A video posted by Sporty’s in April 2019 gives a light-hearted review of pilot slang from senior flight instructor Charlie Masters. He explains many different slang terms, from the the difference between roger and wilco to the phrase you should never say on the radio.
“At the very least, you’ll be able to keep up with your fellow pilots at the next hangar flying session,” Sporty’s officials promise.
At just under seven minutes, it’s not only entertaining but educational.
roger that
ABB. Always be brief. As long as you say what you need and say it as briefly and clearly as you can you will be a star in the air. Using the phonetic alphabet is a must. When recieving a long, complex directive from ATC and repeating it would waste air time and say Roger (you heard and understand it) and Wilco (you will do it without question or qualification). Otherwise reading back is norm for achieving both.
Roger was the old (1940s and earlier) phonetic alphabet word for “R”. In early radios, which started out using Morris Code BTW, the custom was to transmit a “R” to signify a message was received and understood, as early radios, particularly when using code were sometimes hard to understand. Roger the phonetic “R” for recieved and understood, is a carryover of the bygone past.
Most of the time I hear a simple “Good-day” at the end of a conversation.
Niner is according the ICAO English recommendation the correct word for 9, in order not to confuse with five. Especially China, Pakistan and others have gained a lot since the ICAO English language recommendation. And “over and out” is a pleonasm just like “Roger Wilco”.
Have a good one.
“Over and out” isn’t a pleonasm; it’s a use of two contradictory terms. “Over” means “I’ve finished speaking and am waiting for your reply (conversation isn’t over).”
“Out” means “I’ve finished speaking and I’m signing off – no reply is necessary (the conversation is over, we’re done talking).”
The two are contradictory in meaning
(Former US Army radio operator.)
HEHEHE…….I am never right, except this time!
BTW everyone says that they have a license to fly. In reality the FAA does not issue licenses, they issue certificates. The FCC is the only one that does that with a radio “license”
Hi Charlie,
Rich is right. When using duplex communication systems, you end your outbound transmission words with the word “over”, indicating that you are expecting the other party to continue the conversation. If you want to sign off your conversation, you say the word “out”, meaning the other party also knows that this is the end of the conversation. Therefore the words “over and out” spoken together is wrong.
“Roger” does not mean “I understand”. It means, “I have received your transmission”.
Hey Charlie
Over and Out is not correct …….
Sure it is. Translated? End of sentence, End of transmission. Similar to Period, The End or Finis in a book.
Over – end of transmission, expect reply . . . .
Out – end of transmission, no reply . . . . . .
exactly………