U.K. Call signs

[pipeorgan]

I have had my 2 second training flight, which I loved, but I feel that I will find communicating with ATC very difficult. I fly from Redhill which is next to Gatwick and the radio chatter is constant. I have therefore been considering using PilotEdge as a tool but would I be able to use my UK Call sign G-CBFA from the DA40?

[Shawn Goldsworthy]

Use it! Absolutely. We see international callsigns all the time.

[ewandougie]

One thing I have noticed when I have used a alphabetical callsign is some controllers will read it out non-phonetically e.g GBWWW instead of Golf Bravo Whiskey Whiskey Whiskey which is a bit strange when I am a UK PPL

[Keith Smith]

Since we can't shorten international callsigns, it is time consuming to read out the whole thing phonetically every time.

It is permissable to simply read out the letters for international callsigns.

[pipeorgan]

Thanks guys for your responses, I guess that I will now have to try it and hope that phonetics can be used for realism rather than letters.

[Keith Smith]

Perhaps consider a us registration, such as the N123AB format, it can be shortened and will require phoenetics.

[svilenv]

For what it's worth: in Europe callsigns (reg numbers) can be shortened by ATC using the following recommended pattern: keep the initial letter and the last 2 letters of the callsign. E.g. my preferred local callsign LZ-SVI is commonly shortened to Lima-Victor-India. My friend from across the border flies as YU-TVA, shortened to Yankee-Victor-Alpha, etc. Less common but not unheard of (might be country-specific) is abbreviating to the last 3 letters of the callsign, e.g. Sierra-Victor-India or Tango-Victor-Alpha. No idea if these patterns are viable in FAA airspace though.

[Peter Grey]

No idea if these patterns are viable in FAA airspace though.

Nope, the FAA guidance specifically prohibits controllers from shortening non US callsigns.

[Keith Smith]

Peter is correct and I mentioned it in an earlier post in this thread.

[Kyle.Sanders]

Perhaps consider a us registration, such as the N123AB format, it can be shortened and will require phoenetics.

This can help- https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificat ... g_nnumber/