Airport Handling frequency
 

Hello,

I've been wondering for quite a while what the handling frequency is about - for example, at the charts for ESSA, it might say: Arlanda Handling: 131.450? At what point would pilots have to call that frequency, and what are they actually handling? Since, the normal ground operations are communicated via the interphone between the flightdeck and the ground personell, I don't really see why there's a frequency that is called handling at most airports.

Thanks in advance.

It's for ordering the honeywagon to attend the aircraft when it's parked.(plus any other important things like wheelchair assistance for a passenger, catering needs, maintenence etc)

<<I don't really see why there's a frequency that is called handling at most airports. >

So that the crew can contact their agents while airborne. I don't know the situation nowadays but in the past many large airlines had their own frequencies, e.g Bealine Ops, Speedbird Ops, etc.

Still do, HD.

To get an idea of what is said on Company channels try liveatc.net.

Airport Detail: KJFK | LiveATC.net

Click on KJFK Company Channels.

It can be very interesting at times.

(Listening to ATC in the US and I presume to US ATC via the internet in this country is legal.)

(I've just edited the line above to make it clear that I am referring to listening to overseas ATC transmissions on the net. I do believe that LiveATC.net says that it cannot carry transmissions from UK airports due to local laws.)

Listening to ATC in the UK is illegal.

We call the handling company about 20-30 minutes prior to arrival. We advise them of our expected arrival time, how many passengers we have, whether we have any passengers that require assistance, and to order things like toilet service and fuel trucks. They can also advise us if our gate sobthat we can plan our possible taxi route and brief this.

Despite H D's post No 6,have done and still do.I have often wondered if the rather cryptic messages"2Sierras" or "3Romeos," refer to possibly Ambi lift passengers,and others who are "semi"mobile.Any knowledge gratefully accepted.

They are short for WCHR, WCHS etc:

WCHR: Passenger who can walk up and down stairs and move about in an aircraft cabin, but requires a wheelchair or other means for movements between the aircraft and the terminal, in the terminal and between arrival and departure points on the city side of the terminal.

WCHS: Passenger who cannot walk up or down stairs, but who can move about in an aircraft cabin and requires a wheelchair to move between the aircraft, in the terminal and between arrival and departure points on the city side of the terminal.

WCHP: Passenger with a disability of the lower limbs who has sufficient personal autonomy to take care of him/herself but who requires assistance to embark or disembark and who can move about in an aircraft cabin only with the help of an onboard wheelchair.

WCHC: Passenger who is completely immobile who can move about only with the help of a wheelchair or any other means and who requires assistance at all times from arrival at the airport to seating in the aircraft, or if necessary, in a special seat fitted to his/her specific needs the process being inverted at arrival.

G-MILF Thanks.

I understand that this is the general caise, but that the prohibition may be waived in some locations and some cicumstances.

Many years ago there was a notice at the bottom of a stair outside the eastern end of the then only terminal at Manchester inviting members of the public to come up and get theit airband receivers checked for non-interference with ATC communications. This implies that there was then a general grant of permission to listen to ATC at Manchester. Has this permission ever been revoked?

Dairyground, HD is of course technically correct but he is becoming a little repetitive about it. The reality of course is that scanners have been used frequently by enthusiasts since I was a little kid and I have NEVER observed the law being enforced by either the police or anyone else. However, in these modern times, unless spotters/enthusiasts refrain from the urge of immediately posting on social media what they hear, this could well change in the future!

Pilots of some well known airlines can often be heard practicing their calls to their handling agents on 121.5.

It's also tolerated as any Police conversation in three decades of doing so has proven. :)
Scanners are happily sold at airshows, some of the older generation just don't accept it's a harmless and enjoyable past time enjoyed by many. Indeed there's a lot of UK published books on the subject matter, but as Bren says, illegal in the UK #secretsquirrel

With fr24 now being a thing, I can't see HMG getting upset and cracking down, we have more pressing issues of state methinks.

I thought it was ok to listen but illegal to act or pass on any info received !

I think Dockwell needs to acquaint himsself with the law!

Lots of people argue that it's "OK" because little is done about it..... same as those lunatics who break the law by driving along my road (40mph limit) at breakneck speed. Just because people do it is no reason for others to copy them. The law is the law!

Oh for goodness sake HD do give it a rest! Driving above a 40mph speed limit is an entirely different story.

The law used to say it is OK to listen to, among other things, licensed broadcast radio and weather and navigation broadcasts. (found in this forum from 2003!). A search of the Ofcom site, which has taken over from the old agencies such as the GPO, shows nothing in this regard.
However, the question is "Does ATC traffic come under navigation broadcasts"? Clearly, instructions given to an aircraft by ATC must be considered "navigation" traffic. On the other hand, after 50 odd years in radio, I personally would consider it not to be a "broadcast" but a private system. After all, the users (airlines) are surely paying for these services, via airport use/navigation fees etc?
It seems to be a "law" that could keep a squadron of barristers in expensive and lucrative battles for years!

HT It is NOT a different story! I know that some of my ex-colleagues in ATC did not like the idea of people eavesdropping on them at work. Police transmissions are encrypted so Joe Soap cannot listen in. Pity that can't happen on the various air bands.....