Intercept over Europe (Maaastricht UIR) today?
 

Heard Belgian Air Defence supervisor call Continental flight XX on 121.5 for at least 20' at 640Z, urging them to call maastrich ATC. Anybody knows if the crew could finally get on freq? Intercept took place?

I would like to start a topic on 121.5 watch. Although it can be of great interest to watch the freq, it causes new problems on the flightdeck, among which (personnal point of view) increased difficulty to catch ATC calls when at the same time: "XXX technics, this is XXX with pax YY on board , request refuelling upon arrival....You're on guard... You too....etc...."
What are the guidelines given by your company SOPs regarding that matter?:confused:

Our London controller this morning was also trying every option to try and call Mr Continental. Did a grand job but didn't have any success by the time we were transferred. The benefits of 121.5 far outweigh the problems encountered with it IMHO. Unprofessional chatter is easily solved by the volume switch.

Thats exactly the problem.

superpilut

Perhaps my comment was misleading to you. I am not suggesting it be turned down all the way. I personally turn the volume down to a lower, less sound drowning level until the transmission has finished.

For me (that is me, myself and I in current parlance:D), with two on the f/deck free to listen to ATC, one monitors 121.5; when not approriate, deselect it. It is important the freq is monitored as much as possible, and you just have to put up with the French chatter on the frequency :mad:

We all make mistakes with button selection, so there will ALWAYS be a 'wrong call' at sometime, but the benefits outweigh the disavantages.

BOAC, that's something I'd been wondering about - what is this French proclivity for interminable conversations on 121.5? All jokes aside, how and for what do they use it in addition to its world-wide purpose?

Guard more important than ever, so why in the UK do we block the frequency with "practice PAN'S"?

Caudillo, I have no idea! However, if they COULD do it in English.............................

bundybear - I guess it's better than these languid and moody drawn-out monologues we seem to get when over France no?

I don't think we block the frequency with practice pan calls.

It is important that students learn that help is available, and how to access it, and a practical demonstation of how quickly they can be found works wonders for confidence in the system.

When I was an active instrucor I would check via London Information if D+D were able to talk to us prior to calling, I was told by a controller that it helps them remain in practice as well.

These days 121.5 on box 2 or 3 unless weather gathering or communicating on it.

We Americans try to reserve guard frequency for real emergencies, ride reports and baseball scores...

Nice one Airbubba!

Seriously though, you know when it's a weekend and listening to joe bloggs calling up for his practise pan and your half way over france! Can you imagine if the french/dutch/german/italian etc ppl students did the same 121.5 would be jammed.

It's out dated for students to call 121.5 for a training fix- i'm sure the instructors can give students good enough briefings on 121.5 use.

Who doesn't turn the volume down/off to stop listening to them? It's much easier to monitor 121.5 south of france onwards!

On many occasions, when transiting North-bound over the highlands, we'd be asked via the current radar controller to switch to 121.5 and do a "Practice Pan" for controller training. It was good practice for them and me and certainly not considered a waste of time, especially given the speed at which these guys can get a fix on you and help you on your way.

Cheers

ACA

The military lads and lassies have a freq for practice pans (245.10) perhaps the civil folk should have one as well to reduce the traffic on 121.50.

There are other emergency freqs set aside for scene of search etc, perhaps one of these could be used. If a full emergency is taking place on 243.0 they tell the traffic on 245.10 to "go away please" and they could do that on both freqs if required

I did an SRA on 243.0 by mistake a while back. Had the frequency selected to transmit. At least I didn't cock it up for all to hear!

D&D didn't seem too impressed tho ..............:O

There used to be a procedure at what was LATCC (before the split) that enabled the use of 121.51, 121.52 etc etc.

All that was required was a call to D+D to arrange which one they wanted us civil controllers to use..

Sadly technology has "improved" the situation, and from swanwick at least, this option is no longer available.

Rgds BEX

Waspy
 

I've had trouble with COA, in particular with one B772. On several occassions whenever I've transferred it to an 833 channel the radio seems to transmit outside the selection.
It has been reported at least twice by me, and LACC Swanwick has the aircraft registration if your chaps want to cross-check.

BEX..believe the "1" and "2" were merely for switching purposes to select appropriate set of geographically positioned 121.5 TX/RX

I too heard this event yesterday.

Just an thought, but, could their last Oceanic Agency have been asked to Selcal them on their last assigned Oceanic Frequency?

Or give all ATC units the facility to Selcal equipped aircraft so equipped on 121.5? It wouldn't matter if the aircraft receiver volume was turned-down.

The actual monitoring of 121.5 is a problem, what with all of the of the non-emergency stuff that goes on. Maybe more of us should be filing Air Safety Reports to highlight the problems, and get the relevant agencies working on resolution(s).

Could not agree more, practice PANS on a practice frequency please, and quickly.

A lot of good ideas on having an watch on 121.5.
If you have selcal turn it ON!
Three radios? 1 on atc, 2 on guard, 3 on common.
And as for listen to the other radiio 2 and 3 , well thats why god invented FE's .
Just a little bit of professional raqdio skills can solve this " problem" know which transmitt button you have selected.
Otherwise try turning the guard freq volume UP someone calling for help needs to be heard!