Leeds Bradford Tower VHF/UHF
 

I am pleased to report this morning that very soon the VHF/UHF Tower frequencies will have a full cross-coupling facility, meaning all vehicle drivers, aircrew and controllers will be able to hear each other's transmissions. The current system is configured so aircrew can't hear vehicle transmissions, meaning drivers frequently get stepped on, albeit unintentionally.

I'm very pleased this change is finally happening, as an LBA based vehicle driver. It beats me why it has taken so long.

Welcome to the 1990's!!!

Possible Problem
 

Do all LBA drivers have VHF radio licences?

As far as I'm aware the Telecommunication Act requires anyone who is able to communicate with aircraft must have a licence. Hence the reason for full duplex cross couping from aircraft to vehicles but not the other way round.

I may be wrong but that's what I understand.

Vehicles may have to continue to be stepped on. However they are generally a lower priority than aircraft!!

Running dog. No, we have an All Areas Driving Permit and are examined annually on our RT skills by Airport Operations. We transmit and receive on UHF only and the VCSS equipment in the tower re-transmits UHF to VHF and vice versa. I think that's how we get round the licensing regs, if you see what I mean.

Sorry Mooncrest,

my point is that the aircraft can't tell the difference between you and the ground controller. So with the cross couple you are in effect transmitting on the air band frequency, which does need a licence.

Point taken running dog. In actual fact the RT reconfiguration will bring the system to the same standard as any other UK airport I know that has UHF vehicle traffic on the manoeuvring area. LBA has been something of an oddity in recent years with its part-cross-couple system. Although we aren't directly transmitting on VHF the voice switch creates that effect. Maybe OFCOM provide some sort of dispensation for these cases.

System at Bournemouth keeps vehicles from transmitting on VHF. i.e. there is no cross coupling UHF to VHF - there are so many vehicles the VHF frequencies would be swamped by ground transmissions!

Does Bournemouth have GMC ? If not it might be an idea - saves TWR having to monitor UHF and VHF at the same time.
We don't have GMC at LBA on account of the lack of taxiways but we do have Delivery for clearances.

Bournemouth does have GMC. If it's open then the UHF comes through on GMC position. If it's shut then UHF is monitored by tower. There can be a LOT of vehicles calling so you can see why that would be undesirable on VHF

Us vehicle drivers are proud to be a nuisance. Keeps ATC on their toes !

When the LBA Tower received its new Schmidt voice switch ten years ago there was a full UHF VHF cross coupling. Then after a few months it was canned and we got the configuration we have at present. Goodness knows why the change occurred in the first place.

Mooncrest

Just bear in mind that if you weren't recorded before you will be now! ;)

All frequencies, telephone lines and internal intercoms at LBA are recorded. They have been for as long as I can remember so my voice is digitised for posteriety.

I believe that, as the vehicles do not transmit directly on VHF, (their transmissions are re-transmitted by ATC) they do not, technically, need aviation RT Licences.

I recall that there was an ongoing problem associated with the Schmidt voice switch that produced a 'bong' sound on the Tower frequency whenever a vehicle transmitted, that was identical to some aircraft cockpit master caution warnings, and so it was disabled. I guess they have fixed it.


MJ:ok:

MachJump That is very interesting to know. Was it a problem with the Schmid system generally or, like so many aviation difficulties, peculiar to Leeds Bradford Airport ?:rolleyes:

I only ever heard it at LBA, and, after quite a bit of testing and experiments, I believe they narrowed it down to one of the Schmidt systems.


MJ:ok:

Thanks MachJump. Curious situation as the Schmid voice switch is used at several UK airports. I wonder if it was an equipment defect ? I hope LBA got their money back !

Certainly isn't a problem I've encountered at any airports I've worked at here in the UK, There are a few quirks that I have noticed at a certain site (not LBA) with cross coupling.

Whatever equipment issues there may have been I'm just pleased the cross-coupling will be fully functional again before long.

At our largest UK airports vehicles requiring access to the runway are equipped with VHF transceivers and communicate directly with the appropriate Air Traffic Controller. The CAA have consistently (and very sensibly) delegated licensing and testing of operators to the local ATC unit or the Airport Authority.
I've been away from this environment for 7 years now but as far as South-East airports are concerned, in the previous 30 years I am not aware that there was a single instance of Airfield Operations VHF comms compromising safety, whereas direct comms with ATC to which aircraft were able to listen have 'saved the day' on countless occasions. Ask Heathrow Director how much he valued the contribution of Checker and Seagull.
There seems to be a sort of inverse square law here, where the smaller the airport, the more anal people seem to be about 'allowing' those in vehicles to be able to transmit on VHF.
Fit VHF radios to all vehicles requiring access to the Manoeuvring Area and train the staff appropriately. Remove all the UHF cross-coupling stuff (and get rid of the 'beeps' at the same time!)

TOO