Pre-flight and radio check
Requesting departure information
Obtain the runway, wind, QNH and other departure details when ATIS is not available.
Original SkyRT lesson (pending instructor review)qnhrunway
When you use it
On Ground or Tower frequency before start-up or taxi.
Example exchange
You
Vindhya Ground, VT-SKA, request departure information
ATCVindhya Ground
VT-SKA, runway 27, wind 250 degrees 8 knots, QNH 1008, temperature 29
You
Runway 27, QNH 1008, VT-SKA
This is an illustrative example. The required elements matter more than the exact words — ICAO phraseology allows variation, and local procedures can differ.
Required information
- Station called
- Call sign
- Request
Expected sequence
- Station called
- Own call sign
- Request departure information
Read back
- Runway in use
- QNH
Why it works this way
Runway in use and altimeter settings are mandatory read-back items. Wind and temperature are information only.
Common errors
- Reading back the wind and temperature but missing the QNH
- Replying ROGER instead of reading back runway and QNH
References
- ICAO Doc 9432, Manual of Radiotelephony (4th ed., 2007), §4.2 — Departure information and engine starting procedures
- ICAO Doc 9432, Manual of Radiotelephony (4th ed., 2007), §2.8.3 — Read-back requirements
Practise it: Radio check and departure information
Run the related simulator scenario and get item-by-item feedback on your transmissions.
Open the scenario