Numpties on 121.5
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Numpties on 121.5
This morning, whilst flying up to Scotland from LHR, an interesting development occurred on 121.5 in the East Anglian region. An aircraft was lost in IMC, with the pilot quite clearly distressed talking to London Centre D&D. The crux of it was that he had taken off and found himself unable to land anywhere due to the fog and low cloud. I think he may have been a PPL, and we all know that these moments can be frightening. Throughout this incident, 5 separate calls were made from other aircraft, with the obligatory "you're on Guard!!". Twice the military controller at London Centre had to tell these idiots to be quiet and that there was an aircraft in distress!
It is quite unbelievable that people really have no idea of what the distress frequency is used for!!
It is quite unbelievable that people really have no idea of what the distress frequency is used for!!
Last edited by SinBin; 18th Oct 2013 at 15:59.
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Witnessed a similar situation recently... Seems there's always some smartass (or several of them) ready to chip in and tell anyone they're on guard, without even listening what's going on...
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There seems to be an increasing number of pilots who think they "own" 121.5. Many of them seem to be commercial pilots who are ignorant of the purpose of the frequency. Maybe they think it's reserved for them to jump in to contact other company pilots who have either wrongly copied their next frequency, failed to dial it correctly, or have the incorrect "listen" switch selected..
"Shanwick, Shanwick...." is a commonly heard one.
The most blatant misuse I heard was a pilot with a German accent repeatedly using 121.5 to ask if anyone knew the result of the qualifying match of his national football team.
"Shanwick, Shanwick...." is a commonly heard one.
The most blatant misuse I heard was a pilot with a German accent repeatedly using 121.5 to ask if anyone knew the result of the qualifying match of his national football team.
Or, even worse:
A; suffering from a bit of fingertrouble: "Dumpville handling, this is Bellyflop 124"
B, obviously a real professional: "Go ahead!"
A: (a sermon of at least 5 minutes on connections, newspapers, barf bags etc.)
Seems to be a German thing as well.
A; suffering from a bit of fingertrouble: "Dumpville handling, this is Bellyflop 124"
B, obviously a real professional: "Go ahead!"
A: (a sermon of at least 5 minutes on connections, newspapers, barf bags etc.)
Seems to be a German thing as well.
Last edited by Tu.114; 18th Oct 2013 at 20:18.
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The same thing used to happen on channel 16 (156.8) at sea. Spent all watch one night listening to some Greek bloke playing his favourite top 40 hits 
(Excuse me butting in - I'm not in the aviation industry. I just find PPRuNe really interesting).
(Excuse me butting in - I'm not in the aviation industry. I just find PPRuNe really interesting).
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Br'er Rat has the answer, imo.
If all real calls on guard used correct voice procedure it would certainly be more obvious that an emergency was in progress rather than sounding like a PPL having a chat with someone as the often do.
However, frightened and lost PPLs have as much right to use guard as anyone else so jumping on them is unprofessional, quite apart from being inhuman.
If all real calls on guard used correct voice procedure it would certainly be more obvious that an emergency was in progress rather than sounding like a PPL having a chat with someone as the often do.
However, frightened and lost PPLs have as much right to use guard as anyone else so jumping on them is unprofessional, quite apart from being inhuman.
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Heard a similar thing in Northern Spain recently. It was in Spanish so I don't know what the problem was but the pilot seemed very anxious by the tone and the guard police (American) jumped in. Idiots.
Perhaps the guard police could provide us all a list of exactly what 121.5 is for, when we are permitted to use it, and exactly what we are allowed to say.
Perhaps the guard police could provide us all a list of exactly what 121.5 is for, when we are permitted to use it, and exactly what we are allowed to say.
This absolute gem was posted on Avcanada last year. I take no credit for it and wish I could be that funny.
Enjoy
The steady thrum of the mighty P-dubs drone incessantly into the night. I am almost oblivious to their presence as I maintain my vigil, patrolling 121.5 from Timmins to Toronto like a pacing Doberman. The toothpick rides up front, balanced on my lower lip just above the soul patch, the tip vibrating like a tuning fork. A sudden burst of static flares out of the #2 radio, causing the adrenaline to race madly for a split second before subsiding. The toothpick shoots up like a power antenna and then lays flat once more, waiting patiently for the next intrusion. “Easy, my friend”, I mutter under my breath. “They’ll be back….”
