Welcome to the L2F (“Learn to Fly”) Newsletter. We’re here to help you in your journey of becoming a pilot!

This week we’re helping with more about what you will need to know about communicating in the air, and if you’re considering a career as a pilot you’ll want to see the recap on salaries…

Let’s dive in!

Mastering the Language of the Sky: How to Communicate with Pilots and ATC

Making your intentions unambiguous and crystal clear is a must, whether you're waiting on the ground or cruising through the sky. The aviation world has its own jargon and even its own alphabet, but with practice, you can come to master the language of the skies.

There’s a lot of new terms and acronyms you’ll learn as you learn to fly. You might hear them tossed around during ground school lessons, or when your instructor makes radio calls on your flights. Just like learning a new language, you’ll hear terms, learn what they mean, and soon enough be using them yourself! If you're confused on something, the FAA has published a glossary of aviation terms. If you overhear an unusual acronym, you’ll have a resource to find out what it means.

Your instructor may be making radio calls for you now, but when you fly solo, you’ll be the only one in the cockpit to make those calls. As you learn the ins and outs of aviation communication, pay close attention to the terms your instructor uses, and feel free to ask what they mean when they’re not busy. A lot of research goes into learning the jargon of aviation, but we’re here to help. Here’s your definitive guide!

The Phonetic Alphabet

Spewing out strings of letters and numbers over a crackly radio is a sure recipe for confusion and misunderstanding. Thankfully, a phonetic alphabet exists. When you’re identifying yourself using your callsign, it’s required to use this alphabet to make sure ATC and other pilots know exactly what you’re talking about. Here’s the list that you should start memorizing now!

A=Alpha

B=Bravo

C=Charlie

D=Delta

E=Echo

F=Foxtrot

G=Golf

H=Hotel

I=India

J=Juliet

K=Kilo

L=Lima

M=Mike

N=November

O=Oscar

P=Papa

Q=Quebec

R=Romeo

S=Sierra

T=Tango

U=Uniform

V=Victor

W=Whiskey

X=X-ray

Y=Yankee

Z=Zulu

So, if your aircraft’s callsign is N76AD, and you're in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, you’d identify yourself saying “Skyhawk 7-6-Alpha-Delta.” (Since all US aircraft have callsigns beginning with N, the “November” is usually omitted)

Making Your Intentions Clear to ATC

Making radio calls at a towered airport, you’ll be required to let Air Traffic Control (ATC) know your intentions. If your airport’s controllers are unsure of what an aircraft is going to do, they’ll likely tell you “Say Intentions.” So what do you need to say?

Making your call, you need to state who you are talking to followed by your own identification. After that, state your location followed by your intentions. For example:

“Spokane Ground, Skyhawk 5324R, holding short of runway 21, ready for takeoff”

Stating your intentions is especially important considering ATC often needs to know not just where you are now, but where you will be later, as other traffic plans to arrive/depart. Often saying “landing” isn’t enough. Students often make maneuvers such as touch-and-gos and low passes for training. Make sure to specify “full stop” if your intentions are to land on the runway and stay on it, or any other variation of a landing if that’s what you're planning on.

When you’re in the air, things are a little different. Be sure to keep an eye out for terrain and other planes.

Make sure your focus on your radio call doesn’t put you in a dangerous position.

When reporting your position, you’ll need to be specific. Use references to waypoints, airports, or zones labeled on a map. Be sure to state your altitude. You’ll also need to state where you're going. Let ATC know which waypoint or destination you’ll be arriving at, at what time, and at what altitude. Here’s an example.

“Spokane Tower, Skyhawk 5324R, 10 miles Northeast of the airport, 3500 feet, inbound for landing, runway 26, Spokane”

Flying conditions are dynamic. Plans often change. Remember that Air Traffic Controllers are humans. Humans that are juggling many different flights at busy airports. Much of the information they have is based on what you tell them. If something changes, they can’t read your mind, so be sure to inform them. Communication is key!

How Much Do Pilots Make Anyway?

The salary of a professional pilot can vary based on several factors, including the type of aircraft flown, the level of experience, the airline or employer, and geographical location. Here are some general salary ranges for different stages of a pilot's career:

• Entry-Level/Regional First Officer:

  • Pilots starting their careers as first officers with regional airlines might earn a salary in the range of $40,000 to $60,000 per year. Entry-level salaries can vary, and some regional airlines offer signing bonuses or other incentives.

• Mainline Airline First Officer:

  • First officers at major airlines can expect higher salaries, typically ranging from $70,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on the airline and the type of aircraft.

• Captain (Pilot-in-Command):

  • Captains at regional airlines may earn salaries in the range of $70,000 to $110,000 per year. Captains at major airlines can earn significantly higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000 per year.

• Wide-Body/Long-Haul Captain:

  • Captains flying wide-body aircraft on long-haul international routes may earn higher salaries, often exceeding $200,000 per year or more.

• Additional Compensation:

  • Pilots may receive additional compensation in the form of bonuses, profit-sharing, and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and travel perks.

• Corporate and Cargo Aviation:

  • Pilots in corporate aviation or cargo operations may have varying salary ranges based on the company and the type of flying. Corporate pilots, especially those flying for high-profile executives or companies, may earn competitive salaries.

It's important to note that these figures are general estimates, and actual salaries can vary based on specifics skills and experience of the pilot, the hiring company & role, and economic conditions. Pilots with specialized skills, extensive experience, or those flying larger and more complex aircraft often command higher salaries.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a professional pilot should check with specific airlines, industry reports, and aviation salary surveys to see what’s most applicable to you.

The L2F Newsletter is crafted by seasoned pilots and experienced instructors, all with one common goal: to empower your dream of soaring high.

We're not just sharing information; we're sharing wisdom, insights, and the kind of guidance you can only get from those who are already living the dream you aspire to.

Buckle up, because with L2F, you're never alone on your flight training adventure!

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