If you cannot hear ATC clearly, what should you do?

• A. Transmit louder.
• B. Switch to a different frequency immediately.
• C. Ignore and hope to hear later.
• D. Request clarification with "say again" and ensure you have correct reception before continuing.

Answer: (D)

When you can’t hear ATC clearly, the important step is to ask for clarification and confirm you’ve received the message correctly before you proceed. Using a standard phrase like “say again” lets ATC know you didn’t catch the instruction, and it gives you a fresh chance to hear the exact words. Once ATC repeats, you should verify you understood the instruction and, if needed, read it back to confirm you’ve got the details right. Only after you’re sure you have the correct reception should you continue.

Raising your transmit power or switching to another frequency won’t fix the underlying communication problem and can create safety risks or confusion. Ignoring the message and hoping to hear it later is not acceptable in a controlled airspace.