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The Pilots Desk

Aviation Phonetic Alphabet

Pilots and controllers spell letters using the ICAO radiotelephony alphabet so call signs and clearances are unambiguous over a noisy radio.

Letters

LetterWordLetterWord
AAlfaNNovember
BBravoOOscar
CCharliePPapa
DDeltaQQuebec
EEchoRRomeo
FFoxtrotSSierra
GGolfTTango
HHotelUUniform
IIndiaVVictor
JJuliettWWhiskey
KKiloXX-ray
LLimaYYankee
MMikeZZulu

Numbers

Some digits are pronounced distinctly to avoid confusion over the radio.

DigitSpoken as
0Zero
1Wun
2Too
3Tree
4Fower
5Fife
6Six
7Seven
8Ait
9Niner

Reference only — verify against the current FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and regulations before flight. More quick reference.