A method and system for wireless frequency division multiple access communications in the uplink and/or downlink directions, having an improved pilot insertion scheme for single carrier based communications is provided. A first time duration for transmission of a data payload block (7) is established, and the transmission is processed using a first frequency domain or a time domain. A second time duration for transmission of at least one pilot block (70) is established, and the transmission is processed using a second frequency domain or the time domain, the second time duration (70) is not greater than the first time duration (7).