Aviation Alphabet - ICAO and Pilot Spelling Alphabet
Quick Answer
Learn the aviation alphabet used by pilots, air traffic control, airlines, and ICAO for clear radio communication.
- Topic: Aviation
- Best use: fast reference, learning, and clear communication.
- Updated: 2025-08-11
The aviation alphabet is the ICAO spelling alphabet used by pilots and air traffic controllers to keep call signs, tail numbers, clearances, and navigation details understandable.
Why Pilots Use It
Flight communication often happens quickly and over noisy radio. The alphabet prevents a mistaken letter from becoming a mistaken runway, call sign, or instruction.
Delta and David
Some airlines use David instead of Delta in customer-facing communication to avoid confusing the letter D with Delta Air Lines. Air traffic control still follows the ICAO standard.
Aviation Alphabet
| Letter | Aviation Code Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alpha | AL fah |
| B | Bravo | BRAH voh |
| C | Charlie | CHAR lee |
| D | Delta or David | DEL tah or DAY vid |
| E | Echo | EKK oh |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS trot |
| G | Golf | Golf |
| H | Hotel | HO tell |
| I | India | IN dee ah |
| J | Juliet | JEW lee ett |
| K | Kilo | KEY loh |
| L | Lima | LEE mah |
| M | Mike | Mike |
| N | November | NOH vem ber |
| O | Oscar | OSS car |
| P | Papa | PAH pah |
| Q | Quebec | keh BECK |
| R | Romeo | ROW me oh |
| S | Sierra | see AIR ah |
| T | Tango | TANG go |
| U | Uniform | YOU nee form |
| V | Victor | VIK ter |
| W | Whiskey | WISS key |
| X | X-ray | EKS ray |
| Y | Yankee | YANG kee |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO loo |
Frequently Asked Questions
What alphabet do pilots use?
Pilots use the ICAO/NATO phonetic alphabet: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, and so on.