PPL VFR communications 091: practice questions and syllabus
The EASA PPL syllabus for VFR communications covers the phonetic alphabet, transmitting numbers and time, standard words and phrases, callsigns, the readability scale, aerodrome weather, communication failure, distress and urgency, and VHF propagation. Little calculation, a lot of phraseology: "Roger", "Wilco", "Pan Pan", spelling out a registration. Our bank has 232 questions on this subject, best worked in short sets.
- explained questions in the bank
- 232
- pass mark per paper (EASA)
- 75 %
What the syllabus covers
The topics of the EASA syllabus for this subject, with what each one lists.
1Definitions
associated terms, ATS abbreviations, Q-code groups used in radiotelephony, categories of messages.
2General operating procedures
spelling of letters, transmission of numbers and time, transmission technique, standard words and phrases, station and aircraft callsigns, transfer of communication, radio checks and readability scale, readback.
3VFR weather information
aerodrome weather, meteorological broadcasts.
4Communication failure
action to take after a radio failure on a VFR flight.
5Distress and urgency
distress signal and message, urgency signal and message, frequencies and listening watch.
6VHF propagation
general principles of VHF propagation and frequency allocation.
Source: EASA, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (AMC to Part-FCL)
The illustrated course
To understand before you answer: 11 chapters and 54 key points, 51 of them with a diagram or an illustration. The first chapter, « The VHF radio », is free to read.
- The VHF radio
- The aviation spelling alphabet
- Stating numbers
- Callsigns and message structure
- Standard phrases
- The readback
- At a controlled aerodrome
- Self-announce and AFIS
- Information Services and Transponder
- Distress and Urgency
- Radio failure
5 questions to practise
Taken from the site's English bank and checked one by one. Read the question, choose your answer, then open the explanation. Like every explanation on the site, they may contain errors.
Question 1 · 5 Distress and urgency
In flight, in the event of an emergency, the pilot sends a radio message beginning with:
- Aurgency.
- Bmayday.
- Cpan.
- Dalert.
Show the answer+
Answer: C. pan.
The urgency message begins with "PAN PAN", repeated three times; the distress message begins with "MAYDAY", also repeated three times.
Question 2 · 2 General operating procedures
On the radiotelephony readability scale, "4" means:
- Areadable.
- Bunreadable.
- Creadable now and then.
- Dchoppy transmission.
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Answer: A. readable.
Radiotelephony readability scale: 1 unreadable, 2 readable now and then, 3 readable but with difficulty, 4 readable, 5 perfectly readable.
Question 3 · 2 General operating procedures
How is the registration F-GKLM correctly spelled using the ICAO phonetic alphabet (part after the F- prefix)?
- AGolf Victor Lima Mike
- BGolf Kilo Lima Mike
- CMike Lima Kilo Golf
- DAlfa Kilo Lima Mike
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Answer: B. Golf Kilo Lima Mike
ICAO phonetic alphabet: GKLM is spelled 'Golf Kilo Lima Mike'.
Question 4 · 3 VFR weather information
By listening to an ATIS frequency, you obtain:
- Aa clearance to transit the areas surrounding the aerodrome concerned.
- Binformation useful only to IFR flights.
- Cweather information and the runway in use at the aerodrome concerned.
- Dan information and alerting service.
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Answer: C. weather information and the runway in use at the aerodrome concerned.
ATIS continuously broadcasts a recorded message: weather conditions, runway in use and other information useful to arriving and departing aircraft.
Question 5 · 6 VHF propagation
The frequencies used for air/ground communications in the VHF (Very High Frequency) band range from:
- A110 to 117 MHz.
- B118 to 137 MHz.
- C137 to 145 MHz.
- D146 to 165 MHz.
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Answer: B. 118 to 137 MHz.
The VHF frequency range allocated to aviation goes from 108 MHz to 136.975 MHz. The band from 108 MHz to 117.975 MHz is reserved for ILS and VOR. The band from 118 MHz to 136.975 MHz is used for communications.
9 more free questions, no sign-up: Free PPL VFR communications questions
How to approach this subject
Learn the phraseology in small batches: the ICAO alphabet (Golf Kilo Lima Mike), numbers digit by digit, "Wilco" (I will comply) and "Roger" (I have received all of your last transmission), "Pan Pan" for urgency, "Mayday" for distress. Every standard phrase you forget can cost you a question.
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