If you’re reading this, you are most likely an IFATC Officer or Officer in Training, and this guide might help you to keep your knowledge fresh in your mind about some basics and not-so-basic commands on our ATC interface. This guide will only include radar frequencies (Approach - Departure - Center), a guide for Tower and Ground frequencies can be found attached at the end of this guide.
NOTE:Some of these commands are only available for Expert Server ATC (IFATC).
All radar frequencies are equipped with the exact same commands, however, the way they are used will depend on the frequency (approach - departure - center) and the various scenarios that controllers face on their daily control. Due to this, all radar frequencies commands will be summed on a single section:
Vectoring Instructions
VECTORING
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Altitude and Heading
"N26PR, turn left/right heading XXXº, descend/climb and maintain X,XXX ft.
Instruct the aircraft to turn to an assigned heading while climbing/descending to the instructed altitude.
Altitude
“N26PR, descend/climb and maintain X,XXXft”
Instruct the aircraft to make an altitude change, keeping the same heading.
Heading
“N26PR, turn left/right heading XXXº”
Instruct the aircraft to turn to a specific altitude without changing the altitude instruction that may have been previously given.
Continue As Filed
“N26PR, continue as filed”
Instruct the aircraft to continue as filed on their flight plan.
Resume Own Navigation
“N26PR, resume own navigation”
Instruct the aircraft to take command on his heading and altitude when there’s no intention to return to their FPL or it hasn’t got a FPL filed.
Request Speed
SPEED
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Maintain Speed + Send
“N26PR, maintain XXX knots”
Instruct the aircraft to maintain a specific speed.
Maintain Speed + Or Greater
“N26PR, maintain XXX knots or greater”
Instruct the aircraft to maintain a specific speed as a minimum.
Maintain Speed + Or Below
“N26PR, do not exceed XXX knots.”
Instruct the aircraft to maintain a specific speed as a maximum.
Approach Speed + Option
“N26PR, maintain XXX knots until X mile final”
Instruct the pilot to maintain 160/170/180 knots until they are 4/5/6 miles away.
Speed at your Discretion
“N26PR, speed at your discretion”
Lift a previous speed restriction given to the pilot.
Maintain Present Speed
“N26PR, maintain present speed”
Instruct the pilot to maintain their current speed (KIAS).
Maintain Slowest Practical Speed
“N26PR, maintain slowest practical speed”
Request the pilot to fly as slow as possible without risking the integrity of their aircraft.
Maintain Best Forward Speed
“N26PR, maintain best forward speed”
Request the pilot to fly as fast as possible within the server rules and professional flying etiquette.
Adjust Speed to Follow
“N26PR, adjust speed to follow aircraft ahead”
Request the pilot to adjust their speed to match the speed of the pilot ahead after the pilot in front has been assigned a speed restriction.
Expect Approach...
APPROACH
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Approach + Expect Vectors
“N26PR, expect vectors for the [APP] approach, runway XX at [Airport name]”
Assign the aircraft an approach type and runway and advise to expect vectors.
Approach + Continue as Filed
“N26PR, continue as filed, expect the [APP] approach, runway XX at [Airport name]”
Assign the aircraft an approach type and runway and allow to continue on their flight plan, as filed.
Unable (Outside of Coverage Area)
“N26PR, requested airport is outside of coverage area, proceed on course.”
Deny an approach service due to the airport being outside of the ATC coverage area.
Unable at this Time
“N26PR, unable to provide services to this airport at the moment, proceed on course”
Deny an approach service at the current moment. Reasons may vary depending on the scenario.
Outside Airspace
“N26PR, you’re outside of my airspace, proceed on course”
Deny any radar services due to the aircraft being outside of the frequency airspace.
Drag and Vector Tool
D&V TOOL
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Drag + Send
"N26PR, turn left/right heading XXXº "
Heading Instruction
Drag + Assign Altitude
“N26PR, turn left/right heading XXXº, descend/climb and maintain X,XXX ft”
Heading and Altitude Instruction
Tap + Assign Altitude
“N26PR, descend/climb and maintain X,XXX ft”
Altitude instruction.
Drag to Point + Hold
“N26PR, turn left/right heading XXXº, descend/climb and maintain X,XXX and hold over [Navaid/Airport], left/right turns, do not exceed XXX knots.”
Heading and Altitude instruction to fly towards a Holding point.
Hold + Present Position
“N26PR, hold present position at X,XXXft, left/right turns, do not exceed XXX knots”
Maintain present position by starting a hold on the assigned altitude and speed.
Hold + L/R 360º
“N26PR, make a left/right 360º for spacing”
Make a 360º turn.
Other Messages
N/A
Opens the Messages Tabs
Drag + Set Reminder
N/A
Add reminder for a certain point in the map AND a timer.
Tap + Set Reminder
N/A
Add reminder using a timer only.
Cancel
N/A
Cancel the D&V tool’s use.
