Air To Air Chat

[toptobottom]

Genghis - I can google a frequency and get a list of worldwide allocations too. Hence, I would only use a frequency that is out of range of the location I was in. In fact, I think it was a Denham colleague of yours who suggested it...

Whopity - you sound like a friendly chap! BTW, since you raised the ignorance point, 'prat' only has one 't'.

[Monocock]

118.00

Have used it for years with no issues. Just don't use callsigns, a/c types or people's names.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Originally Posted by toptobottom

Genghis - I can google a frequency and get a list of worldwide allocations too. Hence, I would only use a frequency that is out of range of the location I was in. In fact, I think it was a Denham colleague of yours who suggested it...

Whopity - you sound like a friendly chap! BTW, since you raised the ignorance point, 'prat' only has one 't'.

So you had googled it and determined that you were tramping on an allocated helicopter frequency, and didn't care?

I've never actually flown from Denham, although plan to change that (perhaps belatedly given I live 25 minutes drive from the place) in about a fortnight. I did discover recently that there's a place on the airfield that does some damned fine freshly made pizzas.

G

[toptobottom]

...tramping on an allocated helicopter frequency, and didn't care?

Every frequency is allocated, that's why you do some research and take care not to disrupt operational users by only using it out of range. I think the 'Mountain Flying Course' folk use Denham's frequency in the Welsh mountains, for example..

Where's this pizza place then?!

[IO540]

Everybody I know uses 123.45. No names, no tail numbers.

From decent altitudes, say 5000ft, one can sometimes hear some French chat.

[toptobottom]

monocock

Just don't use callsigns, a/c types or people's names

Exactly. And obviously listen out for bona fide users before and during any air2air R/T.

[gasax]

IIRC 123.45 used to be a Bristow's company frequency. In fact there are a significant number of companies which have their 'own' frequencies - part of the reason that 360 and then 720 channels were not enough.

And of course on the horizon the potential requirement to change to 8.33 - unless of course the OFCOM proposals mean a lot of allocated frequencies are returned.... which might open things up quite a lot!

[Genghis the Engineer]

Originally Posted by toptobottom

Where's this pizza place then?!

An Airfield Cafe called "The Crew Room" next door to The Pilot Centre who recommended it to me when I dropped in to talk about a bit of training I needed.

Chatting to the owner, he told me that he'd previously run a pizzeria, but had moved to Denham for a quieter life - but carried on making a few pizzas by demand from customers who had heard about what he used to do. Nice chap, excellent pizzas, sensibly priced as well I thought.

G

[toptobottom]

Sounds good - I'll be visiting Denham in the next couple of weeks, so if you'll be around then, I'll buy you a pizza. Either PM me or give me a buzz on 123.45

[flybymike]

That is the reason why frequency planning and allocation exists, to to ensure that genuine users are free from the likelihood of being interfered with by ignorant pratts.

Perfectly charming. No wonder Pprune has its detractors.

[Danscowpie]

123.450 is allocated to at least two fully licenced ATC units in the UK and two on the Northern Coast of Europe.
Any pilot who has the common sense (not much of it around here) will know that high pressure, good weather conditions enhance the strength of VHF transmissions. Even in average conditions, there is considerable interference for pilots in the circuit.

A well planned trip shouldn't need any air to air chat, if you don't appreciate why, use your mobile phones in flight - far more appropriate for those have no consideration for others in the quiet coach.

[Monocock]

A well planned trip shouldn't need any air to air chat, if you don't appreciate why, use your mobile phones in flight - far more appropriate for those have no consideration for others in the quiet coach

[toptobottom]

A well planned trip shouldn't need any air to air chat, if you don't appreciate why, use your mobile phones in flight - far more appropriate for those have no consideration for others in the quiet coach

Even if a mobile worked, it's not really the safest or easiest way to communicate with another aircraft. I've had plenty of occasions to use a private r/t frequency, for example when being marshalled at a private site event with dozens of other machines, or flying in formation, or pointing out to my mate that his baggage door had suddenly popped open mid-channel, or checking the location of other aircraft in a mountainous area in poor viz, or telling the missus I'm 5 mins away, so flick the switch on the kettle and put the landing lights on

[wsmempson]

123.450 is used by these guys

"North Sea Marathon East Kin... Details
469 123.450 North Sea Marathon West Kin... Details
470 123.450 North Sea Rolf Oil Field deck Details
471 123.450 Unst (Saxa Vord) Ops"

[Genghis the Engineer]

Perhaps one of these provides a cheap solution for talkative touring pilots?

G

[stickandrudderman]

GtE, will you be parking in the open or nestling up next to my Falco?

[Genghis the Engineer]

Originally Posted by stickandrudderman

GtE, will you be parking in the open or nestling up next to my Falco?

Two tin cans and a piece of string?

G

[flybymike]

The link to the AIC on the previous page doesn't seem to work any more but I could have sworn it said that 123.45 was no longer allocated in the UK

[flybymike]

Thanks Air Police. I thought that was what I had read.

[Danscowpie]

Oops

Out of date information on my part.

I shall now go and sit on barbed wire and wear sackcloth whilst I consider the enormity of my sin, sorry chaps.... meanwhile, all of those of you who used to use 123.45 when it was an authorised ATC frequency can do the same.