IFR Communications Manual (PilotWorkshops)

If you feel intimidated by IFR communications, you’re not alone. The IFR system is complex, and the number of radio calls pilots must understand can be overwhelming. That’s a problem. There are instrument-rated pilots who avoid flying IFR altogether. Some pilots let mic fright prevent them from getting the instrument rating at all.

This IFR communications guide eases that pain by using the secret to IFR radio work: virtually all communications follow a script. Once you know the basic script, the variations become simple, and that’s how this book works.

Consider it a Field Guide to all the things IFR pilots and controllers say.

Features:

• Task-oriented format—what to say, when, and where
• AIM and FAA-approved radio phraseology
• Also the phraseology you’re likely to hear in the real world
• Table of contents to easily find what you need
• Fully illustrated with IFR charts and airport diagrams
• Packed with advanced communications tips and techniques
• Digital manual looks great on an iPad; keep it in your EFB app for quick access
• Spiral-bound 8.5” x 11” printed manual for easy use in the cockpit
• Bonus videos will show you every radio call in action

The manual includes scripts of the most common, most useful, and most critical IFR radio communications, with examples of what ATC and the pilot say and where they are when they say it. Additional tips and details are provided in sidebar discussions throughout, along with variations of radio calls you will hear in the real world.

On complicated and evolving phraseology like “climb via” and “descend via,” the team at PilotWorkshops spoke directly with the FAA staff who wrote the official guidance, and with active controllers in the field.

They put this manual together so you know how it should be done—and understand the non-standard differences you’ll find in the real world.

For pilots of all levels

This Pilot-Friendly IFR Communications Manual helps you improve on the radio, regardless of your flying experience. Whether you’re just getting your Instrument Rating, or you’re an experienced pilot who still feels intimidated flying IFR, this simple guide gives you the confidence to do it right.

IFR Student Pilot

• Learn best practices on the radio; don’t develop bad habits
• Prepare for each lesson by learning what you need on that flight
• Improve fluency if English is your second language

Experienced IFR Pilot

• Brush up on radio skills that may have gotten rusty
• Review more complex situations before you encounter them in-flight
• Discover lesser-used requests that save you time and stress

CFII

• Demonstrate proper radio phraseology to students (and watch their confidence swell)
• Prepare students for their next lesson with specific radio scenarios
• Help your students feel more comfortable, from their first lesson to the check ride

Videos Show You How It’s Done

Some people learn better through reading, while others retain better by watching and listening. Either way, PilotWorkshops has you covered.

They created 82 short videos demonstrating each IFR radio communication in action. These videos are available in Sporty’s Pilot Training app, so you can watch them on your computer, tablet or phone. They help you gain a better understanding of where, when and what to say on the radio.

The videos use the same table of contents as the manual, so you can jump right to the video you need.

View a sample page here

Comes with both formats

This manual is available on Sporty’s Pilot Training platform, so you can read the digital version online or on your tablet—alongside all your Sporty’s courses. Powerful reading tools are included, like highlighting, search, and bookmarks. Or download the PDF for easy reading on all your devices, with or without an internet connection. You might even leave the 8.5” x 11” spiral-bound book in your flight bag!

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Approved Phraseology AND What You’ll Hear In The Wild

The manual includes scripts of the most common, most useful, and most critical IFR radio communications, with examples of what ATC and the pilot say and where they are when they say it. Additional tips and details are provided in sidebar discussions throughout, along with variations of radio calls you will hear in the real world. On complicated and evolving phraseology like “Climb Via” and “Descend Via”, we spoke directly with the FAA staff who wrote the official guidance, and with active controllers in the field. We put this manual together so you know how it should be done—and understand the non-standard differences you’ll find in the real world.

This Manual Helps IFR Pilots At All Levels

This Pilot-Friendly IFR Communications Manual helps you improve on the radio, regardless of your flying experience. Whether you’re just getting your Instrument Rating, or you’re an experienced pilot who still feels intimidated flying IFR, this simple guide gives you the confidence to do it right