IRImplementing rule
SUBJECT 090 – COMMUNICATIONS
| Syllabus reference | BK | Syllabus details and associated Learning Objectives | Aeroplane | Helicopter | IR | CBIR(A) | BIR Exam | BIR BK | Remarks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATPL | CPL | ATPL/IR | ATPL | CPL | ||||||||
| 090 00 00 00 | COMMUNICATIONS | |||||||||||
| 090 01 00 00 | CONCEPTS | |||||||||||
| 090 01 01 00 | Associated terms | |||||||||||
| 090 01 01 01 | Meanings and significance | |||||||||||
| (01) | Define commonly used air traffic services (ATS) terms for stations. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (02) | Define commonly used ATS terms for communication methods. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (03) | Recognise the terms used in conjunction with the approach and holding procedures. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 01 01 02 | Air traffic services (ATS) abbreviations | |||||||||||
| (01) | Define commonly used ATS abbreviations: flight conditions; airspace; services; time; VFR-related terms; IFR-related terms; miscellaneous. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 01 01 03 | Q-code groups commonly used in radiotelephony (RT) air-ground communications | |||||||||||
| (01) | Define Q-code groups commonly used in RT air-ground communications: pressure settings; directions and bearings. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | State the procedure for obtaining bearing information in flight. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 01 01 04 | Categories of messages | |||||||||||
| (01) | Identify to which category of messages a type of message belongs and identify the associated priority indicator. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| 090 02 00 00 | GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES | |||||||||||
| 090 02 01 00 | Transmission standards | |||||||||||
| 090 02 01 01 | Transmission of letters | |||||||||||
| (01) | Know the phonetic alphabet used in RT. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Identify the circumstances when words should be spelt out. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 02 01 02 | Transmission of numbers | |||||||||||
| (01) | Describe the method of transmission of numbers: pronunciation; single digits, whole hundreds and whole thousands; state how numbers are transmitted in different circumstances. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 02 01 03 | Transmission of time | |||||||||||
| (01) | Describe the ways of transmitting time: the standard time reference is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC); using only minutes, or minutes and hours, when required. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Describe the different ways in which time is to be transmitted. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 090 02 01 04 | Transmission techniques | |||||||||||
| (01) | X | Explain the techniques used for making good RT transmissions. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| 090 02 01 05 | Standard words and phrases | |||||||||||
| (01) | Define the meaning of standard words and phrases. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Recognise, describe and use the correct standard phraseology for each phase of a VFR flight (consider communication with each type of aeronautical station): before taxi; taxi; departure; en route; circuit; final; landing; after landing. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (03) | Recognise, describe and use the correct standard phraseology for each phase of an IFR flight, including PBN operations (consider communication with each type of aeronautical station): before pushback or taxi; pushback; taxi; departure; en route; approach; final approach; landing; after landing. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (04) | Explain phraseology for the selective calling system (SELCAL) and aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (05) | Explain traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) phraseology. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 090 02 01 06 | RT call signs for aeronautical stations including use of abbreviated call signs | |||||||||||
| (01) | Name the two parts of the call sign of an aeronautical station. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Identify the call-sign suffixes for aeronautical stations. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (03) | Explain when the call sign may be omitted or abbreviated to the use of suffix only. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 02 01 07 | RT call signs for aircraft including use of abbreviated call signs | |||||||||||
| (01) | Describe the three different ways to compose an aircraft call sign. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (02) | Describe the abbreviated forms for aircraft call signs. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (03) | Explain when aircraft call signs may be abbreviated. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (04) | Explain when the suffix ‘HEAVY’ or ‘SUPER’ is used with an aircraft call sign. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| (05) | Explain the use of the phrase ‘Change your call sign to…’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (06) | Explain the use of the phrase ‘Revert to flight plan call sign’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 02 01 08 | Transfer of communication | |||||||||||
| (01) | Describe the procedure for transfer of communication: by ground station; by aircraft. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 02 01 09 | Test procedures including readability scale | |||||||||||
| (01) | Explain how to test radio transmission and reception. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| (02) | State the readability scale and explain its meaning. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| 090 02 01 10 | Read-back and acknowledgement requirements | |||||||||||
| (01) | Describe the requirement to read back ATC route clearances. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| (02) | Describe the requirement to read back clearances related to the runway in use. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| (03) | Describe the requirement to read back other clearances including conditional clearances. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| (04) | Describe the requirement to read back other data such as runway, secondary surveillance radar (SSR) codes, etc. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| 090 02 01 11 | Radar procedural phraseology | |||||||||||
| (01) | Use the correct phraseology for an aircraft receiving a radar service: radar identification; radar vectoring; traffic information and avoidance; SSR procedures. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | ||
| 090 02 01 12 | Level changes and reports | |||||||||||
| (01) | Use the correct term to describe vertical position in relation to: flight level (standard pressure setting); altitude (metres/feet on QNH); height (metres/feet on QFE). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 02 01 13 | Data link messages | |||||||||||
