Using the Phonetic Alphabet

Uses for Aviation's Phonetic Code

Sep 28, 2009

Pilots, air traffic controllers, and emergency personnel use a verification tool when transmitting important call numbers and messages. It is the phonetic alphabet.

The phonetic alphabet is used to differentiate the letters of the alphabet that may sound similar and confusing to the person needing the information.

Aircraft Use of Alphabet

One of the ways the phonetic alphabet is used is for pilots to identify their aircraft by radio to air traffic controllers. For example, if a pilot wants to land his airplane or gain permission for takeoff, he must radio to a control tower and give his aircraft Identification numbers to the air traffic controller. To get access to weather reports and to file flight plans, he must give this number to the authorities. The number is printed on the sides of the aircraft.

Amelia Earhart's famous aircraft, which disappeared during her attempt to fly around the world , was a Lockheed Electra 10A. Its identification number was NR 16020, This number would have been read by using words in place of the ID letters like this. November Romeo 16020.

If the airplane's number was CU 25106, it would be printed on the side of the aircraft and would be read aloud over the radio as Charlie-Echo 25106. Most American owned airplane start with the letter N and so begin with Uniform. The numbers be combinations of letters and numbers, which the airplane owner and the FFA agree on. Utility planes use a number with U on the end. Foreign planes often use all letters on the identification "numbers."

The Phonetic Alphabet

Learning the Alphabet

The phonetic alphabet is used worldwide and can be helpful in emergency situations where there is no room for a mistake to be made, whenever there is an essential need to be understood. The code can be used without restrictions by anyone.

Children might enjoy using the alphabet as a code to send their friends secret messages. This way the students play at the alphabet and soon will have learned it. The phonetic alphabet may prove to be as helpful as the Morse code. There are definitely more opportunities to use the alphabet in day-to-day situations.

A trip to a local airport will give students the opportunity to read aircraft ID's and show off their expertise. Zero and the letter "o" look the same, so zero should be read always read "zero" when reading out loud a number so as not to confuse the listener.

Practicing the code is simple with short series of numbers and letters. Students may write lines of letters and exchange papers to allow exercises of reading out the code words.

Classroom memorization of the clue words is a good way to learn the words. Students learn the alphabet words easily by reciting the words in alphabetical order. Use flash cards to practice and memorize the phonetic alphabet.

Why these particular words were chosen for each letter? A careful study of the words will reveal that they are words which if spoken aloud are not easily confused with other words. The words are distinctive in their sounds, so that they can be given over the radio to another person without confusion, especially in groups such as pilots and air traffic controllers that know the code. Often children use a similar method when talking to a parent. He may see that his parent misunderstands his voice, so he may choose a word and the phrase "as in..." to make himself clearly understood as in this example: "No, Mom, I said Jessie's street address is 305 West ("W" as in "wicked" Avenue .) Her name is Jessie with a "J" as in "Jellybeans."

Using the phonetic alphabet helps pilots be more easily understood. The code that is used in two way radio communications everyday, as in: "Echo, Victor, Echo, Romeo, Yankee, Delta, Alpha, Yankee."

The copyright of the article Using the Phonetic Alphabet in Kids Educational Activities is owned by Elece Hollis. Permission to republish Using the Phonetic Alphabet in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.