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Author Topic: Unicom?  (Read 19742 times)

flyMKEmilwaukee414

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Unicom?
« on: February 18, 2006, 10:50:14 AM »
What does UNICOM really mean?



Offline Jason

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Unicom?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2006, 10:57:29 AM »
Quote from: Pilot/Controller Glossary
UNICOM- A nongovernment communication facility which may provide airport information at certain airports. Locations and frequencies of UNICOMs are shown on aeronautical charts and publications.

(See AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY.)

(Refer to AIM.)

flyMKEmilwaukee414

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Unicom?
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2006, 11:01:09 AM »
are unicom's used for private airports ?

Offline JetScan1

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Unicom?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2006, 11:05:35 AM »
My guess is the name originated as an acronym for UNIversal COMmunication. If that's what you're asking ? In the old old days when they started using the term I think all UNICOM frequencies used the same "universal" frequency of 122.800 ? But I'm just guessing. DJ

illini52

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Unicom?
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2006, 01:37:47 PM »
There is a lot of confusion between UNICOM and CTAF.  Often times the CTAF and UNICOM are on the safe frequency, especially at small airports.  UNICOM is a physical station, often times a radio at an FBO.  This is where you can ask for fuel, airport advisory, etc.  At larger airports, UNICOM is often 122.95.   There is a number of different UNICOM frequencies, but many are paired with the CTAF (122.8, 123.0, 123.05 etc).  

So CTAF is just a frequency where you announce intentions and pattern position etc; UNICOM is an actual radio somewhere with a person behind it (usually).

Hopefully that makes some sense.

Offline Jason

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Unicom?
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2006, 01:57:59 PM »
Quote from: illini52
There is a lot of confusion between UNICOM and CTAF.  Often times the CTAF and UNICOM are on the safe frequency, especially at small airports.  UNICOM is a physical station, often times a radio at an FBO.  This is where you can ask for fuel, airport advisory, etc.  At larger airports, UNICOM is often 122.95.   There is a number of different UNICOM frequencies, but many are paired with the CTAF (122.8, 123.0, 123.05 etc).  

So CTAF is just a frequency where you announce intentions and pattern position etc; UNICOM is an actual radio somewhere with a person behind it (usually).

Hopefully that makes some sense.


For the most part though, CTAF and UNICOM are different at towered controlled fields (Unicom at towered airports is usually 122.95), but are usually the same at non-towered fields.  ...best check the A/FD for specific airport information.

I know plenty of airports that have more than one UNICOM frequency for each FBO that operates one.  There is also "multicom" but that's a whole different story....

Jason

Offline JetScan1

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Unicom?
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2006, 02:12:58 PM »
One thing I've always wondered about, at most large US airports like ORD, JFK, IAD, etc, they list a published UNICOM frequency of 122.950. Would someone actually answer you if you called "Kennedy UNICOM" on 122.950 ? I'm guessing no and wondering why they actually have a published UNICOM frequency at these large airports ? DJ

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KJFK

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KORD

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KIAD

Offline Jason

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Unicom?
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2006, 02:18:20 PM »
Quote from: JetScan1
One thing I've always wondered about, at most large US airports like ORD, JFK, IAD, etc, they list a published UNICOM frequency of 122.950. Would someone actually answer you if you called "Kennedy UNICOM" on 122.950 ? I'm guessing no and wondering why they actually have a published UNICOM frequency at these large airports ? DJ

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KJFK
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KORD
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KIAD


It might be monitored, but I doubt it.  Most of the larger airports (take JFK for example) are NOT GA friendly, and all other aircraft arriving are airliners who have their own company frequency, SATCOM, ACARS (to receive gate and connection information printed and read to pax onboard) or ramp control frequency.

I think ORD may be the same.   ....but not IAD, since they accomidate many GA/charter/corprate aircraft and most likely monitor and use their unicom frequency, or the frequency used by the FBO [Signature or Landmark].

Most ARINC/UNICOM frequencies are posted for FBO's ("FBO, Fuel Providers, and Aircraft Ground Support" section of AirNav airport page) under "Contact information" on AirNav.  ...you sometimes have to look down further than the general frequency information, since many airports that have those multiple FBO's use their own frequency.

Sample from Panorama @ HPN:
"ARINC 132.00
914-328-9800
888-359-7266"

IIRC, the A/FD only publishes the main unicom frequency (AirNav get's their data from the A/FD) so a good reference to have is a current Acukwik (Link to Acukwik North America) which publishes the airport information in addition to FBOs on the field, the services they offer, and unicom/telephone frequency/number for each applicable FBO (and many other things...)

Jason

Offline JetScan1

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Unicom?
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2006, 02:38:19 PM »
Actually just checking I see Signature does have an FBO at ORD and they do use 122.950, they also have one at IAD but don't use 122.950. Not sure who operates an FBO at JFK ? But then you wouldn't call "Chicago UNICOM", you'd call "Signature Chicago". Up here in Canada a UNICOM frequency and the "UNICOM" callsign generally only refers to a frequency used for airport traffic information, most Flying Clubs and FBO's would have their own frequency and it wouldn't be referred to as a "UNICOM". In the US you seem to use the term to describe both.

http://www.bba-aviation.com/flightsupport/locations/ord/

Offline KSYR-pjr

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Unicom?
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2006, 03:01:44 PM »
Quote from: flyMKEmilwaukee414
are unicom's used for private airports ?


In the US, there is another type called multicoms.  These are common at private airports.

Offline 6000&Airborne

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Unicom?
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2006, 07:35:03 PM »
Another reason for the unicom at ORD is we work ramp control at the Southwest cargo area during 2100-0600 local.  Cargo that flies in during the day transmit "in da blind" since there isn't much traffic during those hours.  The majority comes here in the early, early hours of the day.