Callsign: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:47, 2 September 2009

A callsign is a unique nickname used primarily over wireless communications for brevity.

Callsigns assigned to pilots and flight officers can be a play on the aviator's name, or based on a specific circumstance or attribute (sometimes comical). Examples:

Such callsigns are also used informally outside of wireless communication. For example, Karl Agathon is often in conversation referred to by his callsign "Helo" rather than his given name outside of the cockpit.

Specific military callsigns are reserved for certain positions or functions rather than any individuals. A ship's commander will assume the callsign "actual", e.g. "Galactica actual, "Pegasus actual", etc. These callsigns are not for informal use.

Ships can also have callsigns. Vipers and Raptors callsigns are based on their tail numbers (Viper 7242, Raptor 718). In a special case, "Colonial Heavy 798" assumes the callsign "Colonial One" after becoming the seat of the Colonial president.

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-'''Callsigns''' are [[wireless]] nicknames given to pilots or flight officers. Most callsigns are typically of a derisive or comical nature, sometimes given for a specific circumstance, and usually based off of some attribute for the christened pilot. Examples of callsigns are "Apollo" ([[Lee Adama]]), "Starbuck" ([[Kara Thrace]]), "Racetrack" ([[Margaret Edmondson]]), and "Husker" ([[William Adama]]).
+A '''callsign''' is a unique nickname used primarily over [[wireless]] communications for brevity.
-A callsign can be used to identify an individual regardless of the circumstance in which it is used. For example, Karl "Helo" Agathon is often referred to simply by his callsign "[[Helo]]" as opposed to his given name "Karl", even by his wife and regardless of whether he is piloting or not.
+Callsigns assigned to pilots and flight officers can be a play on the aviator's name, or based on a specific circumstance or attribute (sometimes comical). Examples:
-A different type of military callsign is generic, often referring to a position that person occupies. A ship's commander will typically assume the callsign of "[[actual]]". For example, the commanding officer of ''Galactica'' will be referred to as "''Galactica'' actual" over comm traffic.
+*[[William Adama|William "Husker" Adama]]
+*[[Lee Adama|Lee "Apollo" Adama]]
+*[[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]]
+*[[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
+*[[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]]
-Some ships also have callsigns. For example, ''[[Colonial One]]'' was originally referred to over comm traffic as ''Colonial Heavy 798'', but assumed the callsign ''Colonial One'' after becoming the seat of the Colonial president.
+Such callsigns are also used informally outside of wireless communication. For example, Karl Agathon is often in conversation referred to by his callsign "[[Helo]]" rather than his given name outside of the cockpit.
+Specific military callsigns are reserved for certain positions or functions rather than any individuals. A ship's commander will assume the callsign "[[actual]]", e.g. "Galactica'' actual, "Pegasus'' actual", etc. These callsigns are not for informal use.
+Ships can also have callsigns. Vipers and Raptors callsigns are based on their tail numbers ([[Viper 7242]], [[Raptor 718]]). In a special case, "Colonial Heavy 798" assumes the callsign "''[[Colonial One]]''" after becoming the seat of the Colonial president.
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