5.2.1.7.1 Aeronautical Station Call Signs
Note The formation of call signs as specified in ITU Radio Regulations S19 Section III and Section VII.
5.2.1.7.1.1 Aeronautical stations in the aeronautical mobile service shall be identified by:
Training reference only. Always defer to current approved manuals and official procedures.
- the name of the location; and
- the unit or service available.
5.2.1.7.1.2 Unit and Service Suffixes
The unit or service shall be identified in accordance with the table below except that the name of the location or the unit/service may be omitted provided satisfactory communication has been established.
| Unit/service available | Call sign suffix |
|---|---|
| area control centre | CONTROL |
| approach control | APPROACH |
| approach control radar arrivals | ARRIVAL |
| approach control radar departures | DEPARTURE |
| aerodrome control | TOWER |
| surface movement control | GROUND |
| radar (in general) | RADAR |
| precision approach radar | PRECISION |
| direction-finding station | HOMER |
| flight information service | INFORMATION |
| clearance delivery | DELIVERY |
| apron control | APRON |
| company dispatch | DISPATCH |
| aeronautical station | RADIO |
5.2.1.7.2.1 Full Aircraft Call Signs
5.2.1.7.2.1.1 An aircraft radiotelephony call sign shall be one of the following types:
- Type a) — the characters corresponding to the registration marking of the aircraft; or
- Type b) — the telephony designator of the aircraft operating agency, followed by the last four characters of the registration marking of the aircraft;
- Type c) — the telephony designator of the aircraft operating agency, followed by the flight identification.
Notes on Aircraft Call Sign Types
Note 1 The name of the aircraft manufacturer or of the aircraft model may be used as a radiotelephony prefix to the Type a) call sign (see Table 5-1).
Note 2 The telephony designators referred to in Types b) and c) are contained in Doc 8585 — Designators for Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services.
Note 3 Any of the foregoing call signs may be inserted in field 7 of the ICAO flight plan as the aircraft identification. Instructions on the completion of the flight plan form are contained in PANS-ATM, Doc 4444.
5.2.1.7.2.2 Abbreviated Aircraft Call Signs
5.2.1.7.2.2.1 The aircraft radiotelephony call signs shown in 5.2.1.7.2.1.1, with the exception of Type c), may be abbreviated in the circumstances prescribed in 5.2.1.7.3.3.1. Abbreviated call signs shall be in the following form:
- Type a) — the first character of the registration and at least the last two characters of the call sign;
- Type b) — the telephony designator of the aircraft operating agency, followed by at least the last two characters of the call sign;
- Type c) — no abbreviated form.
Note Either the name of the aircraft manufacturer or of the aircraft model may be used in place of the first character in Type a).
