jesus christ I thought the same thing

While technically correct your correction has nothing to do with actual radio traffic. It's not about spelling it's about SOUNDING. "Alpha" sounds exactly like "Alfa" and that's the important thing to know when you're on the RADIO using spoken language. I've been a ham 25 years-we use all the bands and modes from "DC to daylight" in frequencies with CW (morse code)/SSB/AM/FM/ and digital modes galore. Aviation uses AM on VHF because squelching FM static might cover up pilots with marginal signal strength on their transmissions. FM would be so much nicer for ground control though.

@@wadepatton2433 Yes, but the point of the two intentional changes is that Alpha does not sound exactly like Alfa in all languages, and this system is intended to be international. Alpha sounds like Alp-Ha in some languages and Juliet sounds like Zhoo-lee-yay. Alfa and Juliett would be pronounced to SOUND correctly, so they are intentionally misspelled from an English point of view.

Okay, but the main thing is we don't get the sounding-similar letters "B, C, D, E, G, P, T, V, Z" and "A, J, K," or "M" and "N" confused by not using phonetics. I am bemused by the fact that we use "Quebeck" for "Q" and anyone who has been to that part of Canada knows that the Canadian/French pronunciation is "KAY beck". It's a real brain twister for me to spit out "CUE beck" when I know it's "KAY beck" in normal Canada-speak, which is nearly English. Methinks "Queen" or "Quincy" are better options there. Also of course we have to say "pa PAH" rather than "Pa pa" for that letter. Language is fascinating and trying to "mix them up" without mixups is important. I do love how airmen always use a confirmation repeat of the traffic passed--it can be frustrating when you don't get a confirmation of some sort on non-aviation frequencies-which happens a lot with untrained personnel. de Whiskey One Alfa Delta Echo, but sometimes I sign with "Alfalfa" because we can do that as hams-and the old guys get a kick out of it.

@@wadepatton2433 The official ICAO/NATO pronunciation for Q is KEH BECK, so there's no need to spit out anything else.

Tha's my point. It sounds nothing like the letter it represents. It's un-phonetic. But yes, I've been using it on the ham bands since 1996. Also use CW so I don't have to learn any of that. Over.