Taxi
Frequency change
Acknowledge a transfer and establish contact with the next unit.
When you use it
Any time ATC instructs CONTACT (call the new unit) or MONITOR (listen only).
Example exchange
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
- Unit
- Frequency
- Call sign
Expected sequence
- Unit
- Frequency
- Call sign
- Then: initial call on the new frequency
Read back
- New frequency
Why it works this way
Read back the new frequency so a mis-heard channel is caught before you leave. Doc 9432 (2007) requires instructions not on the mandatory list to be read back or acknowledged so they are clearly understood (§2.8.3.6), and later ICAO-based rules such as EU/UK SERA.8015 list newly assigned frequencies as a mandatory read-back item. Without a CONTACT or MONITOR instruction, tell the station before changing frequency (§2.8.2.1). On first contact with a new unit, use your full call sign until that unit abbreviates it.
Common errors
- Changing frequency without reading it back
- Calling on MONITOR instructions
- Transmitting before selecting the new frequency
References
- ICAO Doc 9432, Manual of Radiotelephony (4th ed., 2007), §2.8.2 — Transfer of communications
- ICAO Doc 9432, Manual of Radiotelephony (4th ed., 2007), §2.8.3
Practise it: Taxi out for a local VFR flight
Run the related simulator scenario and get item-by-item feedback on your transmissions.
Open the scenario