Updated: 2023-06-23 --- # Mandatory Readbacks A readback of instructions gives a controller the "warm fuzzy feeling" that the instructed pilot has acknowledged what they are being told to do. However, not all instructions need to be read back. Below are a list of **mandatory readbacks** pilots need to remember. - ATC route clearances - All types of clearances including instructions for departure, taxi, hold short of, cross, take off from, land on, and approaches. (Clearances always start with "Cleared") - Runway-in-use - Altimeter settings - Level/Altitude - Heading - Speed While reading back everything helps, it's better to keep communications short, clear, and concise to free up the radio for potentially more important transmissions such as emergencies. For example, pilots shouldn't readback anything after "expect". >[!example] Example > ==ATC==: "Victory 1-1, Nellis Approach, radar contact, left 180, descend maintain 10000, you can expect vectors for straight in approach runway 21L." > `A/C`: "Victory 1-1, left 180, descend maintain 10000, we will expect that."