chippie chappie
our 9's had the ''smokeless'' engines (well, less smoke anyway).
I guess I am part boy scout, I loved to have 121.5 on in case I could be the first to help out by reporting an ELT or relay a mayday.
our airline did have us monitor a company "guard" frequency other than 121.5 as well as ACARS data link.
In order to get to be better pilots, we must face our shortcomings straight on. that is one reason I made the post: REALITY CHECK...hope you will all check it out!
I don't know about the rest of you, but I would write down the frequency on the chart with position each time. By the end of the chart cycle, you knew when the freq change would happen and could keep an eye on the ATC boys and girls.
This was more important about 24 years ago when then president RR fired all the controllers...in my view our ATC has never quite recovered!
(so of course now, our FAA wants pay cuts for new controllers!...when will they learn?)
jon