airtraffic

Author Topic: 4 for 4  (Read 5717 times)

Offline clowe

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
4 for 4
« on: August 07, 2006, 01:09:08 PM »
does anyone know what 4 for 4 stands for? I'm a relatively new student pilot and heard it on this site.



Offline KSYR-pjr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1722
Re: 4 for 4
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2006, 01:35:56 PM »
The new Arbys' "four roast beef sandwiches for four dollars" promotion?    :)

Seriously now, absent the actual clip and assuming you posted the entire phrase, this sounds to me like a (relatively poor phraseology) initial call-up where the pilot is stating the altitude currently at and the altitude assigned.   "Aircraft XXX, four thousand for four thousand," although I suspect you may have missed the first part of that call-up that may have indicated that the first "four" was hundreds of feet, not thousands of feet.

In the US, IFR aircraft are supposed to include their current altitude and assigned altitude in the initial check-in on a new frequency.

"Aircraft xxx, two point four for four" is a commonly used check-in phrase (altitudes would vary, of course), which means "altitude two thousand four hundred climbing (to) four thousand (assigned)."

A better check-in would be "XXX approach, aircraft XXX, two thousand four hundred climbing four thousand."



Offline flygirl

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 5
Re: 4 for 4
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2006, 05:17:04 PM »
I think it's most likely in reference to how well one can read a transmitter or radio, with 5 by 5 being the best. 

Offline KSYR-pjr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1722
Re: 4 for 4
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2006, 05:49:17 PM »
I think it's most likely in reference to how well one can read a transmitter or radio, with 5 by 5 being the best. 

Hmmm, I have been flying IFR all over the US for the last five years and I have never heard "four for four" used in reply to a query of radio reception.

What country are you based?