By Youssef Yahya 
Have you ever listened to a conversation between a pilot and the air traffic controller (ATC) during a flight? If yes, then for sure you noticed that they mention strange words in their conversations Like ‘Romeo’, ‘Juliet’ and ‘Hotel’ for example! But why they are saying this on their flight?! Of course, you know our normal English letters (A, B, C,…etc.), and because certain letters sound very similar, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) created what is called the “International Radio Telephony Spelling Alphabet”, the Phonetic Aviation Alphabet.
But why did the ICAO create this language?
In order to be sure that letters are pronounced and understood correctly, no matter what language is spoken, the aviation alphabet helps to avoid mistakes. This alphabet takes letters and makes them easier to understand, even with interference and static. Let’s take an example, look at the photo below:
Join us on TELEGRAM for the Latest Aviation Updates fresh to your phone.
Take a look at these letters ahead of the tail; the letters are F-GSQR; this would be translated over the radio as “Foxtrot Golf Sierra Quebec Romeo”.
Aviation Alphabets
Letters are listed below with their corresponding words, so you can have a better understanding of the aviation alphabet:
ICAO Letters:
- A: Alpha
- B: Bravo
- C: Charlie
- D: Delta
- E: Echo
- F: Foxtrot
- G: Golf
- H: Hotel
- I: India
- J: Juliet
- K: Kilo
- L: Lima
- M: Mike
- N: November
- O: Oscar
- P: Papa
- Q: Quebec
- R: Romeo
- S: Sierra
- T: Tango
- U: Uniform
- V: Victor
- W: Whiskey
- X: X-ray
- Y: Yankee
- Z: Zulu
ICAO Numbers:
- 0: Zero
- 1: One
- 2: Two
- 3: Three
- 4: Four
- 5: Five
- 6: Six
- 7: Seven
- 8: Eight
- 9: Niner
- 100: Hundred
About the Aviation Alphabet
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is an agency of the United Nations that decided the phonetic aviation alphabet needed to be standardized. Although all words are English, the words are sounds common to all languages and can be pronounced no matter the language spoken. The final alphabet was completed in March of 1956, with simple changes made to accommodate different pilots in different countries. Over the years, the words listed with the corresponding letters have remained the same, but some shorthand slang has developed.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators. He also serves as the Chief-in-Editor of the platform’s website, where he shares his passion for aviation and provides valuable resources for aviation enthusiasts and professionals alike. His love for aviation and entrepreneurial spirit drive him to create innovative solutions, making Aviation for Aviators a unique resource in the aviation sector.
You might also like:
- London Southend Airport – A History Of London’s Smallest Airport
- Airbus Announces Plans to Develop Hybrid Electric Aircraft
- Wings India 2024: Hyderabad Gears Up for the Largest Civil Aviation Event in Asia
- The Different Rotors (Helicopter)
- Avolon Orders 20 Airbus A330neo Aircraft to Meet Growing Widebody Demand
Discover more from Aviation for Aviators
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Bravo! My dad was a private pilot (great story — Dad was Bandleader at Disneyland. After working at 20th Century Fox in the studio orchestra on films and TV, his day job, Dad flew his plane nightly, from Santa Monica to Fullerton Airport, hopped in the band truck, played the gig at the Park — then flew back to Santa Monica, and drove to our beachfront home in Malibu.) One day my little brother and I decided to learn the Aviation Alphabet so we had a better idea what all that talk was on Dad’s plane’s radio. It came in handy for me, years later, when I learned to fly. And it still serves me well in many ways. I think everyone should learn it! :)) Dawn
https://journalofdawn.wordpress.com/20150325family-of-flying/
Thank you for sharing your story with us, you are right its so useful!!
Are you familiar with the excellent book, Flightlines, by Richard Drury? If you can find a copy (I believe it’s currently out of print), you will treasure it, right up with Night Flight, and Wind, Sand and Stars, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery. Best to you!
If you’re looking for a great aviation book to read, I suggest the big book of planes by Roland white, it’s got many interesting facts about different subjects,Including one on this subject too.
I don’t think that I heard about this book before?..