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PPL VFR communications course: 11 illustrated chapters

The PPL VFR communications course follows the syllabus in 11 chapters: 54 key points explained in a few paragraphs, often with a diagram, what to remember and, for many, the classic exam trap. The first chapter, « The VHF radio », can be read in full on this page.

Read chapter 1The 232 questions of this subject

Contents

Each chapter explains, point by point, what the questions of the bank ask, with a « Remember » box and often the classic exam trap. The first chapter is free, below and in the app; the next ones are for PPL subscribers.

  1. 1.The VHF radio

    Free

    Frequency band, 8.33 kHz spacing, line-of-sight range, squelch and the readability scale.

    5 key points · 11 questions of the bank

  2. 2.The aviation spelling alphabet

    Subscribers

    The 26 words of the ICAO alphabet and spelling out a registration, letter by letter.

    4 key points · 103 questions of the bank

  3. 3.Stating numbers

    Subscribers

    Digits, headings, runways, times, frequencies, altitudes and time code: how to say them on the radio.

    7 key points · 18 questions of the bank

  4. 4.Callsigns and message structure

    Subscribers

    Full and abbreviated callsign, first contact and position report.

    4 key points · 8 questions of the bank

  5. 5.Standard phrases

    Subscribers

    Affirm, negative, roger, wilco, standby, break break… and the reserved use of the word "cleared" (« autorisé »).

    4 key points · 21 questions of the bank

  6. 6.The readback

    Subscribers

    What reading back means, what must be read back, and how to do it correctly.

    4 key points · 9 questions of the bank

  7. 7.At a controlled aerodrome

    Subscribers

    Ground and tower frequencies, taxiing, take-off, traffic circuit, option, vacating the runway and traffic information.

    6 key points · 9 questions of the bank

  8. 8.Self-announce and AFIS

    Subscribers

    Choosing the frequency at an uncontrolled aerodrome, building your messages, and the mandatory position reports.

    5 key points · 17 questions of the bank

  9. 9.Information Services and Transponder

    Subscribers

    FIS, ATIS, VOLMET, VDF direction finding and transponder codes.

    5 key points · 10 questions of the bank

  10. 10.Distress and Urgency

    Subscribers

    MAYDAY and PAN PAN, content of the message, frequency to use, radio silence, priorities and emergency locator beacon.

    5 key points · 18 questions of the bank

  11. 11.Radio failure

    Subscribers

    First actions, code 7600, whether or not to enter an airspace, arrival at a controlled aerodrome and light signals.

    5 key points · 10 questions of the bank

Chapter 1: The VHF radio

Frequency band, 8.33 kHz spacing, line-of-sight range, squelch and the readability scale.

The aeronautical VHF band

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The VHF band: navigation from 108 to 117.975 MHz, communications from 118 to 136.975 MHz

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Pilot–controller communications use VHF (Very High Frequency), with amplitude modulation.

The aeronautical band is split in two:

108 to 117.975 MHz: radio navigation (VOR, ILS localizer);

118 to 136.975 MHz: air-ground communications (aeronautical mobile service).

Two frequencies must be known by heart: 121.5 MHz, the international distress and emergency frequency, and 123.5 MHz, the self-information frequency for aerodromes with no published frequency.

Remember

Air-ground communications: 118 – 136.975 MHz (often rounded to "118 – 137 MHz" or "118 – 136 MHz" in MCQs).

Exam trap

The 108 – 117.975 MHz range is indeed VHF, but it is used for navigation (VOR, ILS), not for radiotelephony.

8.33 kHz spacing

← Faites glisser le schéma →

A 25 kHz channel divided into three 8.33 kHz channels

© ForAllPilots

To create more channels in a saturated band, the spacing between two neighbouring communication frequencies was reduced from 25 kHz to 8.33 kHz (25 ÷ 3): each former channel is divided into three.

This is why recent radios display frequencies with three decimal places such as 121.055 or 132.005. In Europe, 8.33 kHz equipment is mandatory to fly in most of the airspace.

Remember

Minimum separation between two VHF communication frequencies: 8.33 kHz.

Line-of-sight range

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VHF works "line of sight": an aircraft that is too low is hidden by the curvature of the Earth

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VHF waves travel in a straight line: they do not follow the curvature of the Earth and do not bend around terrain. The link is only possible if the ground antenna and the aircraft "see" each other.

Practical consequences:

the higher you are, the greater the range;

at low height, behind a hill or far from the station, reception becomes poor or non-existent.

Rule of thumb: D (NM) ≈ 1.23 × √h (ft), where h is the aircraft's height (an identical term is added for a raised ground antenna).

Remember

VHF range ≈ 1.23 × √(height in ft) in NM. Climbing improves the range.

Volume and squelch

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The squelch only lets through signals above the threshold

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A VHF receiver constantly picks up background noise (hiss, interference).

The squelch (the muting circuit) cuts the audio output as long as the received signal stays below a threshold: you only hear transmissions that are strong enough. It changes neither the range nor the quality of the transmission; set too high, it can even mask a distant station.

The volume simply adjusts the sound level.

Exam trap

The squelch is used to suppress background noise. It increases neither the reception range nor the transmission range.

The readability scale

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Readability scale from 1 (unreadable) to 5 (perfectly readable)

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The quality of reception is expressed by a number from 1 to 5. To ask for it: "How do you read?" (in English: HOW DO YOU READ).

Typical reply: "I read you 5" or "readability 3". The higher the number, the better the reception.

When readability is poor (2 or 3), switch to transmitting numbers digit by digit and words may be repeated twice.

Remember

1 unreadable – 2 readable now and then – 3 readable with difficulty – 4 readable – 5 perfectly readable.

Exam trap

The scale works as "the bigger, the better": 1 is not "perfect", it is "unreadable".

The course goes on with chapter 2, « The aviation spelling alphabet ». It is read in the Course tab of the app with a PPL subscription, and each chapter ends with the questions of the bank about it. See pricing

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