Aeronautical Code signals

The Aeronautical Code signals are radio signal codes. They are part of a larger set of Q Codes allocated by the ITU-R. The QAA–QNZ code range includes phrases applicable primarily to the aeronautical service, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

First defined in ICAO publication "Doc 6100-COM/504/1" in 1948 and in "ICAO Procedures for Air Navigation Services, Abbreviations and Codes (PAN a S-ABC)" [Doc8400-4] (4th edition 1989), the majority of the Q codes have slipped out of common use; for example today reports such as QAU ("I am about to jettison fuel") and QAZ ("I am flying in a storm") would be voice or computerized transmissions. But several remain part of the standard ICAO radiotelephony phraseology in aviation.