ScotSail e-Learning Resources: VHF Radio License Pre-Course Knowledge Aid

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RYA / MCA VHF Radio Authority-to-Operate License: In accordance with MCA and RYA Guidelines, all participants must be adequately prepared prior to attending a VHF radio course.

All participants should be familiar with the phonetic alphabet and basic distress-call procedures. To that end, we strongly recommend that all course participants have read and assimilated the RYA VHF Radio (inc GMDSS) G22 Handbook.

This book will be available upon request to all our VHF Radio Course Customers at just £5.00 extra. The book will be sent out via Royal Mail along with your joining pack / brochure / invoice / confirmation letter etc. Alternatively, you can purchase this from the RYA Online Shop or any other third-party retailer.

Pre-Course VHF-Radio Knowledge Aid

Section A

Phonetic Alphabet, Numerals and Figure-Spelling Tables

Section B

Distress-Call Examples

Section A (a) -Phonetic Alphabet

	PHONETIC ALPHABET
Letter	Word	Pronounced as
A	Alfa	AL FAH
B	Bravo	BRAH VOH
C	Charlie	CHAR LEE or SHAR LEE
D	Delta	DELL TAH
E	Echo	ECK OH
F	Foxtrot	FOKS TROT
G	Golf	GOLF
H	Hotel	HOH TELL
I	India	IN DEE AH
J	Juliet	JEW LEE ETT
K	Kilo	KEY LOH
L	Lima	LEE MAH
M	Mike	MIKE
N	November	NO VEM BER
O	Oscar	OSS CAH
P	Papa	PAH PAH
Q	Quebec	KEH BECK
R	Romeo	ROW ME OH
S	Sierra	SEE AIR RAH
T	Tango	TANG GO
U	Uniform	YOU NEE FORM or OO NEE FORM
V	Victor	VIK TAH
W	Whiskey	WISS KEY
X	X-ray	ECKS RAY
Y	Yankee	YANG KEY
Z	Zulu	ZOO LOO

Section A (b) -Phonetic Numerals

When numerals are transmitted by radiotelephone, the following rules for their pronunciation should be observed.

PHONETIC NUMERALS

Numeral	Spoken as
1	WUN
2	TOO
3	TREE
4	FOW-ER
5	FIFE
6	SIX
7	SEV-EN
8	AIT
9	NIN-ER
0	ZERO

Section A (c) - Figure Spelling

Numerals should be transmitted digit-by-digit except that multiples of thousands may be spoken as such.

Numeral	Spoken as
44	FOW-ER FOW-ER
90	NIN-ER ZERO
1478	WUN FOW-ER SEV-EN AIT
7000	SEV-EN THOUSAND
136	WUN TREE SIX
500	FIFE ZERO ZERO

Section B (a) - Distress Call Example for vessels fitted with

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Equipment.

The following procedure should be displayed in a clear written form or on a reference card in full view of the

VHF radio installation (as per instructions given in M Notice 1646).

1	Check that the main battery is switched on.
2	Switch on the VHF/DSC.
3	Open the cover to the RED distress button.
4	Press the RED buttone once.
5	If time permits select the DISTRESS TYPE e.g. sinking, fire etc.
6	Press and hold the RED button down for 5 seconds.
7	Wait for 15 seconds the DEPRESS THE TRANSMIT BUTTON on the hand microphone.

	Speaking SLOWLY and CLEARLY into the microphone SAY:
	MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
	THIS IS (Repeat name of vessel three times)
	MMSI (your MMSI number)
	MAYDAY (Name of vessel spoken once)
	MY POSITION IS (Latitude and longitude or True bearing and distance from a charted feature)
	NATURE OF DISTRESS (e.g. sinking, on fire, etc)
	I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
	NUMBER OF PERSONS ON BOARD and OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
	OVER

	Release the transmit button and wait for an acknowledgement
	Keep listening on Ch16 for instructions
	if an acknowledgement os not received repeat the voice distress call and message.

	If your vessel is not fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Equipment, perform the MayDay Procedure as above ommitting the sections relating to the activation of the distress button and relaying your MMSI number.

*DISTRESS ALERTS are to be made only when IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED.

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