The alphabet all pilots use to communicate clearly over the radio is sometimes called the Aviation Alphabet or the NATO alphabet which was developed in the 1920-1940s for military and civilian communications. A hilarious side note is that it was another alphabet you would recognize from the military and in shows like Band of Brothers with their “Easy”, “Baker” and “Able” companies in the series. There was even a Phonetic Alphabet which used city names alike Amsterdam and Baltimore. All previous versions died out and we are left with the amazing NATO recognized alphabet of today.
Phonetic Alphabet or Aviation Alphabet
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
Learn it and love the Aviation Alphabet if you are going to be a pilot. There’s a pretty good video from special operations which covers this for some practice and you will need practice before there’s not going to be signal flight when you will not be using or at least listening to someone else use the it. When you turn on the radio to hear the conditions at the airport (AWOS or ATIS), this will start with the time in Zulu and when asking for clearance ATC will want to hear you say if you have the current conditions, which will be coded with a letter. It will sound something like. “November 12345 (Tail Number) at transient parking requesting taxi for a departure to the west for XXXX (airport code) with information Charlie” in this case “Charlie” is the current weather code you got from the ATIS.