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Altitude Confirmation- Nonradar

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Request a pilot to confirm assigned altitude on initial contact and when position reports are received unless:
Note

For the purpose of this paragraph, “initial contact” means a pilot's first radio contact with each sector/position.
1. The pilot states the assigned altitude, or
2. You assign a new altitude to a climbing or descending aircraft, or
3. TERMINAL. The aircraft was transferred to you from another sector/position within your facility (intrafacility).
  Phraseology
  
  (In level flight situations),
  VERIFY AT (altitude/flight level).
  (In climbing/descending situations),
  (if aircraft has been assigned an altitude below the lowest useable flight level),
  VERIFY ASSIGNED ALTITUDE (altitude).
  (If aircraft has been assigned a flight level at or above the lowest useable flight level),
  VERIFY ASSIGNED FLIGHT LEVEL (flight level).
USA. Reconfirm all pilot altitude read backs.
Phraseology

(If altitude read back is correct),
AFFIRMATIVE (altitude).
(If altitude read back is not correct),
NEGATIVE. CLIMB/DESCEND AND MAINTAIN (altitude),
or
NEGATIVE. MAINTAIN (altitude).