Stupid question of the day....

[jimgriff]

If one is flying ones helicopter from A to B in the UK and one sees another a/c en route is there a common frequency that one uses to say "hello".

I know that sounds a tad silly but have often wondered if there is an unofficial freq that one uses?

[Farmer 1]

Not a stupid question at all, Jimgriff, but the answer is No.

The nearest to that is the FIR frequency.

[SHortshaft]

BA Chat Frequency?

And try to resist the temptation to play ‘airline pilot’ and call him on 121.5, because he won’t be listening out.

[ShyTorque]

Or looking out, in that particular instance.

I might give him a quick flash on the searchlight.

[jimgriff]

I am aware that companies might have "in house" freqs and that the military have preset TAD's etc, Long distance, pan continental flights might listen out on international "distress" freqs etc, but I just wondered if there was a "common" en route listening channel that a transiting pilot might listen to as well as the routing freqs that one has to monitor.

[autosync]

123.45 is an easy enough one to remember, lots of people chat away to eachother on that.

[Woolf]

However 123.45 is not an official chat frequency in the UK and could be assigned to someone. I've had to work out of Denmark before and one of the Rig flight watch frequencies was 123.45 .... not ideal to say the least!

[Whirlygig]

123.45 is a very "UN"official frequency and use thereof might upset the lovely chaps at North Denes!

Cheers

Whirls

[Camp Freddie]

i dont think they will mind at north denes cos they are on 123.40 !

but I do think the CAA mind as i recall they have relatively recently reminded people in GASIL, that 123.45 is definitely NOT a chat frequency

regards

CF

[Crieff-ite]

If we are flying combined, then we tend to use 123.45, usually just a quick check every half hour to check all pilots are ok.....and are still all there!

[cyclicmicky]

I use 123.45...not very often though...just when flying with a few others!!
CM

[nutcracker43]

I gather that 123.45 is bristow helicopters company frequency - pi$$es them off when the oiks play on it.

NC43

[SASless]

Cor, I hate to ask the begged question however.....is there a CAA approved "chit chat" frequency that might be hidden under the title of "air to air" frequency?

Or....is it an impossibility for a CAA licensed and JAA blessed pilot to merely "chat" while flying? Would that not be quite unprofessional and just not cricket? Surely passing tips about the daily crossword puzzle over such a frequency would be very offensive to the Crats I guess. (Not that ever happened amongst Big Al's Flying Circus intrepid airmen.)

[bondu]

123.45

nc43

You are correct on both counts!

bondu

[muffin]

I occasionally monitor it from home and it is actually quite busy. However its use as an airborne chat channel is definitely not allowed, so the moral of the story is don't say who or where you are.

[[email protected]]

Why not just buy a CB set if you want to talk inane bollocks on a radio and leave aviation frequencies for their intended use.

[BigMike]

Or you could just be like the rest of the world and have area frequencies...

[cl12pv2s]

For what its worth, in the US:

Heli Air 2 Air = 123.02 is used frequently amongst copter operators, particularly the 'news' copter operators. Even the military helos will come up on that freq., when passing throught the area. In fact, I would usually monitor this freq., when I could. I couldn't imagine not having a heli-air-2-air. But I guess (but may be wrong), in the UK you are under more AT control, so 'self-announce' procedures are not used as much??

FW Air 2 Air = 122.75 - Not used often...in fact have never been able to get anyone on this!! Nevertheless, the freq., is reserved for that purpose.

cl12pv2s