| (01) | List the different types of messages of the controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC) function and give examples of data link messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (02) | Describe a notification phase (LOG ON) and state its purpose. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (03) | Explain the phrases to be used: when voice communication is used to correct a CPDLC message; in case of single CPDLC message failure; when CPDLC has failed; when reverting from CPDLC to voice communication. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 090 03 00 00 | RELEVANT WEATHER INFORMATION | |||||||||||
| 090 03 01 00 | Aerodrome weather | |||||||||||
| 090 03 01 01 | Aerodrome weather terms | |||||||||||
| (01) | List the contents of aerodrome weather reports and state units of measurement used for each item: wind direction and speed; variation of wind direction and speed; visibility; present weather; cloud amount and type (including the definition of cloud and visibility OK (CAVOK); air temperature and dew point; pressure values (QNH, QFE); supplementary information (aerodrome warnings, landing runway, runway conditions, restrictions, obstructions, wind-shear warnings, etc.). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 03 01 02 | Weather broadcast | |||||||||||
| (01) | List the sources (VOLMET and ATIS units) of weather information available for aircraft in flight, and describe situation(s) in which a pilot would normally obtain each. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (02) | X | Explain the meaning of the acronyms ‘D-ATIS’, ‘ATIS’, and ‘VOLMET’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| (03) | Explain and demonstrate how to decode ATIS messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (04) | Explain and demonstrate how to decode D-ATIS messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| 090 04 00 00 | VOICE COMMUNICATION FAILURE | |||||||||||
| 090 04 01 00 | Required action | |||||||||||
| 090 04 01 01 | Action required to be taken in case of communication failure | |||||||||||
| (01) | State the action to be taken in case of communication failure on a controlled VFR flight. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (02) | Identify the frequencies to be used in an attempt to establish communication. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (03) | State the additional information that should be transmitted in the event of receiver failure. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (04) | Identify the SSR code that may be used to indicate communication failure. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (05) | Explain the action to be taken by a pilot that experiences a communication failure in the aerodrome traffic pattern at controlled aerodromes. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (06) | Describe the action to be taken in case of communication failure on an IFR flight. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (07) | Describe the action to be taken in case of communication failure on an IFR flight when flying in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and the flight will be terminated in VMC. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (08) | Describe the action to be taken in case of communication failure on an IFR flight when flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (09) | Explain the causes and possible safety impacts of a blocked frequency. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 05 00 00 | DISTRESS AND URGENCY PROCEDURES | |||||||||||
| 090 05 01 00 | Signals and procedures | |||||||||||
| 090 05 01 01 | Distress | |||||||||||
| (01) | State the DISTRESS signal(s) and DISTRESS procedure(s). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Define ‘DISTRESS’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (03) | Identify the frequencies that should be used by aircraft in DISTRESS. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (04) | Specify the emergency SSR codes that may be used by aircraft, and the meaning of the codes. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (05) | Describe the action to be taken by the station which receives a DISTRESS message. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (06) | Describe the action to be taken by all other stations when a DISTRESS procedure is in progress. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (07) | List the correctly sequenced elements of a DISTRESS signal/message and describe the message content. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (08) | Describe the use of discrete frequencies (DEF) in case of distress or urgency. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (09) | State that DISTRESS messages take priority over all other messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 05 01 02 | Urgency | |||||||||||
| (01) | State the URGENCY signal(s) and URGENCY procedure(s). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Define ‘URGENCY’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (03) | Identify the frequencies that should be used by aircraft in URGENCY. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (04) | Describe the action to be taken by the station which receives an URGENCY message. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (05) | Describe the action to be taken by all other stations when an URGENCY procedure is in progress. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| (06) | List the correctly sequenced elements of an URGENCY signal/message and describe the message content. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (07) | State that URGENCY messages take priority over all other messages except DISTRESS. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 06 00 00 | VHF PROPAGATION AND ALLOCATION OF FREQUENCIES | |||||||||||
| 090 06 01 00 | General principles | |||||||||||
| 090 06 01 01 | Spectrum, bands, range | |||||||||||
| (01) | Describe the radio-frequency spectrum with particular reference to VHF. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Describe the radio-frequency spectrum of the bands into which the radio-frequency spectrum is divided. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (03) | Identify the frequency range of the VHF band. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (04) | State the band normally used for aeronautical mobile service (AMS) voice communication. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (05) | State the frequency separation allocated between consecutive VHF frequencies. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (06) | List the factors which reduce the effective range and quality of VHF radio transmissions. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 07 00 00 | Other communications | |||||||||||
| 090 07 01 00 | Weather observations, Morse code | |||||||||||
| 090 07 01 01 | Meteorological observations | |||||||||||
| (01) | Explain when aircraft routine meteorological observations should be made. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| (02) | Explain when aircraft special meteorological observations should be made. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
| 090 07 01 02 | Use of Morse code | |||||||||||
| (01) | X | Describe and list Morse code. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| (02) | Find the Morse code identifiers of radio navigation aids (VHF omnidirectional radio range (VOR), distancemeasuring equipment (DME), non-directional radio beacon (NDB), instrument landing system (ILS)) using aeronautical charts. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | |||
IR — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2020/018/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025