Phonetic Alphabets

Today we have a standard for our on-air phonetic alphabet - technically it's called a spelling alphabet, but I digress.

As you should be aware if you're a licensed Amateur, we use the so-called standard phonetic alphabet. It's used and defined by several organisations, including the International Telecommunications Union, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and NATO.

It should come as no surprise that each of those organisations defines their own alphabet. It just so happens that today each of these definitions is the same, but that hasn't always been the case.

In the United Kingdom, Alpha went through Apples, Ack, Ace, Able an Affirm.

In the United States, Alpha has been Able, Affirmative, Afirm, Able, Alfa.

In Amateur Radio we've heard America, Amsterdam and even Australia.

All that for just the letter that we spell as Alpha.

If that's not enough, try on Adams, Adam, Anatole, Anton, Ancona, Antonio, Anna, Aarne, Adana, Aveiro, Amor, Ana and Avala.

No wonder we have a few different spellings that we hear on air when we're busy spelling our callsign to the other station.

Where does that leave you?

Well, the ACMA specifies in their amateur operating procedures the International Phonetic Alphabet and it is recommended for use by amateur station licensees.

Note that it's recommended, not mandated.

My best advice is to learn and love the standard phonetic alphabet. It's been almost standard since 1956. That's not to say you won't hear me call Victor King Six Florida London America Boston on occasion, when I'm trying to talk to some station that hasn't a clue that I have a legitimate callsign with a four letter suffix and they need to be sure that I know that it's real.

The recommended procedure when dealing with a Pirate is to go silent. You won't believe how many stations went quiet whilst I was working my latest contest. Those four letters do cause some grief, but I understand, it was only introduced recently, as close as 2005, so it's understandable that not everyone has heard of an Australian Foundation call, let alone get their head around the standard phonetic alphabet.

I'm Onno Vice Kilogramme, Soxisix, Frank Loves Amsterdam Beer