Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
aceatco, retired
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: one airshow or another
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
As Gonzo says, this comes up every so often. When it was raise on the Private Flying Forum in May 2003 BRL referred it the Radiocommunications Agency, now called Ofcom. Their reply is here (near the bottom) http://www.pprune.org/forums/printth...0&page=2&pp=20
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 45
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
LGW15, I do appreciate why you want to listen to the airband, but as you've learnt this isn't really the place to ask for frequencies! The are many spotters websites and/or publications advertised in aviation magazines where that information is readily available. 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ex pat
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
Gonzo
"but as you've learnt this isn't really the place to ask for frequencies!"
Don't you think its a shame that this is the case. Why shouldn't a guy ask about frequencies on this forum instead of getting a load of self righteous pompous replies about its legality?
It just makes us look like a bunch of prigs.
Best Regards
Prospero
"but as you've learnt this isn't really the place to ask for frequencies!"
Don't you think its a shame that this is the case. Why shouldn't a guy ask about frequencies on this forum instead of getting a load of self righteous pompous replies about its legality?
It just makes us look like a bunch of prigs.
Best Regards
Prospero
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LGW
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
prospero,
Thats how about 80% of the people on these forums come across to me as:
bunch of prigs
Although has been useful to have replies informing me of the legality.
Thats how about 80% of the people on these forums come across to me as:
bunch of prigs
Although has been useful to have replies informing me of the legality.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
Radar,
Is there any chance of having an FAQ stickied to the top? I can think of quite a few questions that get asked every couple of months.
LGW15,
Why don't you visit the tower. You'd then see that ATCOs do have a particularily vicious sense of humour. Give them a ring, they're usually fairly accomodating
Is there any chance of having an FAQ stickied to the top? I can think of quite a few questions that get asked every couple of months.
LGW15,
Why don't you visit the tower. You'd then see that ATCOs do have a particularily vicious sense of humour. Give them a ring, they're usually fairly accomodating
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
This actually raises quite an interesting point which, as a radio amateur and CB user I feel able to comment on.
Ofcom states that you are permitted to listen to broadcasts intended for public reception eg BBC, other commercial stations, Radio Amateurs, CB etc. This is the same Ofcom that explicitly prohibits radio amateurs and CB users from broadcasting (defined as a transmission intended for the reception of multiple listeners). Radio Amateurs (and, in general, CB users) make transmissions to specific stations - refered to by callsign, much like a transmission to a specific aircraft. These are 'private' communications and therefore (by Ofcoms definitions) illegal to listen in to. There are circumstances where radio amateurs, cb users and indeed aircraft may broadcast, in radio amateur and CB terms, this may be a CQ call and for aircraft (and amateurs & CB), mayday, pan pan, ATIS, nav beacons etc are all intended for mass-reception - i.e. a broadcast and therefore legal to listen to.
Sounds like too much legal mumbo-jumbo to be, appologies for the long post.
Matt
Ofcom states that you are permitted to listen to broadcasts intended for public reception eg BBC, other commercial stations, Radio Amateurs, CB etc. This is the same Ofcom that explicitly prohibits radio amateurs and CB users from broadcasting (defined as a transmission intended for the reception of multiple listeners). Radio Amateurs (and, in general, CB users) make transmissions to specific stations - refered to by callsign, much like a transmission to a specific aircraft. These are 'private' communications and therefore (by Ofcoms definitions) illegal to listen in to. There are circumstances where radio amateurs, cb users and indeed aircraft may broadcast, in radio amateur and CB terms, this may be a CQ call and for aircraft (and amateurs & CB), mayday, pan pan, ATIS, nav beacons etc are all intended for mass-reception - i.e. a broadcast and therefore legal to listen to.
Sounds like too much legal mumbo-jumbo to be, appologies for the long post.
Matt
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
AlanM, You should listen to some of my coordinations at work!
Matt,
I can understand you being able (legally) to listen to ATIS, beacons etc but you might be hard pushed to defend listening to 121.5 if you got caught. As a general rule, D and D have got this one covered. So it could be argued that this is not for mass reception. If however you lived in the back of beyond, Aus, you could claim that it is for mass reception.
