Definition
Aircraft radios used to transmit and receive voice messages between the pilot and air traffic control, flight service stations, other aircraft, and ground personnel, operating primarily in the VHF aviation band (118.000–136.975 MHz) and, for some operations, HF or UHF bands.
Plain English
The radios in the aircraft that the pilot uses to talk to controllers, other pilots, and ground stations.
Context Anchor
Seen during IFR flight planning, cockpit setup, frequency changes, and any discussion of maintaining radio contact with air traffic control.
Derivation
Communication comes from a Latin word meaning “to share or make common.” Radio refers to sending information through invisible radio waves. Together, the phrase points to equipment that shares spoken information without a wire connection.
Why Pilots Care
They are required to receive ATC clearances, report position and altitude, and obtain traffic and weather updates.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse communication radios with navigation equipment. Communication radios are for talking and listening; navigation equipment is for finding where to go.
Example Sentence 1
Before taxi, the pilot tuned the communication radio to ground control and requested clearance to the active runway.
Example Sentence 2
During the IFR climb, the crew used the communication radios to request a higher altitude from center.