why do pilots say roger?

Answer 1

In the old phonetic alphabet, "R" used to be Roger (it's presently Romeo). The "Roger" (for "R") was used to imply the radio call was "Received". Correct on "Roger Wilco", means call was received and will comply with instruction.
Usually the atc will just want your N number and for you to repeat what was said.Maybe airline pilots around busy airports can get away with shortening it. An easy example is if they just instructed "9-0-4-0 Kilo, turn right heading 2-7-0" you would reply "right to 2-7-0, 4-0 kilo". Short and to the point. And they can catch a mistake that way if you would come back with the wrong heading. "HUH" and what?" are frowned, if you didn't understand you'd want to say "say again for 4-0 kilo?". The proper vocabulary you should at least TRY to use is in the FAR/AIM book.

Answer 2

To answer in the affirmative, pilots use the word "Affirm" and NOT "Roger". Legally speaking, the word "Roger" is simply a way of letting ATC know that the pilot received their last transmission. It can NEVER be used as a response to a question.

Examples of when "Roger" can be used would be when ATC lets the pilot know what the wind is doing on Final Approach...for example "G-ABCD, winds are 310 degrees 40kts", to which the pilot can legally reply "Roger".

There are several legal requirements to which a pilot must read back the information given to him by ATC. Some of these include taxi clearances, departure clearances, landing and take-off clearance, barometric pressure settings, speed/height clearance limits etc. However, there are a few to which a simple "Roger" will suffice....weather information passed on, or traffic in the vicinity. Often times when I flew in the U.S. the pilots wouldn't even reply roger, they'd just click the mic once to acknowledge, however back in Europe when I fly the pilots will indeed use the word "Roger" instead of the click on the mic.

Hope that helps to answer your question

However, there are more often times that a pilot must answer a question in the affirmative, and thus "Roger" will not do.

Answer 3

US civilian pilots never say "roger", "over and out", "wilco". That's all Hollywood.

Instead... you'll hear "WHAT was that?", "you want WHAT?!" and "Unhuh OK".

Seriously. I've been flying for 20 years.

Aviate, Navigate and then Communicate!

Answer 4

Not 100% sure, but I am guessing to have a standard, unmistakable response for "Yes". It's like when they say "fiver" or "niner" - to be sure what they are saying is heard correctly.

Why "roger"? No idea.

Answer 5

All or some may be right. But here in this dictionary of aircraft terminology is the one I like best:
http://www.lafa.com/aviation_terminology.htm

Answer 6

good question i think that it is used by most piolots all over the world i disagree that it is a hollywood thing

Happy New Year

Tom Wheeler

Answer 7

Takes to long to say Gearldine

Answer 8

For the same reason battle droids say it. It's a military thing i guess

Answer 9

roger literally means understood.

wilco means will carry out.

Answer 10

to confirm an order or request given by air traffic control