Mickey Mouse 123.45

[romeoyankee]

Hey Guys,

Somebody asked about this in another thread and after doing a search I couldnt find the answer already posted here.  I figured Id post a thread just in case anybody else is interested.

Anyways..

Here are some good pilot air-air mickey mouse frequencies:

123.45

122.75

[Unbeliever]

122.85 used to be an air-to-air frequency as well.

And while it's legal as an air-to-air frequency in Canada (assuming that's why you have a maple-leaf avatar) and the rest of the world, 123.45 is NOT a legal air-to-air frequency in the USA. 123.45 is actually assigned.

--Carlos V.

[romeoyankee]

oh yeah?  Assigned eh.. I didnt know that (and had to throw the "eh" in there to confirm your canadian guess.. haha). 

I have actually flown alot down in the states and have heard alot of stories on 123.45...  Which pilot is sleeping with which stewardess...  which city has the best women.. that kind of stuff.

I think that alot of people use 123.45 in other places so they just assume they can use it over the US as well.

Do you know any examples of where it is in use?

[Greg01]

Oh yeah, they use it...not necessarily legally!

Greg

[Unbeliever]

Do you know any examples of where it is in use?

It's a frequency assigned for flight test.  The following link lists the licensees for 123.45 MHz in the US.

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/genmen/uls/frequency_res.hts?db_id=1%209&rows=0&radio_serv=&freq=00000123.45000000

--Carlos V.

[Unbeliever]

122.85 used to be listed in the AIM as air-to-air, but is also assigned.

Licensees for that frequency:

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/genmen/uls/frequency_res.hts?db_id=1%209&rows=0&radio_serv=&freq=00000122.85000000

--Carlos V.

[Ben Diss]

Well shoot.  Ok, no more 123.45 for air-to-air.  What's the correct one then?  122.75?

[romeoyankee]

meh.. its always going to be 123.45 for me.. If I ever hear another pilot telling me to go Mickey Mouse thats what Im going to tune it to

[JetScan1]

its always going to be 123.45 for me..

From the Transport Canada AIM:

5.13 VHF Frequency Allocations

5.13.3 Air-to-Air

For air-to-air communications between pilots within the Canadian Southern Domestic Airspace, the correct frequency to use is 122.75 MHz; in the Northern Domestic Airspace and the North Atlantic, the frequency allocated by ICAO is 123.45 MHz.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/publications/tp14371/COM/5-0.htm#5-13-3

The intent is to use 123.450 in the above designated areas for operational purposes only. 123.450 is also designated air-air in the New York Oceanic airspace over the Atlantic and the Caribbean routes. I've heard a few guys get chewed out on 123.450 from some airline types for using this frequency for idle chit chat. Standard airline procedure is to select 123.450 on VHF #1 and 121.500 on VHF #2 when operating in these HF/CPDLC areas when no ATC VHF is available, so if you are operating in or close to these areas be aware a lot of people will be monitoring. As a common courtesy most pilots will switch to a discrete company frequency or another frequency besides 123.450 if they want to yap. Although you wouldn't believe a lot of the stuff you hear on 123.450 in the middle of the Atlantic sometimes.

DJ
- B767 Captain

 

[seanb580]

I tuned to 123.45 today on my scanner and it was somewhat active.  I live about 15nm nw of IND and I assume that I was hearing pilots talking on the ground at IND.  So, my point is, that 123.45 is active in the IND area. 

Is there any relevance to the fact that the Mickey Mouse freq is 12345?

[romeoyankee]

no.. its just easy for pilots to remember.. they arent the smartest people on the planet..   hahahah

Ive always used 123.45 and everybody i know does the same!  if its busy they will select 122.75