Originally Posted by mad_jock
Well I have a had 3 requests to do practise pans from Scottish area to use 121.5.
They asked if we would help then told us that our transponder was knackard when we were asked to squawk by the controller.
Until 1998 I had a Scottish D&D ATCO licence and its the only way they can train staff on using 121.5 for real. London D&D has auto-triangulation on 121.5 with it displayed on a PC type screen which has detailed overlay maps. Scottish D&D has to rely on airfields and (mainly) the coastguard giving the DF reading, which is then plotted manually on a map. Thats why it takes so long.
Its up to D&D to decide whats acceptable or unacceptable for the emergency frequency to be used for.
Nah, they are the operators. Emergency frequency usage is decided MUCH higher up the food chain
BD