Originally Posted by
Sideslipper
Am I right in suspecting that in military zones ATC talk to military a/c on UHF, and civil a/c on VHF?
Going through one their zones once, ATC constantly asked me if I was still visual with a C130 climbing out, (I could hardly miss him), yet I never heard the C130 being asked if he could see me!
If so, it doesn't seem to make for good spacial awareness.
Not unusual for ATC to transmit on both VHF and UHF at the same time if appropriate. It can be a useful 'filter' to help minimize some of the R/T. If you go to Newcastle approach on UHF they have some sort of rebro; you can also hear the civil VHF transmissions from other aircraft.
As for hearing the C130, it was almost certainly on a different freq. At most busy military airfields that I have worked at the Departures has its own dedicated freq. Again filters out anyone else crossing or operating near the MATZ (Zone) and those recovering (Approach). Somewhere with excellent ATC (Linton) will always tell you about any conflicting traffic plus additional calls if they feel it would be prudent.
If the C130 was at Lyneham (FOT) then things will be different again. They don't have a MATZ but their own (class D?) airspace.
PS. I am
not an airtrafficker!