What to say to the controller, step by step. Two separate flights: VFR and IFR. Everything is in English, the way real radio is done.
The basics
Hold the ATC push-to-talk key, say your request, release. Tune the radio to the frequency of the station you are talking to.
No rigid phrases. Say it the way you would say it on the radio. Short and clear beats long and perfect.
Say "VFR" or "visual flight", whichever you prefer.
Not sure what to say? Say "help". The controller suggests what to say at that exact moment.
Airports are found worldwide. To name a destination, spell its ICAO code: "lima india romeo mike".
ATIS
A recording, not a controller. Tune the field's real ATIS frequency and it plays on its own — you don't have to ask for it.
"[Field] information [letter], runway [X] in use, wind [N] degrees [N] knots, visibility [N], QNH [N], expect the [approach], advise on initial contact you have information [letter]."
It repeats on its own, roughly every 45 seconds. The letter only moves on when something real changes — wind, runway, QNH — never just because time passed.
It's a recording: it doesn't listen. Nothing you say on that frequency gets a reply, not even "ATIS" — wait for it to come around again, same as the real thing.
Note the letter. When you request your IFR clearance, say "with information [letter]" (or "information [letter] on board"): if it's current, the controller just confirms it instead of repeating the weather. Get it wrong and it corrects you and still reads you the weather.
A VFR flight
No flight plan needed. VFR and IFR are never mixed: a VFR pilot never gets IFR instructions.
On the ground
"Request departure information" — or "request VFR"
You get the runway in use, wind and QNH. "Request VFR" also gives you squawk 7000.
"Request taxi VFR to [your destination]"
Taxi instructions to the holding point.
"Holding point" — or "ready for departure"
Take-off clearance, with the wind. The tower may ask you to report leaving the circuit.
Leaving
"Leaving the control zone" — or "leaving the circuit", "leaving the zone"
Frequency change approved, or a handoff to Approach if the airport has one.
"Request flight following"
Radar service once you are in the air, with your squawk. End it with "leaving your frequency".
Runway, wind and QNH, then report downwind, base and final. Say "downwind", "base", "final" as you fly them.
Arriving
"Inbound for landing" — add your position and altitude if you like
Runway in use, wind, QNH and how to join. The tower decides whether you enter straight in or join the circuit.
"Field in sight" → "final"
Cleared to land, with the wind.
"Runway vacated" → "request taxi"
Contact Ground, then taxi to the apron.
Local flight? Take off, fly around and come back to the same airfield: leave the zone as above and, when you return, call again with "inbound for landing" (or "returning to the field"). Real controllers work the same way: you change frequency on leaving and call again on returning.
Airfields without a tower have an information service (AFIS) or a traffic frequency. They inform you, they don't clear you: you decide when to take off and land.
An IFR flight
With a flight plan (SimBrief works). The controller gives you the departure procedure, altitudes and handoffs; you read them back.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020: IFR clearance is not available on this simulator version — you'll hear "VFR service only" if you request one. Full IFR support requires Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Clearance and start
Delivery
"Request clearance" — or "ready to copy"; add "with information [letter]" if you already copied the ATIS
You receive your route, departure procedure, runway, initial altitude and squawk. If you stated the current ATIS letter, the weather is skipped — you're just told it's correct. Read it back; when it is correct you are handed to Ground.
Taxi to the holding point; the handoff to the tower comes with the taxi instruction. Flying something bigger than light GA with your engines still off? Just say "request pushback" — you'll get "push and start-up approved" together, no need to ask twice.
Departure
Tower
"Holding point" — or "ready for departure"
Take-off clearance. Read back the runway.
Departure / Approach
"With you" — or just report your level, "passing two thousand climbing six thousand": that checks you in too, no "with you" required
Radar contact and your climb.
En route
"Request climb" / "request descent" / "passing flight level one zero zero"
The controller assigns levels and hands you to the next sector. You read levels back.
"Unable" — when you cannot comply
Arrival
"Field in sight" — when you see the runway
The controller can clear you for a visual approach.
"Established" — on the localizer
Contact the tower, then "cleared to land".
"Going around"
The controller gives you the missed approach.
"Runway vacated" → "request taxi to the stand"
Already airborne with no clearance? Say "request IFR" (or "request flight following"). You get a squawk and radar service, and with a SimBrief plan the controller sends you to your next route point.
Forgot something? Just ask
No need to say "say again". Ask for exactly what you forgot:
"What is my squawk"
"What is the QNH"
"Which runway"
"What is my departure" (IFR)
"What is my clearance" / "what is my level"
"What is the wind"
In trouble
"Mayday, mayday, mayday" or "pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan" — the controller takes priority.