International Alphabet is the common name for the alphabet spelling convention defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
ICAO has assigned a word to each of the alphabet letters in order to understand each letter well and avoid confusion using them in radio communication.
These words have been chosen to be understandable by any person in the world and non-dependent from one language.
This type of letter coding has been created during the second world war by the American army (with an initial spelling which has disappeared now).
These codes are mainly used in voice radio communication, and there is few application of using this alphabet in text mode: for example the ATIS information letter, some VFR points as well.
The table below presents the letter code used in the international alphabet with its English pronunciation.
| Character | Letter Code | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A | Alfa | AL-FAH |
| B | Bravo | BRAH-VOH |
| C | Charlie | CHAR-LEE |
| D | Delta | DELL-TAH |
| E | Echo | ECK-OH |
| F | Foxtrot | FOKS-TROT |
| G | Golf | GOLF |
| H | Hotel | HO-TELL |
| I | India | IN-DEE-AH |
| J | Juliet | JEW-LEE-ETT |
| K | Kilo | KEY-LOH |
| L | Lima | LEE-MAH |
| M | Mike | MIKE |
| N | November | NO-VEM-BER |
| O | Oscar | OSS-CAH |
| P | Papa | PAH-PAH |
| Q | Quebec | KEH-BECK |
| R | Romeo | ROW-ME-OH |
| S | Sierra | SEE-AIR-RAH |
| T | Tango | TANG-GO |
| U | Uniform | YOU-NE-FORM |
| V | Victor | VIK-TAH |
| W | Whiskey | WISS-KEY |
| X | X-ray | ECKS-RAY |
| Y | Yankee | YANG-KEY |
| Z | Zulu | ZOO-LOO |