Definition
The second letter of the English alphabet, spoken as 'Bravo' in the ICAO phonetic alphabet used in aviation radio communications. It is also used as a single-letter designator in various aviation contexts, including Class B airspace, the identification of certain aircraft categories, and as a shorthand on charts and documents.
Plain English
The letter B. When pilots say it over the radio, they say 'Bravo' so it can't be confused with other letters that sound similar.
Context Anchor
Seen in military aircraft names, aviation history, aircraft recognition material, and briefings that refer to military traffic.
Derivation
The phonetic word 'Bravo' was chosen by ICAO in 1956 because it is easily pronounced and recognised by speakers of many languages, and is unlikely to be mistaken for any other phonetic word over a noisy radio.
Why Pilots Care
Using the correct phonetic word prevents misheard letters during radio communication, which matters when reading back clearances, taxiway assignments, or aircraft identification.
Intuition Check
Do not assume B always means “Bravo” or “Class B.” In a military aircraft designation like B-52, B means “bomber.”
Example Sentence 1
Cleared to taxi to runway two-seven via taxiway Bravo.
Example Sentence 2
Runway markings included the letter B to indicate a specific threshold identifier.