# 3 by 3 / 5 by 5 (Flying) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-by-3-5-by-5-flying/196550 "2003-08-20T23:36:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homer\_J.Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a698b9/32.png) [@Homer\_J.Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J.Simpson)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-by-3-5-by-5-flying/196550/1 "2003-08-20T23:36:29Z")
What does it mean when a pilot says they are 3 by 3 or 5 by 5? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-by-3-5-by-5-flying/196550/2 "2003-08-20T23:48:01Z")
It was originally radio terminology referring to signal strength and readability. If you’re dealing with a five point scale for both, then a signal that is coming in “5 x 5” would be a perfect signal, both strong and perfectly readable. The phrase has evolved to mean “everything’s fine”. So if you hear a pilot say “five by five”, consider it a good thing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-by-3-5-by-5-flying/196550/3 "2003-08-20T23:51:24Z")
They are speaking of the signal strength and readability of a radio transmission. The first digit is signal strength, according to this scale from 1 to 5: 1 Scarcely Perceptible 2 Weak 3 Fairly Good 4 Good 5 Very Good The second is readability, on this scale from 1 to 5: 1 Bad 2 Poor 3 Fair 4 Good 5 Excellent So “5 by 5” would mean “Signal strength very good, readability excellent”. ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J.Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a698b9/32.png) [@Homer\_J.Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J.Simpson)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-by-3-5-by-5-flying/196550/4 "2003-08-21T03:00:55Z")
> [@](#): > > The phrase has evolved to mean “everything’s fine”. So if you hear a pilot say “five by five”, consider it a good thing Couldn’t this just mean the pilot can hear ground control very well as they are telling him he is going to crash into the ocean?