Drag and Vector Tool - Decoded Information
When you drag the tool from the aircraft to any point on your screen, a rectangle will be displayed showing information like this:
Provide vectoring after a missed approach has been called or it needs to be started by the controller.
Altitude
“N26PR, execute missed approach, descend/climb and maintain X,XXX ft”
Provide an altitude only after a missed approach has been called or it needs to be started by the controller.
Request Hold
HOLD
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Present Position
“N26PR, hold present position at X,XXXft, left/right turns, do not exceed XXX knots”
Maintain present position by starting a hold on the assigned altitude and speed.
Make Left/Right 360º
“N26PR, make a left/right 360º for spacing”
Instruct the aircraft to perform a 360º turn.
Broadcast Messages
BROADCAST MESSAGES
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Facility is Closed
“Attention all aircraft, Tower/Ground frequency is now closed, good day!”
Announce to pilots in frequency that you have closed the frequency, ceasing ATC services.
Closing in…
“Attention all aircraft, Tower/Ground is closing in X minutes”
Announce to pilots in frequency that you will be closing the frequency in X minutes.
Only ILS approaches
“Attention all aircraft, [frequency name] is only accepting ILS Approaches at this time”
Announce that the approach frequency is only accepting ILS type approaches.
Expect Delays
“Attention all aircraft, airspace is crowded, expect delays”
Inform the pilots to expect delays on arrivals due to heavy traffic.
Altitude Requests Not Needed
“Attention all aircraft, altitude requests not needed in Flight Following of VFR Flight”
Remind pilots that no altitude requests are needed on VFR flights.
Check D-ATIS
“Attention all aircraft, check digital ATIS for airport information”
Instruct the pilots to check ATIS due to new information has been updated.
Check ATIS
“Attention all aircraft, check ATIS frequency for airport information”
Instruct the pilots to check ATIS due to new information has been updated.
Frequency Busy
“Attention all aircraft, frequency is busy, transmit important messages”
Request aircrafts to only transmit important messages and avoid duplicate requests.
Controller Change
“Attention all aircraft, controller change is in progress, please standby”
Announce a controller change for the same frequency, to be used instead of “Facility is closed” when another ATC is taking over.
Runway Change
“Attention all aircraft, runway change is in progress”
Announce to aircrafts on frequency that a runway change is in progress due to operational reasons. Pilots can expect delays on their arrivals.
Notify Airport Restrictions
“Attention all aircraft, please check current airport restrictions. NOTAM will be enforced by reports”
Request the pilots to check airport restrictions (TFR-ATIS) and take action if they happen to be violating any restriction.
On Guard Messages
ON GUARD
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Send Request to Contact
“N26PR, you’re on an active airspace, please contact (Frequency name) on (Frequency)”
Instruct the aircraft to contact your frequency.
Request return to frequency
“N26PR, you’re on an active airport/airspace, please switch back to (Frequency Name) on (Frequency), thank you”
Instruct an aircraft that tuned out of your frequency to tune back in.
Deny Entry
DENY ENTRY
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Airport is Full
“N26PR, due to heavy traffic, airport is not accepting incoming airplanes at this time”
Deny entry to an aircraft due to heavy traffic on the airport.
Event in Progress
“N26PR, an event is in progress, please contact approach for sequencing”
Deny entry to an aircraft due to an event which requires approach sequencing for heavy traffic.
Uncategorized / Direct Messages
UNCATEGORIZED
COMMAND
MESSAGE SENT
MEANING
Clear for Approach
“N26PR, cleared [APP] approach runway XX”
Clear the aircraft for a specific approach (GPS or Visual; ILS clearance require at least an altitude - section 6.10.5)
Report Airport in Sight
“N26PR, report airport in sight”
Request the pilot to advise when they see the airport in order to receive a visual approach clearance.
Descend via STAR
“N26PR, descend via XXXXX STAR arrival”
Instruct or Authorize the pilot to begin their descent via their filed arrival procedure (STAR).
Radar Contact(appears after an aircraft checks in)
“N26PR, Radar Contact”
Establish a two-way communication: acceptance of their filed FPL and a clearance to their initial cruising altitude.
Ask for Intentions
“N26PR, say intentions”
Request the pilot to inform the ATC their intentions by making the corresponding request.
Stand by
“N26PR, standby”
Request the pilot to wait; its use may very depending on the scenario. Must not replace “Hold Position” for taxi/pushback clearances.
Correction + Standby
“N26PR, correction, standby”
Inform the pilot that the instruction given will be corrected shortly by a subsequent instruction.
Correction + Disregard last message
“N26PR, disregard last message”
Inform the pilot that the instruction given is now lifted and that there is NO new instructions awaiting to be received in replacement.
Official Information regarding the use of Radar ATC commands can be found on the official ATC Manual. If you have any questions about ATC, feel free to reach out.
If you’re interested on Air Traffic Control and want to become part of the Expert Server ATC taking your Infinite Flight experience to the next level, apply HERE!
Wow, I was just looking back at this because I’m gonna be applying soon, and this message hit different, considering the fact that your a trainer now, 🫢
