RTR(A) phraseology
Departure
Line-up, take-off clearance, initial climb and the first frequency changes.
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After Take-off Reports
Made automatically after lift-off to advise tower or departure of passing significant levels and to comply with SID requirements (turn altitudes, speed restrictions). Climb levels are reported in feet up to transition altitude and as flight levels above.
Pilot
[Station], [Callsign], AIRBORNE [runway], PASSING [level]
ATC
[Callsign] CONTACT [next station] [frequency]
Pilot
Delhi Tower, Akasa Air 1532, airborne 29, passing 2000 feet
ATC
Akasa Air 1532, Delhi Tower, contact Delhi Departure 124.35
Pilot
124.35, Akasa Air 1532, good day
- On first contact with departure, repeat the climb to confirm the SID profile is being flown correctly.
- Frequency change instructions are read-back items, even if the controller doesn't append "read back".
Reference: ICAO Doc 9432
Frequency Change after Departure
Used during the climb out of the terminal area when ATC hands you off from departure control to the en-route control sector. The pilot must establish on the new frequency promptly to maintain coverage.
Pilot
[new frequency], [Callsign] → [new station], [Callsign], [level/intentions]
ATC
[Callsign] CONTACT [next sector] [frequency]
ATC
Akasa Air 1532, contact Mumbai Control 132.05
Pilot
132.05, Akasa Air 1532
Pilot
Mumbai Control, Akasa Air 1532, climbing FL250, passing FL190
ATC
Akasa Air 1532, Mumbai Control, identified, climb FL320
- Always wait until the previous controller has finished their transmission before pressing PTT for the next.
- If you don't establish on the new frequency within 30 seconds, return to the old one and ask "confirm change to [freq]".
Reference: ICAO Doc 9432
Holding Point Report
Used to report ready for departure at the runway holding point so the tower can sequence you into the departure stream. The pilot states the runway and confirms readiness; tower replies with line-up, hold short, or a wait instruction.
Pilot
[Station] [Callsign] HOLDING POINT [taxiway] RUNWAY [number] READY FOR DEPARTURE
ATC
[Callsign] HOLD POSITION (or LINE UP RUNWAY [number] AND WAIT)
Pilot
Delhi Tower, Akasa Air 1532, holding point Charlie runway 29, ready for departure
ATC
Akasa Air 1532, Delhi Tower, line up runway 29 and wait, traffic on short final
Pilot
Line up runway 29 and wait, Akasa Air 1532
- If you are not yet ready (still configuring), say "holding point Charlie, will advise when ready" and call again when complete.
- "Line up and wait" is not a take-off clearance, wait for "cleared for take-off" explicitly.
Reference: ICAO Doc 9432
Initial climb and frequency handover
Immediately after becoming airborne, when ATC passes a climb or transfer instruction.
Pilot
{CALLSIGN}, airborne at {TIME}, maintaining {LEVEL}.
ATC
{CALLSIGN}, contact {NEXT_UNIT} on {FREQUENCY}.
Pilot
Delhi Tower, Skyline 345, airborne at three five.
ATC
Skyline 345, contact Delhi Departure, one two five decimal seven.
Pilot
Contact Delhi Departure, one two five decimal seven, Skyline 345.
ATC
Skyline 345, readback correct.
Pilot
Delhi Departure, Skyline 345, passing two thousand feet, climbing four thousand feet.
- Read back the unit name and complete frequency, using DECIMAL, before changing frequency.
- Do not switch immediately after your readback. Wait for the controller to confirm it is correct.
- On the new frequency, make an initial call with callsign, passing level and cleared level.
Reference: ICAO Doc 9432, 2.8.2
Line up and take-off clearance
When approaching the holding point and entering the departure runway.
Pilot
{UNIT}, {CALLSIGN}, holding short runway {RUNWAY}, ready for departure.
ATC
{CALLSIGN}, runway {RUNWAY}, {LINE_UP_OR_CLEARED_FOR_TAKE_OFF}{CONDITIONAL_INSTRUCTION}.
Pilot
Delhi Tower, Skyline 345, holding short runway two niner left, ready for departure.
ATC
Skyline 345, line up runway two niner left and wait.
Pilot
Line up runway two niner left and wait, Skyline 345.
ATC
Skyline 345, runway two niner left, cleared for take-off.
Pilot
Runway two niner left, cleared for take-off, Skyline 345.
- The words TAKE OFF are used only in a take-off clearance or its cancellation.
- LINE UP AND WAIT is not a take-off clearance. Stay on the runway and wait.
- Read back the runway, conditional instruction and CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF exactly.
Reference: ICAO Doc 9432, 4.5
Line-Up Clearance
Used by tower to position an aircraft on the runway in advance of take-off clearance, typically when there is landing traffic to clear or a wake-turbulence interval to respect.
Pilot
[read-back of line-up instruction] [Callsign]
ATC
[Callsign] LINE UP RUNWAY [number] AND WAIT [or BEHIND LANDING / DEPARTING TRAFFIC LINE UP BEHIND]
ATC
Akasa Air 1532, behind the landing IndiGo 232, line up runway 29 behind
Pilot
Behind the landing IndiGo 232, line up runway 29 behind, Akasa Air 1532
- Conditional clearances ("behind the landing", "after the departing") must be read back including the condition and end with the word "behind" or "after".
- Do not begin the manoeuvre until you have the conditional traffic visual.
Reference: ICAO Doc 9432
Take-off Clearance
The single, explicit clearance that authorises take-off. The tower issues "cleared for take-off" only, never "take-off" in any other context, to keep the word safety-critical.
Pilot
[read-back] [Callsign]
ATC
[Callsign] [wind] CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF RUNWAY [number]
ATC
Akasa Air 1532, wind 270/7, runway 29, cleared for take-off
Pilot
Cleared for take-off runway 29, Akasa Air 1532
- "Cleared for take-off" is a read-back item, always include "cleared for take-off" plus the runway in your read-back.
- If the take-off must be cancelled before the roll, tower will say "hold position, cancel take-off", read back exactly.
Reference: ICAO Doc 9432