[NA] phonetic alphabet for non-pilots?

Pi1otguy

Pi1otguy

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Location
Fontana, CA
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Fox McCloud
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Today at work I learned that the phonetic alphabet we use as aviators doesn't work in the real world too well. I read

Bravo, papa, one, juliet, foxtrot, 1.
My co-worker typed BP1JFT1 and said "foxtrot is 'F T'.":nonod:

Are we really that out of touch with normal people?
 
Pi1otguy said:
Today at work I learned that the phonetic alphabet we use as aviators doesn't work in the real world too well. I read

Bravo, papa, one, juliet, foxtrot, 1.
My co-worker typed BP1JFT1 and said "foxtrot is 'F T'.":nonod:

Are we really that out of touch with normal people?
Click to expand...

No. I learned the phonetic alphabet we use when I was in college in ROTC. Many, many years ago. Use the same one in amateur radio (some hams still use their own, but what can I say?). Only the police have their own. Your co-worker doesn't get it.
 
That's why some people use "Fox" instead of "Foxtrot."

Those people are retarded.
 
Everskyward said:
Yes. Why would "normal people" have any reason to learn the aviation phonetic alphabet?
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So they can become more normal. Like us. Um....I mean. Hold that thought.

Crazy but one thing that makes my skin crawl is when someone comes up with a homemade PA to spell out something! "Ok, sir - your new passcode is, M as in Mary, J as in John, P as in Peter, 1, C as in Cat......"
 
Everskyward said:
Yes. Why would "normal people" have any reason to learn the aviation phonetic alphabet?
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They don't. The point is a good phonetic alphabet should require no learning by the listener. If it needs any meaningful memorization to be "decoded" then it's no good.
 
Pi1otguy said:
They don't. The point is a good phonetic alphabet should require no learning by the listener. If it needs any meaningful memorization to be "decoded" then it's no good.
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I can see people having problems with "lima" unless they are thinking of the city in Peru. Also "zulu" is not a common word. Maybe "zebra" would be better.
 
The phonetic alphabet I use as a law enforcement officer is totally different than the one we use as pilots. I was talking to KC Center one day and screwed up and used the LE version, the controller responded with, "you must be a law enforcement officer somewhere" and chuckled.
 
I agree with you Dean, When I started my training I always made mistakes between LEO and aviation... and still do! (just not as much) :) I've yet to use ten codes though lol.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
So they can become more normal. Like us. Um....I mean. Hold that thought.

Crazy but one thing that makes my skin crawl is when someone comes up with a homemade PA to spell out something! "Ok, sir - your new passcode is, M as in Mary, J as in John, P as in Peter, 1, C as in Cat......"
Click to expand...

K as in Knife, P as in Phillip, G as in Gnome ...
 
Dean said:
The phonetic alphabet I use as a law enforcement officer is totally different than the one we use as pilots. I was talking to KC Center one day and screwed up and used the LE version, the controller responded with, "you must be a law enforcement officer somewhere" and chuckled.
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LOL....I take it you said something along the lines of "With information Baker?"
 
I phoned XM to switch my account to a new car radio the other day, and the young female customer service rep used flawless ICAO phonetics in reading back the receiver ID's.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
So they can become more normal. Like us. Um....I mean. Hold that thought.

Crazy but one thing that makes my skin crawl is when someone comes up with a homemade PA to spell out something! "Ok, sir - your new passcode is, M as in Mary, J as in John, P as in Peter, 1, C as in Cat......"
Click to expand...

You must get a lot of crawling skin. IME using common names to clarify spelling is the "norm" outside of the groups like aviators who have a standard for that. I usually revert to that if the IACO phonetics aren't being understood.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
So they can become more normal. Like us. Um....I mean. Hold that thought.

Crazy but one thing that makes my skin crawl is when someone comes up with a homemade PA to spell out something! "Ok, sir - your new passcode is, M as in Mary, J as in John, P as in Peter, 1, C as in Cat......"
Click to expand...

gismo said:
You must get a lot of crawling skin. IME using common names to clarify spelling is the "norm" outside of the groups like aviators who have a standard for that. I usually revert to that if the IACO phonetics aren't being understood.
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Plus , a lot of them, really are commonly use. Police tend to use a:
adam
boy
charlie
david
edward
frank
george
henry
ida
john
king
lincoln
mary
nora
ocean
paul
queen
robert
sam
tom
union
victor
william
x-ray
young
zebra
 
jesse said:
Plus , a lot of them, really are commonly use. Police tend to use a:
Click to expand...

I guess I over think it, but using names bugs me. What if David & Frank are in the room? You'd get a tons of unintended replies. The level of confusion could be astronomical. :dunno:

It's kinda like how I decided anyone named Charlie, Juliet, Mike, or Oscar gets renamed while I'm PIC. Haven't had to do it yet, but can't wait to see how that works.:D
 
Teller1900 said:
That's awesome! I can't wait to see how much that ****es off NY Center (and whoever I'm flying with).
Click to expand...

I need some help filling in the blanks:

A Aisle
B Bee
C Cucumber
D
E Eight
F
G Gnat
H Heir
I
J Jalapeno
K Knife
L
M Mnemonic
N
O Ouija
P Pneumonia
Q
R
S Sea
T Tsunami
U
V
W Write
X xylophone
Y
Z
 
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