DGCA Radio Telephony (RTR) Classes
Standard ATC phraseology, readbacks, radio principles and emergency calls, practised aloud until the right words come without thinking.
- Unlimited 1-on-1 sessions
- Weekly subject-wise tests
- First-attempt pass guarantee
How the Radio Telephony (RTR) class works
Radio Telephony is a skill as much as a subject. The phraseology is standard so that a controller anywhere understands you the first time, and the only way to learn it is to say it.
Sessions are one-on-one, so you speak, get corrected immediately, and repeat. The tools below let you hear the standard pronunciations in your head before the class.
Taught by Nikunj Kariya as part of the full TrueHeading course (₹50,000 for all five subjects, down from ₹80,000), with the student website for practice.
What the Radio Telephony class covers
Taught live, one-on-one.
Key ideas to know
- Phonetic alphabetAlfa, Bravo, Charlie… Juliett and Whiskey are spelled that way. Digits: ZE-RO, WUN, TOO, TREE, FOW-er, FIFE, SIX, SEV-en, AIT, NIN-er.
- Standard wordsROGER means received. WILCO means understood and will comply. AFFIRM means yes. SAY AGAIN asks for a repeat.
- Distress and urgencyDistress is MAYDAY said three times. Urgency is PAN PAN said three times. The emergency frequency is 121.5 MHz and the transponder code is 7700.
- ReadbacksRead back route clearances, level, heading and speed instructions, runway in use, altimeter settings, SSR codes and frequencies.
- Decimal pointFrequencies and altimeter settings use the word DAY-SEE-MAL for the decimal point.
- Flight levelsSay "flight level" followed by each digit, for example flight level TREE FIFE ZE-RO.
Common mistakes
- Saying ROGER when a full readback is required.
- Reading numbers in groups ("one hundred twenty") instead of digit by digit.
- Forgetting the call sign in the readback.
- Speaking too fast under pressure. Clear and steady is faster than repeating.
Try it yourself
Free tools from the TrueHeading student website.
Phonetic alphabet translator
Try a call sign such as VT-ABC or a frequency such as 121.5.
Say it the ICAO way
How numbers are pronounced on the radio.
See it move in a simulator:
Sample Radio Telephony (RTR) questions
Tap an answer.
In radiotelephony, the digit 9 is pronounced:
The standard word for "I understand your message and will comply with it" is:
The urgency signal used by radiotelephony is:
The letter J in the ICAO phonetic alphabet is:
Radio Telephony (RTR) classes: common questions
What does the Radio Telephony class cover?
Standard ATC phraseology, readbacks, radio principles and emergency calls, along with the phonetic alphabet and the way numbers are spoken.
Is this taught live?
Yes. Radio Telephony is taught in the 1-on-1 sessions, because it is a spoken skill that needs immediate feedback.
Can I practise some of it on the website?
The tools on this page show how call signs, frequencies, flight levels, altitudes and headings are spoken. The practice questions on distress and emergency communications are in the Regulations bank.
Who teaches Radio Telephony at TrueHeading?
Nikunj Kariya teaches every subject personally in 1-on-1 sessions.
Start Radio Telephony (RTR) with Nikunj
Personal sessions, weekly tests and lifetime access to the student website. First-attempt pass guarantee, or your money back.