"Break Break" - what does it mean?

[photofly]

I flew into Kingston the other day, and Kingston Radio used the phrase "Break Break" on their frequency a few times. I've not heard that before. Can someone enlighten me what it means?

[gustind]

BREAK - Indicates the separation between portions of the message (to be used where there is no clear distinction between the text and other portions of the message.)

From MANOPS: “I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message”.

Saying BREAK BREAK indicates that a different message is about to be said to another person without pause.

For example:
ABC, Kingston Radio, check joining straight in final runway 19 traffic B1900 on the ILS 19 Approach BREAK BREAK Georgian 7369 traffic 12 o'clock 3 nm same altitude and descending a Cessna 172 etc,.

[photofly]

Aha, that makes a lot of sense, thanks very much.

It's curious that I haven't ever heard it from a tower or centre controller.

[thatdaveguy]

Aha, that makes a lot of sense, thanks very much.

It's curious that I haven't ever heard it from a tower or centre controller.

It's not all that common, it's faster to let go of the PTT for a half second

[bcflyer]

I hear it quite a bit when things get busy. Usually in the terminal enviroment but have heard it from enroute controllers on occasion as well.

[The Old Fogducker]

Interesting that Navcan has developed its own internal definition for the term "Break, Break" .... because internationally in radio communications, that prosign means that emergency high priority traffic information follows in this transmission without releasing the microphone switch.

A single "Break" means that one module of information transmission to station #1 has concluded, and the next piece of info is directed at another recipient without releasing the mike to receive a confirming transmission from station #1.

"Break, Break" is passed to all stations on frequency as an alerting method to say .... "Hey everybody, we have an emergency .... everybody shut your yaps, and listen really closely to what I'm going to say, 'cause here it comes .... "

Here's a copy & paste:

Break-Break — Signals to all listeners on the frequency, the message to follow is priority. Almost always reserved for emergency traffic or in NATO forces, an urgent 9 line or Frag-O.

73 de Oscar Fox Delta, former RADOP and current Emergency Comm Guy

[Changes in Latitudes]

I heard a pilot use it once on a tower frequency; he responded to ATC then said "break, break" so he could talk to another aircraft about something useless. Classy.

[photofly]

The tower controller might actually only have said "break" once, rather than "break break" and I could have misremembered it. At the time I was wondering if it had anything to do with the old CB-style "breaker breaker".

[HeadingAltitudeSpeed]

It's not all that common, it's faster to let go of the PTT for a half second

Unless of course the point is to prevent an aircraft for starting a long readback when there is a more pressing transmission to be made.

Interesting that Navcan has developed its own internal definition for the term "Break, Break" .... because internationally in radio communications, that prosign means that emergency high priority traffic information follows in this transmission without releasing the microphone switch.

A single "Break" means that one module of information transmission to station #1 has concluded, and the next piece of info is directed at another recipient without releasing the mike to receive a confirming transmission from station #1.

There is no internal definition for "Break, Break" Our only reference is to a single break. In the terminal environment it is used mostly for frequency control. Sometimes I have a few things that need to be done in quick succession and readback from someone will interrupt my timing. If you receive the clearance/instruction before the "break", comply with what you are told and wait to give the readback until the controller requests it. We usually expect the second guy to answer immediately and will chase you down for a readback if you don't offer it up when the frequency is available.

[W0XOF]

Here is the FS MANOPS reference:

BREAK — “I hereby indicate the separation
between portions of the message.” (N)

736.1 Note 1:
Used where there is no clear distinction between
the text and other portions of the message.

BREAK BREAK — “I hereby indicate the
separation between messages transmitted to
different aircraft in a very busy environment.”

[The Old Fogducker]

So I return to my question .... "I wonder why NAVCAN decided to invent its own radiotelephony definition which is grossly different than "the usual" definition in radio communications?"

dah dah di di dit di di di dah dah

OFD

[thatdaveguy]

So I return to my question .... "I wonder why NAVCAN decided to invent its own radiotelephony definition which is grossly different than "the usual" definition in radio communications?"

dah dah di di dit di di di dah dah

OFD

1) I'm fairly sure this is a hold over from Transport Canada regardless, so this is not a Nav Can invention.
2) We use phraseology such as "Break for emergency" or "Stop transmitting, mayday" which in my opinion is more clear to all users than "Break break".

[W0XOF]

The CAA in the UK has the same references as above for "Break" and "Break Break" in their Radiotelephony Manual.

[ei ei owe]

The controller in YRT uses it all the time when soliciting position reports.

[The Old Fogducker]

Wow W0X0F .... I find that to be very interesting.

Not the first time there has been more than one designation for the same combination of letters I guess.

I always thought the person on the other end of the mike didn't have a clue about radio procedure on the very rare times I've heard "Break, Break" used as opposed to a single "break." .... going back to the days of FSS and Controller operations in the days of it still being a part of Transport Canada, several of whom were also ham operators, thought the same way. I thought it may have crept into the lexicon via CB radio expression "pollution."

Goes to show .... 'ya learn something new every day.

Thanks for the references W0X0F

[W0XOF]

@Old Fogducker

Funny thing though, I have never used "Break Break". I have always used the single "Break" with continuous transmitting with more than one aircraft. I only came across the FSS reference about 2 months ago when I questioned a trainee I was OJIing about his use of the double break. So kinda new to me too. No idea when it was introduced, as I'm sure I didn't learn that on basic.

Didn't sound right to me. Kind of annoying actually.

[frac]

The CAA in the UK has the same references as above for "Break" and "Break Break" in their Radiotelephony Manual.

It is also straight from ICAO DOC 9432/AN 925 - Manual of Radiotelephony

2.6 Standard Words and Phrases


BREAK — “I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message.”

Note: Used where there is no clear distinction between the text and other portions of the message.

BREAK BREAK — “I hereby indicate the separation between messages transmitted to different aircraft in a very busy environment.”

Sounds Familiar?

Marc-Olivier