Can you decipher these air traffic control phrases?

Whilst I might be able to make an educated guess at some of the answers, I really wanted to comment that I think this is an excellent use of this space and would welcome more of it. Well done Paul & Andy.

1. Once airbourne climb straight ahead until 2nm from LON VOR,

2. This is a departure clearance (NOT a takeoff clearance). The aircraft is cleared to JFK via the Compton 3 F SID. Their squawk code to put into the transponder is 6244 to identify them on radar and the air pressure at MSL is 998 hPa. The word hectopascal is only said when the QNH/QFE is lower than 1000.

3. These are taxi instructions. Turn right onto Bravo taxiway and use Link 21 to get to Alpha taxiway and then hold at holding point MORRA.

4. Green taxiway lights highlight the route that ATC have chosen to the aircrafts stand which in this case is 544. The aircraft is being instructed to follow these green taxiway centreline lights.

5. This BA aircraft is using the localiser DME to runway 27L. This will give lateral guidance to the aircraft but the pilots will have to use their distance measuring equipment to work out their descent rate and the altitude they will need to be at at certain distances from the airport which is printed on their approach charts.

Bonus Round.

1. Aer Lingus,
2. South African,
3. US Airways,
4. Don’t Know,
5. Don’t Know,
6. Brussels Airlines,
7. Don’t Know,
8. Don’t Know.

1. After take off climb on runway heading to 2 nautical miles from the London distance measuring equipment.

2. Cleared on take off to follow standard “Compton3F” departure route. Destination is Kennedy New York. Squawk is transponder code to be entered and QNH is the pressure setting.

3. Is taxiing instructions while at the aerodrome. MORRA is a reporting point on the ground. Bravo and Alpha are taxiways. Link21 is probably a crossing.

4. No doubt at heathrow where planes follow green lights on the taxiways to their passenger gate.

5. Instructions from approach controller for a Localiser/distance measuring equipment approach into heathrow. Sort of like a talk down.

I’ll let someone else do the bonus round 😉

as a former private pilot I understood most of them , but some were for IFR pilots which I was not

Is it ok to listen in to ATC IN THE UK?

Go on, I’ll have a go:

1 – After tako off, fly in a straight line for 2 miles
2 – Your ATC clearance is to follow the standard instrument departure route, transponder code 6244 and the atmospheric pressure above mean sea level is 998 hPa (or millibars)
3 – Taxi instructions: follow taxiways to holding point
4 – follow the green taxiway lights to your stand number
5 – British Airways 472, standard instrument landing system arrival on runway 27 left

Airlines are: Aer Lingus, South African Airways, US Airways, European Air Transport (DHL), China Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Pan Am.

There’s no point rewriting what david said because I agree with his answers! Missing callsigns:
4. A franchised part of DHL but used in most European stuff as opposed to “World Express”
5. Air China
7. Middle Eastern Airlines (Logo is cedar tree)
8. Pan Am but not sure if its being reused by someone now…

1. Departure instructions, after takeoff, climb straight ahead to 2NM from the London VOR.
2. Departure clearance to New York JFK, which is allowed via the Compton 3 Foxtrot departure route, whilst squawking 6244. The air pressure is 998 hectopascals.
3. Taxi instructions, make a right turn on Bravo, use Link 21 to get to Alpha and then hold at MORRA.
4. Taxi instructions, follow the green taxi lights to stand 544.
5. Approach clearance, the British Airways flight 472 is going to approach runway 27L on the Localiser/DME approach.

Bonus round:

Shamrock: Aer Lingus
Springbok: South African Airways
Cactus: America West Airlines
Eurotrans: European Air Transport
Dynasty: China Airlines
Bealine: British European Airlines
Cedarjet: Middle East Airlines
Clipper: Pan American World Airways

Bonus stabs only, and similarities with David’s restricted to where I agree with him. 😉

Shamrock – Aer Lingus
Springbok – South African
Cactus – Mexican?
Eurotrans – No seguro
Dynasty – No seguro
Bealine – No seguro
Cedarjet – Lebanon?
Clipper – No seguro

Shamrock – Aer Lingus
Springbok – South African Airways
Cactus – US Airways
Eurotrans – European Air Transport (DHL Europe)
Dynasty – China Airlines
Bealine – Brussels Airlines
Cedarjet – Middle East Airlines
Clipper – Pan Am

I think BEA’s callsign Bealine was retained by BA after the merger with BOAC and is now used for ground towing movements at LHR

1. After take off climb straight a head (runway heading) until two miles from LON VOR.
2. This is a clearance to New York on the Compton 3 foxtrot standard instrument departure. Put 6244 into your transponder and have 889ha set on the altimeter as QNH.
3. Taxi instructions to turn right onto bravo taxiway. Continue via link 1 to alpha taxiway and stop at holing point MORRA.
4. Follow the green lights on the taxiway and they will bring you you your parking at stand 544.
5. British airways plane given instructions to do a localiser/distance measuring equipment approach to runway 27 left.

Bonus round
1. Aer lingus
2. South African
3. Pass
4. Pass
5. Pass
6. Pass
7. Pass
8. Pan am

Agrre with Charlie Baker about the “B Line” call sign

Great to see everone knows my airline’s call sign! 😉

Preuming on No 5, with a LOC/DME approach, that the Glidepath which provides glideslope guidance, is unserviceable on 27L otherwise it would be a normal ‘ILS Approach’?

Isn’t number 5 meant to be “BAW427, CLEARED loc/dme approach runway 27L, QNH xxxx” ?

I thought that Bealine was used by BA for ground movements at Heathrow, no?

What does 5 East of a specific location mean?

Uv all forgot to tell ur pilots wot frequency to contact after takeoff.

I would like to know what is meant by statements from pilots and atc saying “with kilo” or “with alpha”, “heavy” or on atis “with Zulu you have”