--- title: "SUBJECT 090 – COMMUNICATIONS — Part-FCL · Avioverse" description: "Syllabus reference BK Syllabus details and associated Learning Objectives Aeroplane Helicopter IR CBIR(A) BIR Exam BIR BK Remarks ATPL CPL ATPL/IR ATPL…" url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-d/subject-090-communications" --- # SUBJECT 090 – COMMUNICATIONS ANNEX I (Part-FCL) · Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025 IR Implementing rule ## SUBJECT 090 – COMMUNICATIONS | Syllabus reference | BK | Syllabus details and associated Learning Objectives | [Aeroplane](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aeroplane) | | [Helicopter](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/helicopter) | | | IR | CBIR(A) | BIR Exam | BIR BK | Remarks | | ------------------ | -- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | --- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | --- | -- | ------- | -------- | ------ | ------- | | | | | ATPL | CPL | ATPL/IR | ATPL | CPL | | | | | | | 090 00 00 00 | | COMMUNICATIONS | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 01 00 00 | | CONCEPTS | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 01 01 00 | | Associated terms | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 01 01 01 | | Meanings and significance | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Define commonly used air traffic services (ATS) terms for stations. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (02) | | Define commonly used ATS terms for communication methods. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (03) | | Recognise the terms used in conjunction with the approach and holding procedures. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 01 01 02 | | Air traffic services (ATS) abbreviations | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Define commonly used ATS abbreviations: flight conditions; airspace; services; time; VFR-related terms; IFR-related terms; miscellaneous. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 01 01 03 | | Q-code groups commonly used in radiotelephony (RT) air-ground communications | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Define Q-code groups commonly used in RT air-ground communications: pressure settings; directions and bearings. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (02) | | State the procedure for obtaining bearing information in flight. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 01 01 04 | | Categories of messages | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Identify to which category of messages a type of message belongs and identify the associated priority indicator. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | 090 02 00 00 | | GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 02 01 00 | | Transmission standards | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 02 01 01 | | Transmission of letters | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Know the phonetic alphabet used in RT. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (02) | | Identify the circumstances when words should be spelt out. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | 090 02 01 02 | | Transmission of numbers | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Describe the method of transmission of numbers: pronunciation; single digits, whole hundreds and whole thousands; state how numbers are transmitted in different circumstances. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | 090 02 01 03 | | Transmission of time | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Describe the ways of transmitting time: the standard time reference is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC); using only minutes, or minutes and hours, when required. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (02) | | Describe the different ways in which time is to be transmitted. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | 090 02 01 04 | | Transmission techniques | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | X | Explain the techniques used for making good RT transmissions. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | 090 02 01 05 | | Standard words and phrases | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Define the meaning of standard words and phrases. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (02) | | Recognise, describe and use the correct standard phraseology for each phase of a VFR flight (consider communication with each type of aeronautical station): before taxi; taxi; departure; en route; circuit; final; landing; after landing. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (03) | | Recognise, describe and use the correct standard phraseology for each phase of an IFR flight, including PBN operations (consider communication with each type of aeronautical station): before pushback or taxi; pushback; taxi; departure; en route; approach; final approach; landing; after landing. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (04) | | Explain phraseology for the selective calling system (SELCAL) and [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (05) | | Explain traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) phraseology. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | 090 02 01 06 | | RT call signs for aeronautical stations including use of abbreviated call signs | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Name the two parts of the call sign of an aeronautical station. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (02) | | Identify the call-sign suffixes for aeronautical stations. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (03) | | Explain when the call sign may be omitted or abbreviated to the use of suffix only. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 02 01 07 | | RT call signs for aircraft including use of abbreviated call signs | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Describe the three different ways to compose an aircraft call sign. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (02) | | Describe the abbreviated forms for aircraft call signs. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (03) | | Explain when aircraft call signs may be abbreviated. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (04) | | Explain when the suffix ‘HEAVY’ or ‘SUPER’ is used with an aircraft call sign. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | (05) | | Explain the use of the phrase ‘Change your call sign to…’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (06) | | Explain the use of the phrase ‘Revert to flight plan call sign’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 02 01 08 | | Transfer of communication | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Describe the procedure for transfer of communication: by ground station; by aircraft. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 02 01 09 | | Test procedures including readability scale | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Explain how to test radio transmission and reception. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | (02) | | State the readability scale and explain its meaning. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | 090 02 01 10 | | Read-back and acknowledgement requirements | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Describe the requirement to read back ATC route clearances. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | (02) | | Describe the requirement to read back clearances related to the runway in use. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | (03) | | Describe the requirement to read back other clearances including conditional clearances. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | (04) | | Describe the requirement to read back other data such as runway, secondary surveillance radar (SSR) codes, etc. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | 090 02 01 11 | | Radar procedural phraseology | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Use the correct phraseology for an aircraft receiving a radar service: radar identification; radar vectoring; traffic information and avoidance; SSR procedures. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | 2 | | | 090 02 01 12 | | Level changes and reports | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Use the correct term to describe vertical position in relation to: flight level (standard pressure setting); altitude (metres/feet on QNH); height (metres/feet on QFE). