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Tuesday, September 10, 2024

"Roger. Wilco."

Pilots in cockpit

In aviation communication, the term "Roger" is used as part of the standardized phonetic alphabet to represent the letter "R." However, it's important to note that its usage has evolved over time, and it no longer serves its original purpose.

In the early days of aviation, especially during World War II and shortly thereafter, radio communication was not as clear and reliable as it is today. To minimize misunderstandings and miscommunications, a standardized phonetic alphabet, known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet or the NATO phonetic alphabet, was developed. This alphabet assigns specific words to each letter to ensure clarity when transmitting letters or words over radio.

For "R," the word "Roger" was assigned. In this context, "Roger" meant "Received." When a pilot or air traffic controller said "Roger," it indicated that they had received and understood the message. It was a way to confirm that information had been accurately transmitted.

However, modern aviation communication has moved away from using "Roger" and "Received" in this context. Instead, the term "Roger" has largely been replaced with "Wilco," which is short for "Will Comply." So, when a pilot acknowledges a message with "Wilco," they are not only indicating that they have received the message but also that they will comply with the instructions given.

In summary, while "Roger" was historically used in aviation to mean "Received," its usage has changed over time, and it is now considered somewhat outdated. "Wilco" is the more common and precise way for pilots to acknowledge instructions and indicate their intention to comply in modern aviation communications.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model

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