These coded phrases are used by pilots to communicate delays, turbulence and even warnings about annoying passengers

15 Secret Phrases Pilots Say

Have you ever been on an airplane and heard the terms crosscheck, gate lice or blue juice and wondered what the heck was going on? Pilot phrases can spark some interest, whether you’re a frequent flier, an aviation enthusiast or simply have an inquisitive child sitting in the airplane seat next to you.
Many of the secret phrases pilots use mean something quite different from what you might guess. Keep reading, because we researched aviation trivia to decipher 15 of the secret phrases pilots use to communicate.
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The pilot alphabet
The first secret of pilot phrases you should know is the pilot alphabet. To avoid confusion with similar sounding consonants, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has a standard phonetic alphabet for aviation use: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.
Numbers get special treatment too. Pilots pronounce most numbers normally, with these exceptions: Zero (0) is always “zero,” not “oh.” Three becomes “tree,” five becomes “fife” and nine becomes “niner.”
Crosscheck
Hockey fans may picture one flight attendant going into the penalty box for a two-minute cross-checking minor, but in pilot phrases, crosscheck means that one crew member has verified the task of another. Flight attendants crosscheck each other’s stations to make sure the plane’s doors are armed or disarmed before takeoff and after landing.
Last-minute paperwork
When the pilot announces that she’s “just finishing up some last-minute paperwork,” it means that everything is ready to go, but she needs to make adjustments to the weight-and-balance record, or make a slight revision to the flight plan before takeoff.
Gate lice
First of all, ick. But it’s not what you think: “Gate lice” is secret pilot code for discussing those passengers who gather around the airport gate before boarding has even started so they can be the first on the plane. Just as with actual lice, it spreads easily and there’s no foolproof way to treat the condition.
Blue juice
There are several foods and drinks to avoid ordering on a plane. But whatever you do, do not ask for blue juice from the in-flight beverage service. This secret pilot phrase is code for the water in the lavatory toilets, which is colored, well, blue.
Crotch watch
This phrase that pilots use sounds wrong, but it is actually benign: Crotch watch, or “groin scan,” refers to the required check that flight attendants do to ensure that all passengers have their seat belts fastened before takeoff and landing.
All-call
This secret phrase pilots say instructs flight attendants to hop on the telephone. An “all-call” is sort of an in-air conference call with the pilot, maybe to discuss blue juice or a crotch watch.
Holding pattern
One thing your pilot won’t tell you but you can translate if you know the lingo? When you hear a pilot say “holding pattern,” get ready to fly in an oval. You likely won’t be landing on time, thanks to weather or a traffic delay on the ground.
Final approach
Two of the most beautiful words in air travel are “final approach,” because it means the flight is almost over. The runway is below and straight ahead, so there’s no more turning and no more holding pattern—it is time to land the plane.
Air pocket
Pilots deem the word turbulence a little too disturbing for passengers; hearing it over a plane’s intercom system is enough to send shivers down some passengers’ spines. Air pocket, on the other hand, conjures images of fluffy white clouds. In reality, turbulence and air pockets are one and the same.
Deadhead
While they may indeed be Grateful Dead fans, “deadhead crew” is the common phrase pilots use when referring to off-duty pilots and/or crew on board the plane as passengers.
The jumpseat
There’s a fold-up seat in the cockpit called the jumpseat. It’s usually reserved for FAA inspectors or off-duty pilots heading back to their home airport. The jumpseat is hidden from passengers, but it’s not the only hidden airplane feature they might want to know about.
Zulu time
No matter if you depart Orlando on Eastern Daylight Time and land three hours earlier in Pacific Time in Los Angeles, your pilot is always on “zulu time.” This 24-hour clock set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the universal aviation time kept by pilots everywhere across the globe while they’re in the air.
George
File this one under “strange airplane trivia.” The plane’s autopilot system has a universal nickname of “George.” The autopilot system is commonly used when the plane reaches its cruising altitude or when the pilot has been flying the plane for more than 10 hours—that’s when George will take the reins.
Souls on board
Every living person on the plane—from the pilot to the passenger in the last row’s window seat—is considered a “soul.” It may sound ominous, but don’t be alarmed when you overhear the pilot or a flight attendant report the number of “souls on board” during your next flight. Just don’t be one of the souls who asks how the windows roll down, just one of the crazy requests people have made on airplanes.
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Sources:
- PHL: “The Aviation Alphabet”
- Qantas Newsroom: “Arm doors, cross check – learn the cabin crew talk”