Definition
A specific radio frequency, expressed in megahertz (MHz), used to transmit and receive voice communications between aircraft and ground stations such as air traffic control, flight service, towers, ground control, ATIS, or UNICOM.
Plain English
The radio channel a pilot tunes to in order to talk to a particular controller, tower, or service.
Context Anchor
Seen on airport information pages, cockpit displays, charts, and radio panels when selecting whom to call.
Derivation
Communication comes from a Latin word meaning “to share” or “make common.” Frequency comes from a Latin word meaning “often repeated.” In aviation radio use, the frequency is the repeated radio signal setting that lets two stations share voice messages.
Why Pilots Care
Correct tuning ensures reliable contact for traffic advisories, clearances, and airport information.
Analogy
It is like choosing the correct radio station in a car, except in the airplane you choose the channel so your call goes to the correct aviation service.
Intuition Check
Do not read communication frequency as just any number listed for an airport. It means the radio setting used for talking, not a navigation setting or a distance.
Example Sentence 1
After selecting the nearest airport on the PFD, the pilot tuned the tower's communication frequency into the standby slot on the radio.
Example Sentence 2
After handoff the controller gave a new communication frequency for the approach control.