5.3 Corrections, Repetitions & Message Handling

5.3 Corrections, Repetitions & Message Handling

Quick Answer: Fix errors with CORRECTION + last good word/phrase + right words. Ask for repeats with SAY AGAIN (all), ALL BEFORE X, A TO B, or ALL AFTER Y. Handle every exchange in four parts: call → reply → message → acknowledgment/ending. Plan, listen, then speak clear standard phraseology—memorize the Schefferville Radio worked example.

RIC-21 §5.7.3 and §5.7.4 turn raw calling skills into reliable message delivery. Examiners ask how to fix a mis-spoken number, how to request only the missing slice of a transmission, and the four-part shape of a normal aircraft–ground exchange.

Corrections — CORRECTION

When an error has been made in transmission, the word CORRECTION should be spoken, followed by the last correct word or phrase and then by the corrected version of the transmission.

Examples (RIC-21):

OVER OTTAWA AT TWO SEVEN CORRECTION TWO EIGHT
PROCEED TO DOCK FOUR CORRECTION DOCK FIVE

Procedure in steps:

1. Notice the error while still in the same transmission (or as soon as you catch it).
2. Say CORRECTION.
3. Restate the last word or phrase that was correct.
4. Give the new correct wording.

Do not use banned slang from §5.5 (“REPEAT,” “OK,” etc.) as substitutes for CORRECTION or SAY AGAIN.

Repetitions — SAY AGAIN family

If the receiving station requires the repetition of an entire message, the operator should use the words SAY AGAIN.

If only a portion is required, use one of these three forms:

Official examples (RIC-21)

All before:

VANCOUVER RADIO
THIS IS
STINSON FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
SAY AGAIN ALL BEFORE "HANGAR"
OVER

Middle segment:

WINNIPEG TOWER
THIS IS
CESSNA FOXTROT PAPA DELTA QUEBEC
SAY AGAIN "ALTITUDE" TO "DESCEND"
OVER

All after:

MONTREAL CENTRE
THIS IS
CESSNA FOXTROT X-RAY QUEBEC TANGO
SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER "FLIGHT PLAN"
OVER

Study tips:

• Keep the full call-up (called, THIS IS, calling) when requesting a repeat on initial or formal exchanges.
• Name the boundary words that you did understand so the sender retransmits only what is needed.
• End with OVER when you expect the other station to retransmit.

Message handling — plan, listen, deliver

When transmitting a message, the radio station operator should:

1. Plan the content of the message before transmitting;
2. Listen briefly before transmitting to avoid interference with other transmissions;
3. Deliver the radio message clearly and concisely using standard phraseology whenever practical.

This restates the listen-before-transmit culture of §5.7.1 and the speech discipline of §5.1. Planning eliminates “um” and half-formed clearances; listening protects the channel; standard phraseology reduces copy errors.

Four parts of message handling

The message handling format generally consists of four parts:

Memorize the four labels exactly—exam items often ask for the sequence or how many parts exist.

Worked example — Schefferville Radio (RIC-21)

Learn this dialogue end-to-end; it is the study guide’s complete aircraft–ground model.

1) Call-up by aircraft

SCHEFFERVILLE RADIO
THIS IS
PIPER FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
OVER

2) Reply by ground station

PIPER FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
THIS IS
SCHEFFERVILLE RADIO
GO AHEAD
OVER

3a) Message — aircraft

SCHEFFERVILLE RADIO
THIS IS
PIPER FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
FOUR MILES AT ONE THOUSAND
LANDING SCHEFFERVILLE
OVER

3b) Message — ground

PIPER FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
THIS IS
SCHEFFERVILLE RADIO ROGER
WIND - ONE SIX ZERO AT ONE FIVE
ALTIMETER - TWO NINER NINER SEVEN
OVER

4) Acknowledgment — aircraft

SCHEFFERVILLE RADIO
THIS IS
PIPER FOXTROT ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE
ROGER

What to notice for the exam:

• Every formal segment still uses called first + THIS IS + calling until abbreviations are justified.
• Aircraft states position (four miles at one thousand) and intention (landing Schefferville).
• Ground acknowledges with ROGER and passes wind and altimeter.
• Aircraft closes the content loop with ROGER (message received/understood—not a substitute for OUT if terminating, but here it is the acknowledgment piece).

Subsequent abbreviated call (same section)

On subsequent calls, THIS IS and OVER may be omitted and, if no likelihood of interference exists, the called station’s sign may be abbreviated:

SCHEFFERVILLE RADIO BRAVO CHARLIE CONFIRM RIGHT ON SIERRA

“Bravo Charlie” is the distinctive tail of Foxtrot Alfa Bravo Charlie once both stations already know the full identity.

Integrated operator workflow

1. Plan wind check / position report / request.
2. Listen on Schefferville’s frequency.
3. Call (part 1).
4. Wait for GO AHEAD or STANDBY (part 2).
5. Send message (part 3); use CORRECTION if you mis-speak.
6. Get or give acknowledgment (part 4); use SAY AGAIN forms if copy fails.
7. OUT when the conversation is finished and no reply is needed.

Common exam traps

Official source

RIC-21 Issue 3, §5.7.3 Corrections and Repetitions and §5.7.4 Message Handling Procedures, including the Schefferville Radio examples, ISED ROC-A study guide.