The morons on 121.5. Authorities please act!
Avoid imitations
Uplinker, no 'attitude' here. However, I am more than a little surprised that some pilots seem unable to think for themselves and unable to cope with something that isn't on one of their company checklists.
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That VHF2 knob is part of my instrument scan, if I've been irritated by something on 121.5 and end up turning it off, it'll be back on between a minute or two.
Just like that.
Just like that.
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The distractions on the guard frequency are usually genuine urgency calls. As professional pilots we should know how to deal with this. Whenever I feel distracted by calls on 121.5 I turn the frequency down low enough so not to disturb my active ATC frequency, but high enough for me to notice that someone is calling me should all go a bit quiet. Usually the volume will be back at a normal level well before that anyway.
Like many I cannot comprehend why someone would want to make animal noises on 121.5 but I think we all know more or less where this behavior comes from geographically. As I stated earlier, just ignore it. Don't feed the troll. You can't tell a pig not to roll in its own
As for the practice PANs, well, you just cannot complain about distractions and endorse practice PANs in the same topic
Like many I cannot comprehend why someone would want to make animal noises on 121.5 but I think we all know more or less where this behavior comes from geographically. As I stated earlier, just ignore it. Don't feed the troll. You can't tell a pig not to roll in its own
As for the practice PANs, well, you just cannot complain about distractions and endorse practice PANs in the same topic
Uplinker, no 'attitude' here. However, I am more than a little surprised that some pilots seem unable to think for themselves and unable to cope with something that isn't on one of their company checklists.
At some point, a few even interjected by a humming rendition of Piero Umiliani's Mah Na Mah Na which caused even more "humorous" outbursts, catcalls etc... WTF?
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Anonymous voice on 121.5 "What did d'Artagnan say to the third musketeer?"
There was a 2 second pause before a clearly irritated American accented voice fell into the trap and replied "ON GUARD".
There was a 2 second pause before a clearly irritated American accented voice fell into the trap and replied "ON GUARD".
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121.5 back on
The annoying for me is when these jokers start their babble and childish games. I switch off 121.5 temporarily so I can listen properly to the frequency, if it is busy. ( Yes, you should not. ) The problem is if you forget to put 121.5 back on right away. Does this affect safety? yup. We do not need authorities to police us more but
politeness and manners. It is a question of airmanship and why do so many pilots step on each other more and more on the radio? Less gentleman out there it seems. It is poor airmanship.
politeness and manners. It is a question of airmanship and why do so many pilots step on each other more and more on the radio? Less gentleman out there it seems. It is poor airmanship.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Isn't this thread totally oxymoronic?
I can't believe that those complaining so much about the 'morons on 121.5', keep quiet when one of those 'morons' chirps up on the air, simply because they have so much to say here.
Some great points as always by the likes of Shytorque & Ghengis, yet right on cue the vampiric complainers aim straight for the jugular, resulting in those points being ignored
I can't believe that those complaining so much about the 'morons on 121.5', keep quiet when one of those 'morons' chirps up on the air, simply because they have so much to say here.
Some great points as always by the likes of Shytorque & Ghengis, yet right on cue the vampiric complainers aim straight for the jugular, resulting in those points being ignored
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
My company mandates monitoring guard in case of loss of comms. As the previous posts added this will be the frequency ATC will try to call you on when you go lost comms because they forgot to hand you over. On many frequencies around Europe, you wouldn't believe how quiet the frequencies can get, so you wouldn't even necessarily realise you have lost comms until you're out of range.
ATC may well have forgotten to hand you over, but isn't there a point at which you should be thinking to yourself, "I need to be changing frequency around here?"
A few years ago I a got the high level chart covering the Bay of Biscay area out and my FO wasn't even aware that enroute Comms frequencies were on the chart - sometimes useful if you lose comms with ATC.
Has any in depth research been conducted to find out why and where loss of comms takes place? Are there certain geographical points where this is more likely to happen (rather like hotspots shown on charts for runway incursions). Are some radio fits more disposed to loss of comms by inadvertently turning the volume down? Do pilots know how to verify correct receiver operation (e.g. by momentarily lifting the squelch control).
