Easy Interception
 

21st June about 07.30Z easyjet call sign EZ7MS was intercepted over Western Germany by two fighters. Conversation on 121.5 Maastricht Control explaining to Australian sounding pilot that he was being intercepted by two fighters because there had been no contact with ATC for over 30 mins. The EZ said that he woundered why it had been quiet, the reply was "what do expect after Sept 11th"

How about a coherent story?

Begs the question.......

If they could talk to him on 121.5, why did they not do that in the first place rather than launching 2 fighters?

:)

A major over reaction. The guy was flying in from Athens, why would any hijackers wait nearly three hours before doing anything?

A major overreaction maybe, but I gather that it is an SOP in these interesting times. Perhaps we should be more concerned if the radios go quiet for more than a few minutes at a time?

Have you flown at night recently maxy, its not unusual to hear nothing for 20 mins.

The nights are certainly quiet, but at 0730Z it smokes on most sectors. Sure we try calling somebody on 121,5 if he doesnt want to chat to us and if that doesnt work, we just watch him cruise by. Its a bit of a hassle if you cant turn one aircraft and end up turning 5 others!!
I remember one instance where the fighters intercepted a private aircraft at F270 who hadnt talked to anyone since Maastricht. He was also intercepted by the germans and all the interception didnt help anything. Didnt listen on 121,5 either..wasnt very serious from our point of view.

Unfortunately I do fly mainly at night. Certainly, what with "sleeping " radios and post 911 fallout, we do try and make sure we transmit or hear something fairly regularly....

"Radio check" --- "Read you five"
"Radio check" --- "Read you five"
"Radio check" --- "Read you five"
"Radio check" --- "Read you five"
"Radio check" --- "Read you five"
"Radio check" --- "Read you five"
"Radio check" --- "Read you five" and so on

Still at least he wasn't in French airspace! Recently one of our crews was in normal radio contact with French ATC and was told he was going to be intercepted whether he liked it or not! They then spent 30 minutes with a French fighter sitting off their wingtip depite their strong protestations to ATC!

Rather than "Radio Check" I always prefer "Operations Normal" - just sounds more professional and, hopefully, tells the truth.

The incident took place over the Belgian coast. Any pilot flying on a busy week-end through the European airspace for more than 30 minutes and crossing country borders without talking to anybody should know that something's wrong.
We do have quiet periods and I consider a pilot who's making a radio check at such times a professional.

Major over reaction my a**e !! We try all sorts of ways to contact aircraft out of communication. This guy acted correctly in quickly coming up on 121.5. Believe me each time you fail to contact the appropriate frequency you will be considered to be suspicious immediately.

Very seldom will you be given the luxury of 30 minutes silence before finding company on your wing.

With 2 six 4 on this
To fly through some of the busiest airspace in the world at that time of the day without R/T contact is evidence of either gross ignorance ( if you believe you're alone in the airspace) or gross stupidity ( if you think it makes no difference)
A call on 121.5 is one of the first things we do, unfortunately the vast majority don't maintain a listening watch.
Since Sep. 11 we are required to advise the Military of anyone in radio failure. They decide whether to intercept or not (from memory, four times in recent months at Maastricht alone)
I understand that the intention is that a bill for the costs entailed is to be presented to the operators.

Lon More, more than just an ATCO

Which RT manual can I find that in?

I do like to sound professional and I always thought that asking for a radio check was the professional way of checking a radio.

I have to apologise to all pilots who have encountered me during their 'quiet spell' radio checks, as I normally respond 'yup, still with ya' but I think we all know why you do it, and I can get several each day!! As for those that don't maintain a listening watch (ie this thread) then having a military accompanyment is just a consequence you have to live with, after Sept 11th what more would you expect? I have to agree with 2 six 4 also that 30 mins is absurd, anything more than 5 where I am and you better look out more... :uhoh: good luck :ouch:

Lon More,

Good post. I had heard the same rumour about billing operators from my (military) side of the fence.

For those of you who get a hard-on about this sort of thing, bear in mind that the military are reacting to political (albeit standing) orders. Not many governments could survive if there was an incident and it turned out nothing had been done about it because the Mil were told not to act by the politicians.

Fly safely (and keep talking;) )

AA

>Which RT manual can I find that in?<

M.Mouse, thank you for drawing my attention to this terminilogical inexactitude!

You are quite correct - "Operations Normal" is not standard RT and "Radio Check" is.

Long as they don't mind me calling it the "Fox Easy" and the "Nan How" - it reminds me of the halcyon days of being on the flying boats!

A Question for you ATC professionals
 

We rarely guard 121.5, but we do guard 243.0.

My question is that when you make a call on 121.5, do you simulcast on 243.0 also as a routine procedure?

Grazie,

Check Six
Nope, we just monitor 121,5. I actually doubt if anybody in our company knows about 243,0.
121,5 is the norm here.