Why do airplane pilots say Roger?

Question

Why do airplane pilots say Roger?

Answer 1

In forty years of flying I don't think I ever said "roger" unless I was talking about or to somebody with that name. Never said "wilco" either and I sure never said "over and out".

Answer 2

I would say it's because of Roger Murdock, the copilot. BUT, some folks in this aircraft section of answers don't have a sense of humor at all, so I won't.

Answer 3

It means "Received."   In the US it is how advisory information (e.g. taxi routing, a frequency change, a transponder code, an altimeter setting) or a  clearance (e.g. takeoff, route, hold, approach, landing, hold short) can be acknowleged.

Answer 4

That pretty much covers it.  There are lots of brevity codes in aviation.

WILCO is one, "copy",

"Mayday" from the French, which I'll butcher if I spell: maidaiz? perhaps -- emergency.

Answer 5

check this:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board...

Answer 6

In voice procedures, "Roger" means "GUM" (got your message) in both military- and civilian aviation radio communications. This usage comes from the initial R of received: R was called Roger in then-current radio alphabets such as the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet.It is also often shortened in writing to "rgr".

Contrary to popular belief, Roger does not mean "I will comply". That distinction goes to the acronym wilco, a contraction of the phrase "will comply".

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These words are used in radio communications because static and poor reception can hinder the exchange of information.  Some words and letters sound alike or are hard to understand over the air.  Example. The letters B, C, D, might  sound alike under these circumstances but by saying BRAVO, CHARLIE, DELTA, there can be no mistakes.

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Answer 7

you are just letting the tower controller know you heard and copyed what he said because it would be very confusing if they gave you directions and you just said nothing then how would they know you heard them? before they say roger they readback what the controller just told them and if the readback is correct the tower controller will say after they say readback correct that's a good time to say roger so it is just a way of saying OK in "pilot language"

Answer 8

It goes back to the days when all radio transmissions were in Morse Code.. the letter R was keyed in acknowledgement of a message received. When phonetics came in later, the procedure remained and the word Roger was used.