To be honest, I don't mind anyone listening in. Hey, I hope you all enjoy my dulcet tones. Quite frankly, I think the breakthrough from taxis etc etc is more of an issue.
As an aside, How many people use iTrips in their cars? These are illegal as well but many more people probably use them than airband receivers!
CF
Matt,
I can understand you being able (legally) to listen to ATIS, beacons etc but you might be hard pushed to defend listening to 121.5 if you got caught. As a general rule, D and D have got this one covered. So it could be argued that this is not for mass reception. If however you lived in the back of beyond, Aus, you could claim that it is for mass reception.
To be honest, I don't mind anyone listening in. Hey, I hope you all enjoy my dulcet tones. Quite frankly, I think the breakthrough from taxis etc etc is more of an issue.
As an aside, How many people use iTrips in their cars? These are illegal as well but many more people probably use them than airband receivers!
CF
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Hampshire
Age: 50
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
So does that mean then that say an ATCO spotter (just like me 
) on his days off fancies a listen-in to see how better/worse (!) his colleagues are. Does he still face the same wrath of OFCOM bearing in mind he carries a licence to use VHF frequ's and a controllers licence?
Just a thought
Spamcan
) on his days off fancies a listen-in to see how better/worse (!) his colleagues are. Does he still face the same wrath of OFCOM bearing in mind he carries a licence to use VHF frequ's and a controllers licence?Just a thought
Spamcan
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Apa, apo ndi kulikonse!
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
Originally Posted by Spamcan defender
....on his days off fancies a listen-in to see how better/worse (!) his colleagues are.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Hampshire
Age: 50
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
I agree.
Was just a theoretical question 
. Thankfully MY life is full of interesting things to do on my days off. I dont even own a scanner 
. As I said, was just a possible scenario where a grey area might have been identified.
Thanks for your concern about my wellbeing though
Spamcan
Was just a theoretical question . Thankfully MY life is full of interesting things to do on my days off. I dont even own a scanner . As I said, was just a possible scenario where a grey area might have been identified.Thanks for your concern about my wellbeing though
Spamcan
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 1997
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
Spamcan
Your RT licence or ATCO licence is only applicable when operating from an authorised location, i.e. in a radio licenced aircraft or an ATC unit. So in theory you could be prosecuted, although common sense would dictate not - as long as you don't call the police mans horse gay
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...re/4606022.stm
Your RT licence or ATCO licence is only applicable when operating from an authorised location, i.e. in a radio licenced aircraft or an ATC unit. So in theory you could be prosecuted, although common sense would dictate not - as long as you don't call the police mans horse gay
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...re/4606022.stm
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LGW
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
You seem to be quite welcoming once you have left your nasty comments out of the thread.
I have been to a control tower and the MANAGER was THE most cheerful in the whole place!
He was the one that was smiling making jokes etc.
Then there were about 4-5 controllers doing absolutely nothing and were laughing as loud as they possibly could between themselves and kept looking round to see if we had gone yet!?
That police man's horse story is quite amusing PPRuNe Radar
I have been to a control tower and the MANAGER was THE most cheerful in the whole place!
He was the one that was smiling making jokes etc.
Then there were about 4-5 controllers doing absolutely nothing and were laughing as loud as they possibly could between themselves and kept looking round to see if we had gone yet!?
That police man's horse story is quite amusing PPRuNe Radar
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
LGW15,
Careful there, you might get flamed again. I'm sure those controllers were working very hard! The earlier comments shouldn't be taken as nasty. This thread comes up a couple of times a year and normally gets this treatment. Also ATCOs aren't very friendly towards spotters, despite having quite a few within their units. Harden up that skin for future posts/threads!
Careful there, you might get flamed again. I'm sure those controllers were working very hard! The earlier comments shouldn't be taken as nasty. This thread comes up a couple of times a year and normally gets this treatment. Also ATCOs aren't very friendly towards spotters, despite having quite a few within their units. Harden up that skin for future posts/threads!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LGW
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Swanwick ATC frequencies (LACC)
You may think so but I knew when they were contacting aircraft because could hear it quite clearly and the manager would pause to allow complete silence and then begin again and the controllers would then laugh at each other and talk and not even acknowledge we were there.
