New Chat Frequency
 

Flying from Sydney to Melbourne last night I couldn't help but notice that there was an excessive amount of chat on 121.5 by a couple of crews from a local operator (who shall be known as Belair, the name has been changed to protect the guilty).

I am curious to know when this local operator adopted 121.5 as their company frequency, or has no one told them about numbers (it's 123.45 which is pretty easy to remember).

I am sure that all the other aircraft flying around last night didn't want to hear what the winds and ride were like at 14000ft.

Really unprofessional guys, get a company frequency and get off guard! It's for emergencies not to get a met update.

When I were a lad... Looxury... they taught us to transmit on that frequency only in an emergency as we would be immediately triangulated by the RAF who would scramble SAR to dig our bodies out of whatever paddock we subsequently crashed into.

Doesn't the National SAR Centre in Canberra monitor Guard 24/7? Wouldn't they get a bit peeved listening in to such a Tx?

BTW, How exactly does one go about getting a company frequency?

I'm horrified that 'Belair' were using 121.5 as a chat frequency. Thats because we all know that VB use it as their own. Good on ya, dickie boys!:} :mad: :yuk: :ouch:

Yeah git orf it youse clowns.

Leave it for those who may really need it.

Gee quim, I always thought 121.5 was the official Quaintarse “practice” frequency. You know what I mean, the one where they can “practice” their calls to company before going live on the CORRECT frequency.

Keep practicing sunshine, one day you blokes might get it right!

VH-Cheerup,

Licenses are obtained from the Australian Communication Authority. As an example, licence number 448200, covers the use of 128.5 by Qantas at Sydney.

Actually since 1st July 2002, when the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) was implemented, 121.5 is only monitored by aviation stations.

Merchant vessels, Coast stations and the RCC no longer monitor and the majority no longer have the ability to transmit on 121.5

The only practical use for 121.5 is for the old generation COSPAS/SARSAT ELT's which are remotely monitored anyway. Once 406Mhz ELT's become mandatory (next year possibly) the frequency will cease to exist in the global distress scene.

So don't sweat it - if you feel the need to transmit on 121.5 then go ahead. After all it's only us listening anyway! :ok:

Don't forget though that Air Forces still use it... It would be nice to hear the intercepting aircraft give you a verbal warning!

SOME Air Forces use it, some are UHF only!!

Onya quim,
perhaps the one thing that we all as aviators can rely on, despite all the slagging and whatever else that we do to each other, 121.5 is supposed to unite us all as aviators and be there in times of need. You however just cant help yourself and yet again use a thread about the sacred frequency to slag another company. Youre a real piece!

Actually, I thought QF had 129.5 as their Sydney frequency.

INsofar as 121.5 goes, it amazes me how quickly people out there "JUMP" on others who inadvertantly transmit on it. It is a guaranteed "ON GUARD" within about 3 seconds...sometimes by more than one person !

How quick we are to judge.

Buzzy? Are you a device approved for use inflight? Go back to chatting on guard, theres a good fellow....:mad: :mad: :mad:

Ok will do, us plebs in the lowly LCCs just cant wait to work with you soon!...... Say maybe you'll bid out of the jumpseat and into the left of our Airbus. Oughta be a real treat!

You said it Buzzy. Plebs is right. Now are your batteries getting low yet?:} :} :}

Have a nice day!:D

I spoke with my mate Swifty at AusSAR and he told me that ATS do not routinely monitor 121.5 MHz, some towers do have the capability using a handheld transceiver, and most aircraft B737 size above monitor the frequency in the cruise. AusSAR relies on Airservices and its ground air communications network to alert it when an emergency situation exists.

Just had a look a ICAO Annex 10, Vol V and it indicates 121.5 MHz is the aviation emergency channel and shall only be used 'for genuine emergency purposes' including its use as an operating frequency for distress beacons (that is ELTs, EPIRBs and PLBs).

The document goes on to say at 4.1.3.1.2 that 'the frequency 121.5 MHz shall be provided at:
a) all area control centres and flight information centres;
b) aerodrome control towers and approach control offices serving international aerodromes and international alternate aerodromes; and
c) any additional location designated by the appropriate ATS authority, where the provision of that frequency is considered necessary to ensure immediate reception of distress calls or to service the purposes specified [earlier].'

and, stating the bleeding obvious:

(4.1.3.1.4) 'The emergency channel shall be guarded continuously during the hours of service of the units at which it is installed.'

Swifty also told me that transmissions on 121.5 MHz can upset units homing to a radiating distress beacon so the frequency should only be used in an emergency. He also said that 406 MHz distress beacons also transmit a low powered 121.5 MHz signal for units to home to the distress beacon (the satellite won't be listening to this frequency from early 2009). But note, 121.5 MHz will remain the aviation distress frequency.

In short, only use 121.5 MHz for emergency situations, note that Airservices does not routinely monitor it (why?) except at some manned towers but not necessarily continuously, and many larger RPTs monitor the frequency in the cruise. So its usefulness in some areas when experiencing an emergency may be questionable and the frequency in use, the overlying ATS frequency if operating in G or the multicom frequency may be better options in these cases.

Thanks for the help Swifty.

Cranky Franky:(

Nice one Lancer, Wiggum fell for it. Now I just need the Virgin SYD frequency please.

Buzzy you forgot to add:

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

Hey Wiggum, It's funny how everyone jumps in and yells "On Guard" like they're in a sword fight or something... especially since "121.5" and "Guard" are two separate things.

Yes Itchybum,
apparently flying is a competition to some.

bzbzbzbzbbbbzzzzzzzzbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

Actually Buzz, that was supposed to be ironic humour.

"On guard"...... "EnGarde".... you know, the Frog word.

Funny since they usually don't actually know what Guard means when they yell it out.

Give that thing a wash.................................... :yuk:

This thread shows yet again, cases of arrogant, irresponsible attitude by our major airllines and aviation authorities. "It is not needed by the big aircraft, so it does not matter."
It does matter. There are 10,000 or so small aircraft and thousands of commercial pilots flying the outback who live in a hostile climate, and depend on safety nets like this. It is all they have since our authorities leave large gaps in the vhf coverage.(Yes we ahve a crude HF system)
The few big aircraft operators which fly up and down the east coast have been running Australias aviation for too long.