“Whas that?” The left seat warmer emerges from behind his papery tent of Globe and Mail, an inquisitive look on his face. “You say sumpin?” I wave him away impatiently and return to the task at hand. You see, chaps, I have no time for such frivolous recreational pursuits such as reading when flying. :roll: My mission is far bolder and my purpose clear: I am a self-trained, highly experienced member of the guard police. 8) In fact, if the guard police handed out ranks, I would probably be a corporal. To date, I have over 2367 confirmed penalized violations on 121.5, all swiftly punished by my ruthless and relentless curt radio transmission: “YOU’RE ON GUARD!!” These three powerful words smite violators like a scimitar, laying bare your error for all of your peers to judge. No matter if you are a hapless student pilot calling final on the wrong radio, or a chubby corporate flyer calling ahead for a lav dump at the FBO, nobody escapes my swift intervention into your shocking transgression. I consider it a personal travesty that a trained professional could be so irresponsible to transmit on the wrong freq, and delight in clenching the transmit button and snarling my stern correction from my listening post in the Dash. I’m like an AWACS in that sense, gents. :P
I pause from my post briefly and watch the lights of Sudbury slide by in the inky blackness. Maybe everyone will behave tonight and maintain strict radio protocol after all. I make a routine entry in the guard police black notebook. 2230 local. All is quiet.
And then it happens.
A heavy Korean accent making a position report. :evil: Stammering and stumbling over fuel quantities, time over, next waypoints….and all on 121.5! The mullet curls up in anger like an epic wave, and the toothpick stands straight up at attention, vibrating like a guitar string. My fingers twitch over the mic button, waiting for the horrific crescendo to be complete. Excitement pummels the seat cushion beneath me as the flight deck fills with a gaseous explosion consisting of limburger cheese, baked beans and broccoli. The Left Seat Warmer slumps over, grasping for the wemac, the Globe and Mail flapping feebly like a limp sail! :oops:
Silence now, but only for a second. I stab the mic button with a sweaty grasp and howl my protest into the northern Ontario darkness. I bellow my distaste in a hail of abuse and rage. “On guard! On guard! YOU ARE ON GUARDDDDD!!!”
I release the mike and slump back in my seat heavily. Another successful round of punishment issued. I scratch the number with pride in my little black notebook: 2368.
Watch those transmissions out there, blokes. I’ll be listening. Notebook in hand.
Enjoy
The steady thrum of the mighty P-dubs drone incessantly into the night. I am almost oblivious to their presence as I maintain my vigil, patrolling 121.5 from Timmins to Toronto like a pacing Doberman. The toothpick rides up front, balanced on my lower lip just above the soul patch, the tip vibrating like a tuning fork. A sudden burst of static flares out of the #2 radio, causing the adrenaline to race madly for a split second before subsiding. The toothpick shoots up like a power antenna and then lays flat once more, waiting patiently for the next intrusion. “Easy, my friend”, I mutter under my breath. “They’ll be back….”
“Whas that?” The left seat warmer emerges from behind his papery tent of Globe and Mail, an inquisitive look on his face. “You say sumpin?” I wave him away impatiently and return to the task at hand. You see, chaps, I have no time for such frivolous recreational pursuits such as reading when flying. :roll: My mission is far bolder and my purpose clear: I am a self-trained, highly experienced member of the guard police. 8) In fact, if the guard police handed out ranks, I would probably be a corporal. To date, I have over 2367 confirmed penalized violations on 121.5, all swiftly punished by my ruthless and relentless curt radio transmission: “YOU’RE ON GUARD!!” These three powerful words smite violators like a scimitar, laying bare your error for all of your peers to judge. No matter if you are a hapless student pilot calling final on the wrong radio, or a chubby corporate flyer calling ahead for a lav dump at the FBO, nobody escapes my swift intervention into your shocking transgression. I consider it a personal travesty that a trained professional could be so irresponsible to transmit on the wrong freq, and delight in clenching the transmit button and snarling my stern correction from my listening post in the Dash. I’m like an AWACS in that sense, gents. :P
I pause from my post briefly and watch the lights of Sudbury slide by in the inky blackness. Maybe everyone will behave tonight and maintain strict radio protocol after all. I make a routine entry in the guard police black notebook. 2230 local. All is quiet.
