EASA ATPL(A) · subject 090 guide

EASA ATPL Communications (090)

Communications (subject 090) is the EASA ATPL(A) exam that covers radiotelephony — how pilots talk to air traffic control and each other, using standard phraseology, the right frequencies and the correct procedures for every phase of flight. It brings together VFR communications (091) and IFR communications (092) into one paper. This guide breaks the syllabus into its 7 official topic areas and sets out a study plan to pass the exam at the 75% mark.

Practise Communications questions How the 13 exams work

What Communications covers

Communications is the subject that teaches you how to talk on the radio as a professional pilot. It covers the standard radiotelephony phraseology used with air traffic control and other stations, the frequencies and VHF radio behaviour behind it, and the correct procedures for every situation — from a routine departure call to a full emergency. Because aviation communication is deliberately standardised worldwide, the subject rewards learning the exact words and procedures rather than paraphrasing them.

EASA structures the 090 syllabus into seven topic areas and it brings together VFR communications (091) and IFR communications (092), which share most of the same phraseology and procedures. The sections below walk through each topic in turn.

The 7 Communications topics

These are the official EASA topic areas for subject 090, in syllabus order. They move from the underlying concepts and radio behaviour through everyday operating procedures to the distress, urgency and radio-failure procedures you must know precisely.

01ConceptsThe definitions and meanings that underpin radiotelephony: the aeronautical mobile service, the phonetic alphabet, transmission of numbers and letters, the standard words and phrases, and readability/signal reporting.

02VHF Propagation and Allocation FrequenciesHow VHF radio waves travel — line-of-sight propagation and range with altitude — and how aeronautical frequencies are allocated and channel-spaced across the VHF band.

03General Operating ProceduresEveryday radiotelephony: establishing and maintaining contact, call signs and their abbreviation, test transmissions, time and level reporting, transfer of communication and the standard exchanges for each phase of flight.

04Relevant Weather ProceduresObtaining and reading back meteorological information over the radio: ATIS, VOLMET, and requesting weather from ATC, and how weather content is exchanged during a flight.

05Distress and Urgency ProceduresThe MAYDAY (distress) and PAN-PAN (urgency) messages: their content and priority, the emergency frequency 121.5 MHz, imposition and cancellation of silence, and how ATC handles an aircraft in difficulty.

06Voice Communication FailureWhat to do when the radio fails: the transponder code 7600, the actions and expectations under both VFR and IFR, and the procedures for continuing safely and being handled by ATC.

07Other Communication ProceduresThe remaining radiotelephony procedures — including special phraseologies, aerodrome and ground movement communications, and the other standard exchanges not covered by the earlier topics.

How to study and pass 090 at 75%

Every EASA ATPL(A) theory subject is passed at a minimum of 75%, and each subject is passed independently. For a procedure- and phraseology-based subject like Communications, the most reliable route to that mark is learn-the-exact-wording-then-drill:

Memorise the standard phraseology. The phonetic alphabet, transmission of numbers, standard words and phrases, and readback requirements are tested on precise wording, not paraphrase.
Lock in the emergency procedures. Know the MAYDAY (distress) and PAN-PAN (urgency) messages, the 121.5 MHz emergency frequency, and the 7600 transponder code and actions for radio failure cold.
Drill ECQB-aligned questions on each topic and read every explanation, especially for the answers you got wrong.
Use spaced repetition so the phraseology stays fresh while you add new topics, then rehearse with full mock exams at the real 75% pass mark before you sit the official paper.

Note: Exam rules — the pass mark, sittings and attempt limits — are set by EASA Part-FCL and applied by your national authority (NAA). Always confirm the current figures with your ATO/NAA before you plan, as they are periodically updated.

How ATPL Training helps

ATPL Training is an all-in-one platform for the theory phase: an ECQB-aligned question bank with worked explanations, structured lessons, built-in spaced-repetition review, and an AI tutor that explains the reasoning behind every answer — at around half the price of the established providers. For a phraseology-driven subject like Communications, that combination turns the standard procedures into exam marks.

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The rules behind the exam

Every ATPL paper is scored under the same Part-FCL rules: a 75% pass mark, four attempts per subject, six sittings, an 18-month completion window, and seven years of theory validity. See each figure with its Part-FCL reference and EUR-Lex source.

Frequently asked questions

What is EASA ATPL Communications (090)?

Communications, EASA learning-objective subject code 090, is the ATPL(A) theory exam covering radiotelephony — the standard phraseology, frequencies and procedures pilots use to talk to air traffic control and other stations. It combines VFR communications (091) and IFR communications (092), and is examined as one of the 13 EASA ATPL theory subjects.

What topics are in the Communications syllabus?

The 090 syllabus is built around seven topic areas: Concepts, VHF Propagation and Allocation Frequencies, General Operating Procedures, Relevant Weather Procedures, Distress and Urgency Procedures, Voice Communication Failure, and Other Communication Procedures. Together they cover the language and procedures of radiotelephony from routine calls to emergency and radio-failure handling.

What is the difference between ATPL 090, 091 and 092?

Communications (090) is the umbrella subject. VFR Communications (091) covers radiotelephony under visual flight rules and IFR Communications (092) covers it under instrument flight rules; the two share most of the same procedures and phraseology. For the EASA ATPL(A) theory course they are examined together as a single 090 Communications paper.

What is the pass mark for the ATPL Communications exam?

Like every EASA ATPL(A) theory subject, Communications is passed at a minimum of 75%. Each subject is passed independently, so you only re-sit the exams you do not pass. Exam rules are applied by your national authority (NAA), so confirm the current figures with your ATO/NAA.

Is Communications a hard ATPL exam?

Communications is generally regarded as one of the more manageable EASA ATPL subjects because it is procedure- and phraseology-based rather than mathematical. The reliable way to secure the marks is to learn the standard phrases and the distress, urgency and radio-failure procedures precisely, then drill exam-style questions with worked explanations so the wording sticks.

How should I study for ATPL Communications?

Learn the standard radiotelephony phraseology and the emergency procedures word-for-word, because the exam rewards precise wording: know the phonetic alphabet, the MAYDAY and PAN-PAN messages, the 121.5 MHz emergency frequency and the 7600 radio-failure code. Then practise ECQB-aligned questions on each of the seven topics and review every explanation. Spaced repetition keeps the phraseology fresh as you add new topics.

Master Communications the smart way

Drill ECQB-aligned 090 questions with worked explanations, track your readiness across all seven topics, and rehearse with full mock exams at the real 75% pass mark.

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