airtraffic

Author Topic: Any good Air-to-Air Frequencies?  (Read 16381 times)

Offline tvols

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
Any good Air-to-Air Frequencies?
« on: December 18, 2011, 10:39:34 PM »
I'm kind of new to this whole posting thing, so bear with me.

Anyway, are there any good air-to-air frequencies? Anywhere in the world.

Thank You!



Offline K5PAT

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 189
Re: Any good Air-to-Air Frequencies?
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2011, 10:56:26 PM »
Here's a website with some air to air info:
http://www.qsl.net/n4jri/genavn.htm
     I hear a lot of air to air on 123.45, although it is not a legal air to air freq.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2011, 11:01:40 PM by K5PAT »

Offline pcw

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Any good Air-to-Air Frequencies?
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2011, 06:29:06 PM »
K5PAT wrote, "I hear a lot of air to air on 123.45, although it is not a legal air to air freq."

I've heard this remark numerous times, which seems to have evolved as an urban legend on this and other discussion forums.

According to the FAA Flight Information Publication "Alaska Supplemental" booklet (FAA Product ID: ACS), in the Notices portion of the booklet, under the heading Communications and Position Reporting, Section III, it states,

"Normally, each oceanic radio station continuously monitors all assigned frequencies.  If en route HF communications fail, every effort should be made by the flight crew to relay progress reports through other aircraft.  The VHF frequency 123.45 MHz is for exclusive use as an air-to-air frequency communications channel (see paragraph IV.B. below).  In emergencies, however, initial contact for such relays may be established on 121.5 MHz (the emergency frequency guarded by all aircraft operating in the oceanic airspace) and transferred as necessary to 123.45, etc...."

123.45 MHz is indeed a legal air-to-air frequency for oceanic flights.

Offline Unbeliever

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 102
Re: Any good Air-to-Air Frequencies?
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2011, 06:48:06 PM »
In the rest of the world outside the Contiguous 48 United States, 123.45 MHz is the standard air-to-air frequency.

Inside the contiguous 48 United States, 123.45 is NOT a valid air-to-air frequency.  It is assigned to flight test for various airplane manufacturers by the FCC.  122.75 MHz is the valid frequency.

Ref: 47 C.F.R. § 87.303(a) for 123.45 MHz
Ref: 47 C.F.R. § 87.187(j) for 122.75 MHz

There are also local rules for each country that may restrict 123.45 MHz.  123.45 MHz is only really a safe bet for oceanic.

There was an FCC NPRM to unrestrict 123.45 MHz, but that went dormant, died on the vine and was terminated.

--Carlos V.
« Last Edit: December 24, 2011, 07:03:47 PM by Unbeliever »