 degrees to indicate a north heading.
| Heading/Degrees | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 5 degrees | HEADING ZERO ZERO FIVE |
| 30 degrees | HEADING ZERO THREE ZERO |
| 360 degrees | HEADING THREE SIX ZERO |
Radar beacon codes. The word squawk followed by the separate digits of the four-digit code.
| Code | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 1000 | SQUAWK ONE ZERO ZERO ZERO |
| 2100 | SQUAWK TWO ONE ZERO ZERO |
Runways. The word “RUNWAY” followed by the separate digits of the runway designation. For a parallel runway, state the word “LEFT,” “RIGHT,” or “CENTER” if the letters “L,” “R,” or “C” are included in the designation.
| Runway Designation | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 3 | RUNWAY THREE |
| 8L | RUNWAY EIGHT LEFT |
| 27R | RUNWAY TWO SEVEN RIGHT |
Frequencies.
The separate digits of the frequency, inserting the word “POINT” where the decimal occurs. When the frequency is in the low/medium frequency or high frequency band, include the word “KILOHERTZ.”
| Frequency | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 302 kHz | THREE ZERO TWO KILOHERTZ |
| 5631 kHz | FIVE SIX THREE ONE KILOHERTZ |
| 126.55 MHz | ONE TWO SIX POINT FIVE FIVE |
| 135.275 MHz | ONE THREE FIVE POINT TWO SEVEN FIVE |
Provide TACAN frequencies by stating the assigned two- or three-digit channel number.
EXAMPLE
“TACAN channel niner seven.”
Speeds.
The separate digits of the speed followed by the word knots.
| Speed | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 95 | NINER FIVE KNOTS |
| 185 | ONE EIGHT FIVE KNOTS |
| 250 | TWO FIVE ZERO KNOTS |
For Mach speeds, the word “MACH,” followed by the separate digits, and inserting the word “POINT” where the decimal occurs.
| Mach Number | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 0.64 | MACH POINT SIX FOUR |
| 0.7 | MACH POINT SEVEN |
| 1.5 | MACH ONE POINT FIVE |
Miles. The separate digits of the mileage followed by the word “MILE(S)”.
| Miles | Phraseology |
|---|---|
| 30 | THREE ZERO MILES |
2-3-5 EXPEDITIOUS COMPLIANCE
Use the word “IMMEDIATELY” only when expeditious compliance is required to avoid an imminent situation.
Use the word “EXPEDITE” only when prompt compliance is required to avoid the development of an imminent situation.
In both cases, and if time permits, include the reason for this action.