Definition
Two-way voice radio transmissions in the Very High Frequency band, specifically the 118.000–136.975 MHz range allocated for civil aviation air-to-ground and air-to-air communication. VHF signals travel in essentially straight lines (line-of-sight), so range depends on aircraft altitude and the height of the ground station's antenna.
Plain English
The radio system pilots use to talk to controllers and other aircraft. Because the signals travel in straight lines, you need to be high enough that nothing solid (like the curve of the Earth or a mountain) sits between your aircraft and the station you are talking to.
Context Anchor
Seen on a navigation/communication radio stack or display, where the pilot selects a communication frequency before making or receiving radio calls.
Derivation
Very High Frequency' refers to the radio spectrum band from 30 to 300 MHz. The aviation portion sits inside this band. The label is descriptive: these frequencies are 'high' compared to the AM broadcast band, but well below microwave frequencies.
Why Pilots Care
Provides clear, dependable voice contact essential for instrument flight rules, traffic separation, and safe operations in controlled airspace.
Grounding Statement
When you press the push-to-talk switch and speak to a tower, approach controller, or another aircraft on the selected frequency, you are using VHF Communications.
Intuition Check
VHF Communications does not mean every radio function in the panel. Here it means the voice-radio side used for talking, not the navigation side used for receiving guidance signals.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot tuned 121.5 on the VHF communications radio to monitor the emergency frequency.
Example Sentence 2
During the flight, VHF communications remained clear until the aircraft passed behind a mountain range.