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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
