Definition
Standardized verbal announcements made by a pilot or crew member during flight to confirm aircraft configuration, performance values, or critical events at predetermined points. Call-outs are a required element of crew coordination in multi-crew operations and are commonly used in single-pilot operations as a self-discipline tool.
Plain English
Spoken phrases said out loud at specific moments in flight to confirm what the aircraft is doing or what the pilot is about to do. They are short, expected, and always said the same way.
Context Anchor
Used during checklists, takeoff, approach, landing, training flights, and multi-pilot cockpit procedures.
Derivation
“Call out” comes from the everyday idea of saying something aloud so it is noticed. In aviation, it narrows to a planned spoken cue, not just any spoken remark.
Why Pilots Care
They keep both pilots aware of the aircraft state and reduce the risk of missing critical information.
Intuition Check
Call-outs are not the same as casual cockpit conversation or any radio transmission. In this context, a call-out is a planned spoken cue tied to a specific point, condition, or action.
Example Sentence 1
On the takeoff roll, the first officer made the standard call-outs of 'Eighty knots,' 'V1,' and 'Rotate.'
Example Sentence 2
Standard call-outs confirmed the landing gear was down before touchdown.