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Do pilots know how to verify correct receiver operation (e.g. by momentarily lifting the squelch control).
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The radios that I've used in recent years don't have a squelch control or squelch override button.
And I never knew that some planes had a locking transmit switch on the yoke/joystick until I read about it here on PPRuNe.
And I never knew that some planes had a locking transmit switch on the yoke/joystick until I read about it here on PPRuNe.
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Silsoesid, in short. There is no squelch on the aircraft I fly. So despite being one of those spiky haired iCadets everyone hates so much, yes I do know from a previous type how to use squelch, unfortunately I cannot. Yes I'm annoyed by it too.
Flying over France, where the boundaries are often miles apart, if VHF1 fails, then my only cue could perhaps be when the pleasant Paris controllers contact me on VHF2 Guard. So yes, I do have a general awareness of crossing FIRs and when I should expect a handover, but what about in between?
Flying over France, where the boundaries are often miles apart, if VHF1 fails, then my only cue could perhaps be when the pleasant Paris controllers contact me on VHF2 Guard. So yes, I do have a general awareness of crossing FIRs and when I should expect a handover, but what about in between?
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On the 747-400 there is no squelch button or knob, but if you press and hold down the , i.e. VHF 1 button for a second or two, you get the squelch function. Ergo, can now listen a little further away than you normally would.
As for the morons that yap away on guard, I will have no sympathy for them if someday they find themselves in need of assistance and find none.
If you want to yap, use 123.45. Stay off of guard unless you truly need it.
I really wish the Brits would have a dedicated practice frequency. The volume is practically turned off all the way across England. England is by far the worst area in the world for un-necessary noise on guard.
As for the morons that yap away on guard, I will have no sympathy for them if someday they find themselves in need of assistance and find none.
If you want to yap, use 123.45. Stay off of guard unless you truly need it.
I really wish the Brits would have a dedicated practice frequency. The volume is practically turned off all the way across England. England is by far the worst area in the world for un-necessary noise on guard.
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Flying over France, where the boundaries are often miles apart, if VHF1 fails, then my only cue could perhaps be when the pleasant Paris controllers contact me on VHF2 Guard. So yes, I do have a general awareness of crossing FIRs and when I should expect a handover, but what about in between?
As you are so situationally aware, wouldn't it be better when you are at the 'expected point' to give a call to say you are changing frequency? Surely you don't leave everything for ATC to do for you
Better to have dialled up an ATCU you are flying towards, than one you are out of range of and flying away from
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The radios that I've used in recent years don't have a squelch control or squelch override button.
Silsoesid, in short. There is no squelch on the aircraft I fly. So despite being one of those spiky haired iCadets everyone hates so much, yes I do know from a previous type how to use squelch, unfortunately I cannot.
Silsoesid, in short. There is no squelch on the aircraft I fly. So despite being one of those spiky haired iCadets everyone hates so much, yes I do know from a previous type how to use squelch, unfortunately I cannot.
Airbubba & RHS, if you don't mind me asking, which radios do you use?
Avoid imitations
I really wish the Brits would have a dedicated practice frequency. The volume is practically turned off all the way across England. England is by far the worst area in the world for un-necessary noise on guard.
However, I'm repeating myself but speaking as a UK based ATPL holder, the majority of "incorrect" calls I hear on 121.5 in lower airspace come from airline pilots who incompetently select the incorrect frequency and seem to think they are speaking to a handling agency. I heard three such calls in a one hour trip over central UK earlier this week - so whatever happened to the basic principles of proper r/t use? It's certainly more common to hear this type of inadvertent call these days, rather than (fully legal, authorised and correct) "practice pan" calls that some airline pilots themselves get so upset about.
Is there something difficult about modern airliner radio boxes which makes incorrect selections more likely, or is it a training issue?
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England is by far the worst area in the world for un-necessary noise on guard.
Since the advent of FMC and EFIS and relying on these items rather than looking at charts the level of situational awareness has decreased
Are there certain geographical points where this is more likely to happen
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Is there something difficult about modern airliner radio boxes which makes incorrect selections more likely, or is it a training issue?