And then it happens.
A heavy Korean accent making a position report. :evil: Stammering and stumbling over fuel quantities, time over, next waypoints….and all on 121.5! The mullet curls up in anger like an epic wave, and the toothpick stands straight up at attention, vibrating like a guitar string. My fingers twitch over the mic button, waiting for the horrific crescendo to be complete. Excitement pummels the seat cushion beneath me as the flight deck fills with a gaseous explosion consisting of limburger cheese, baked beans and broccoli. The Left Seat Warmer slumps over, grasping for the wemac, the Globe and Mail flapping feebly like a limp sail! :oops:
Silence now, but only for a second. I stab the mic button with a sweaty grasp and howl my protest into the northern Ontario darkness. I bellow my distaste in a hail of abuse and rage. “On guard! On guard! YOU ARE ON GUARDDDDD!!!”
I release the mike and slump back in my seat heavily. Another successful round of punishment issued. I scratch the number with pride in my little black notebook: 2368.
Watch those transmissions out there, blokes. I’ll be listening. Notebook in hand.
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My company Op's (as per most other operators) dictate that we must monitor 121.5 on the secondary box. The most frustrating element of monitoring 121.5 as you start flying over mid-France back towards the UK is to hear "practise pan, practise pan,blah blah blah. London centre practise pan acknowledged" I have to flick 121.5 off as it becomes infuriating Throughout the rest of Europe I never encounter this problem. What happens if the frequency is blocked and there is a real emergency?? Can the UK not provide another frequency for training, like London Info? That would be a good start!!
Throughout the rest of Europe I never encounter this problem. What happens if the frequency is blocked and there is a real emergency?? Can the UK not provide another frequency for training, like London Info? That would be a good start!!
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London info doesn't have the DX gear on its frequency. And don't have access to a radar. They are area flight information Officers not ATCO's. In no way am I being derogatory by saying that. They are very good at what they do.
The D&D controllers need the training, as well as the student pilots. In fact when there isn't enough practise pans from GA they get commercials to provide it as well. And you wouldn't believe the utter screw ups some of the commercials make of the emergency calls when asked to do so.
And yes you do feel a bit of a knob in the cruise doing a practise pan unsure of position. Although some of the ex-mil boys love it. Start doing speechless procedures. And then you get questions on the main area frequency who requested you to help with training of "what are you doing to them?" "Don't know the auld fud is doing lots of clicking and giggling" "top drills he has got them sweating"
They have done a study of the traffic on 121.5 in the UK and the vast majority of it, over 75% is switch pigs commercial pilots transmitting handling info, guard police and plonkers farting, playing music getting sports scores etc.
The summary of the report was that those that were complaining about practise pans were talking out there arses. And the commercial world should sort there own practises out before trying to change a procedure which has definite safety benefits for both GA pilots and D&D controllers.
The D&D controllers need the training, as well as the student pilots. In fact when there isn't enough practise pans from GA they get commercials to provide it as well. And you wouldn't believe the utter screw ups some of the commercials make of the emergency calls when asked to do so.
And yes you do feel a bit of a knob in the cruise doing a practise pan unsure of position. Although some of the ex-mil boys love it. Start doing speechless procedures. And then you get questions on the main area frequency who requested you to help with training of "what are you doing to them?" "Don't know the auld fud is doing lots of clicking and giggling" "top drills he has got them sweating"
They have done a study of the traffic on 121.5 in the UK and the vast majority of it, over 75% is switch pigs commercial pilots transmitting handling info, guard police and plonkers farting, playing music getting sports scores etc.
The summary of the report was that those that were complaining about practise pans were talking out there arses. And the commercial world should sort there own practises out before trying to change a procedure which has definite safety benefits for both GA pilots and D&D controllers.
Last edited by mad_jock; 9th Nov 2013 at 08:03.
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I've used practice pan and position fixing on 121.5 during ppl training - they were brilliant and found I would more likely use them in a real situation. If anybody finds this infuriating then they should remember why they are flying and why we are lucky this service exists!
