# Why do pilots say "roger" when talking on the radio **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 23, 2007, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361 "2007-02-23T11:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![maclir2001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@maclir2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maclir2001)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/1 "2007-02-23T11:53:07Z")
radio-telephone operators use the old phonetic alphabet to indicate receipt of a message using the same alpha-code that was used by radio-telegraph operators! There’s a long list of such codes that carry over from telegraph days, the most commonly known being R (spoken “roger” meaning message received) and W (spoken “wilco” meaning message understood and I will comply with it). The reference to Roger Roger is not necessarily to the movie “Airport” as radio operators have been making this joke ever since “roger” was used in communication. A common joke name among RT-phone folk has been Roger Wilco. The movie writers are just re-using another old joke. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/2 "2007-02-23T13:48:25Z")
Are you asking the question or answering it? Coz if you’re asking for more detailed history: > [@wikipedia](#): > > Roger also means “copy”, “heard you” on the radio in the military and civilian aviation. This usage comes from the letter “R” of “received” which in the old phonetic alphabet was called “roger” (now called Romeo) in radio alphabets (such as the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet). It is commonly followed by the word “that” to form the common aviation phrase “Roger That”. It is also often shortened in writing to “rgr”. > > It in fact does not mean “I will comply” as many think, that distinction goes to the phrase “wilco” which is formed from the phrase “will comply”. Check out the full artice [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger) So in answer to the thread title, it’s from an older phonetic alphabet. If the questions is why did they pick roger and not radishes, we’re gonna need a historian for that one I think. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/3 "2007-02-23T14:09:00Z")
I’ll wager that the OP is commenting on the report by Robin [Why do pilots say “roger” on the radio?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mroger.htm). So, let’s move this to Comments on Staff Reports. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/4 "2007-02-23T18:07:58Z")
I’m not sure about “Roger, roger” in _Star Wars_ being an allusion to _Airplane!_ (note exclamation point), though that could have played a part. It’s more likely to be a poke at naval “Aye-aye!” ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2007, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/5 "2007-02-24T08:03:01Z")
It’s noted in the staff report that R is now _Romeo_ in the phonetic alphabet but that no attempt was made to dislodge the phrase _Roger_. In the course of my work I sometimes have contact with Australian Customs vessels. They use _Romeo_ rather than _Roger_. Obviously a bit more “with it” than us aviators. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/6 "2007-02-25T22:40:22Z")
When I was in flight school in the late 1990’s the use of “roger” was being discouraged. The proper response to a statement/request/command from air traffic control, or from anyone else with business on the aviation bands, is now to repeat back what was said to you. Abbreviated forms OK. An example might be “Cessna 123AB please climb to 3,000 feet and turn to a heading of 90 degrees.” A proper response could be “3AB climbing to 3,000, will turn to 90 degrees.” The idea being that “roger” means you heard someone, but it’s not certain you _understood_ what was said unless you regurgitate it. In real life you do, occassionally, hear “roger” or “roger wilco” but it’s becoming much more rare than it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Mahogany\_Bomber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Mahogany\_Bomber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahogany_Bomber)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/7 "2007-02-28T01:03:26Z")
I’ve always been taught that you’re not supposed to say “roger wilco”. “Roger” means I have received your last transmission. “Wilco” means I have received your last transmission and will comply. To say both is as redundant as “Over and Out”. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/8 "2007-02-28T03:20:43Z")
Words like “roger” are formally known in Army parlance as “PROWORDS” and are specified in [Army FM 21-75, Chapter 7](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/21-75/Ch7.htm). They will not be leaving Army parlance anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2007, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-say-roger-when-talking-on-the-radio/393361/9 "2007-02-28T08:11:26Z")
Just wanted to add that the Hebew version of “Roger” used by the Israeli military is_root_ (“Ruth”). Just in case you were wondering.