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 02 01 13 | | Data link messages | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | List the different types of messages of the controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC) function and give examples of data link messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (02) | | Describe a notification phase (LOG ON) and state its purpose. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (03) | | Explain the phrases to be used: when voice communication is used to correct a CPDLC message; in case of single CPDLC message failure; when CPDLC has failed; when reverting from CPDLC to voice communication. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | 090 03 00 00 | | RELEVANT WEATHER INFORMATION | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 03 01 00 | | Aerodrome weather | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 03 01 01 | | Aerodrome weather terms | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | List the contents of aerodrome weather reports and state units of measurement used for each item: wind direction and speed; variation of wind direction and speed; visibility; present weather; cloud amount and type (including the definition of cloud and visibility OK (CAVOK); air temperature and dew point; pressure values (QNH, QFE); supplementary information (aerodrome warnings, landing runway, runway conditions, restrictions, obstructions, wind-shear warnings, etc.). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 03 01 02 | | Weather broadcast | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | List the sources (VOLMET and ATIS units) of weather information available for aircraft in flight, and describe situation(s) in which a pilot would normally obtain each. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (02) | X | Explain the meaning of the acronyms ‘D-ATIS’, ‘ATIS’, and ‘VOLMET’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (03) | | Explain and demonstrate how to decode ATIS messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (04) | | Explain and demonstrate how to decode D-ATIS messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | 090 04 00 00 | | VOICE COMMUNICATION FAILURE | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 04 01 00 | | Required action | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 04 01 01 | | Action required to be taken in case of communication failure | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | State the action to be taken in case of communication failure on a controlled VFR flight. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (02) | | Identify the frequencies to be used in an attempt to establish communication. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (03) | | State the additional information that should be transmitted in the event of receiver failure. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (04) | | Identify the SSR code that may be used to indicate communication failure. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (05) | | Explain the action to be taken by a pilot that experiences a communication failure in the aerodrome traffic pattern at controlled aerodromes. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (06) | | Describe the action to be taken in case of communication failure on an IFR flight. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (07) | | Describe the action to be taken in case of communication failure on an IFR flight when flying in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and the flight will be terminated in VMC. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (08) | | Describe the action to be taken in case of communication failure on an IFR flight when flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (09) | | Explain the causes and possible safety impacts of a blocked frequency. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 05 00 00 | | DISTRESS AND URGENCY PROCEDURES | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 05 01 00 | | Signals and procedures | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 05 01 01 | | Distress | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | State the DISTRESS signal(s) and DISTRESS procedure(s). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (02) | | Define ‘DISTRESS’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (03) | | Identify the frequencies that should be used by aircraft in DISTRESS. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (04) | | Specify the emergency SSR codes that may be used by aircraft, and the meaning of the codes. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (05) | | Describe the action to be taken by the station which receives a DISTRESS message. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (06) | | Describe the action to be taken by all other stations when a DISTRESS procedure is in progress. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (07) | | List the correctly sequenced elements of a DISTRESS signal/message and describe the message content. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (08) | | Describe the use of discrete frequencies (DEF) in case of distress or urgency. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (09) | | State that DISTRESS messages take priority over all other messages. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 05 01 02 | | Urgency | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | State the URGENCY signal(s) and URGENCY procedure(s). | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (02) | | Define ‘URGENCY’. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (03) | | Identify the frequencies that should be used by aircraft in URGENCY. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (04) | | Describe the action to be taken by the station which receives an URGENCY message. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (05) | | Describe the action to be taken by all other stations when an URGENCY procedure is in progress. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (06) | | List the correctly sequenced elements of an URGENCY signal/message and describe the message content. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (07) | | State that URGENCY messages take priority over all other messages except DISTRESS. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 06 00 00 | | VHF PROPAGATION AND ALLOCATION OF FREQUENCIES | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 06 01 00 | | General principles | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 06 01 01 | | Spectrum, bands, range | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Describe the radio-frequency spectrum with particular reference to VHF. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (02) | | Describe the radio-frequency spectrum of the bands into which the radio-frequency spectrum is divided. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | 3 | | | (03) | | Identify the frequency range of the VHF band. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (04) | | State the band normally used for aeronautical mobile service (AMS) voice communication. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (05) | | State the frequency separation allocated between consecutive VHF frequencies. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (06) | | List the factors which reduce the effective range and quality of VHF radio transmissions. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 07 00 00 | | Other communications | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 07 01 00 | | Weather observations, Morse code | | | | | | | | | | | | 090 07 01 01 | | Meteorological observations | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | | Explain when aircraft routine meteorological observations should be made. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | (02) | | Explain when aircraft special meteorological observations should be made. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | | 090 07 01 02 | | Use of Morse code | | | | | | | | | | | | (01) | X | Describe and list Morse code. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | | (02) | | Find the Morse code identifiers of radio navigation aids (VHF omnidirectional radio range (VOR), distancemeasuring equipment (DME), non-directional radio beacon (NDB), instrument landing system (ILS)) using aeronautical charts. | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 3 | | | IR — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 · ED Decision 2020/018/R · Aircrew Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 25 Nov 2025 [All rules in SUBPART D – COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE – CPL](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-d) Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 25 Nov 2025, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.