Hkg_clk From Hong Kong, joined Jan 2001, 999 posts, RR: 2 Posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 7736 times:
I find it impossible to understand what pilots are saying when they use RT. What's 'Golf charlie delta strength five taxi via charlie and hold at bravo four for zero four'?
Can someone explain? Are there any websites to learn this kind of codes from?
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Sushka From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 4784 posts, RR: 16 Reply 1, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 7718 times:
The golf, charlie, delta, are simply words for each letter. golf is G charlie is C delta is D and so on. They do it so leters can be understood better and so there will be no mix ups.
Iainhol From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 7702 times:
Also taxiways are anmed by letters. So to break down what you wrote:
'Golf charlie delta' This is the aircraft ID the controller says this so the pilot knows who he is speaking to.
'strength five ' Never heard it.
taxi via charlie and hold at bravo four' These are just directions to get to his desired. It is like saying take the 405 to the 91. He has been told to hold short Bravo 4 (another taxiway) which means he is a loowed to approach that intersection but is not allowed on taxiway Bravo 4.
'for zero four' I am also not sure what this is, there would normaly be something after the 'for' i.e. gate, runway, stand, this would be just confirming they are on the same wave length and there has been no mis communication about where he wants to go.
Iain
MightyFalcon From Oman, joined Jun 2001, 384 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 7687 times:
In order to complete the preceeding answers, I would say that "strength 5" is part of a code used between pilots and air traffic controllers to describe to quality of radio transmissions and receptions.
The rating goes from 1 to 5, the latter being the best quality one. We don't usually give that information in every single transmission. In this particular example given by Hkg_clk it's impossible to find out who's calling who but definetely it is at least the second time the call has been made without getting answered: Let's say the ATC has called the pilot to give him his taxiing clearance and didn't get any answer. Then, the ATC gives the pilot his clearance again asking how this one was receiving. The answer from the pilot would be "Strength 5" and a read back of the clearance given.
G-CD is the registration of the aircraft and if the ATC used the proper phraseology, G would be the first letter and CD, the last two ones. In this case, we are talking about a plane registered in the UK (G as first lettre).
To make a difference with the runways' designations, which always are two figures (giving the orientation of the runway) and to avoid any confusion from the pilots between runways and taxiways, the latter are exclusively named with either a lettre (Alpha, Bravo....) or a combination of lettre and figure(s) depending on the importance of the airport.
For instance: Taxiway Alpha, Alpha1, Alpha12....
Now that you have all the details, here is the translation of the transmission given by Hkg_clk:
" G-CD, (receiving you) strength 5, Taxi via (taxiway) C and hold at (holding point on taxiway) B4 for (a take-off runway) 04.
Sorry for being a bit long on this matter.:o
Modesto2 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2634 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (11 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 7640 times:
MightyFalcon is correct. "Strength 5" refers to the clarity of the radio transmissions. In this case, the transmissions are loud and clear. I don't hear this very often, but I've heard it when a controller is trying to call an aircraft (with no response). Then, the controller will ask the pilots..."how do you read?"
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