Controllers frequency

Mohamed Ahmed

Mohamed Ahmed

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MAH
Hi, I’m a low hours private pilot. When I take a xc flight, I wish if I could anticipate the controllers frequencies when I’m asked to switch from one controller to the other. Is there is a way of doing that?


Thank you
Mohamed
 
ummm, part of the proper planning of a XC flight is knowing which frequencies you might be expected to use at the departure point, the arrival point and in between. you should have learned that in training for your PPL. if you're still in training your CFI will show you how to do that.
 
rk911 said:
ummm, part of the proper planning of a XC flight is knowing which frequencies you might be expected to use at the departure point, the arrival point and in between. you should have learned that in training for your PPL. if you're still in training your CFI will show you how to do that.
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@rk911 I got my ppl in 2018, and I do planning including departure and arrival frequencies, but I’m not able to find a reliable way to get enroute controllers frequencies. I do look to the airports close to my route and check their clearance or center frequencies. Sometimes it works but not always.


Thank you
Mohamed
 
rk911 said:
ummm, part of the proper planning of a XC flight is knowing which frequencies you might be expected to use at the departure point, the arrival point and in between. you should have learned that in training for your PPL. if you're still in training your CFI will show you how to do that.
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I sure wasn't taught how to find Center frequencies along the way between a Departure and Approach. And it often seems like the point of switch over isn't so obvious.

Heck I never once used an Approach, Departure, Center freq or FF during my entire PPL training. That was with 2 CFI's and 80% of it at a Delta under a Bravo. My first flight after my PPL I started using FF. Very glad I did.

Actually I'd be willing to bet that less than 25% of PPL's on the day of their check ride could find the correct Center frequency out in the middle of nowhere. Heck, is this even required training for the PPL?

@Mohamed Ahmed - I think your answer lies in a couple of places. The A/FD obviously has entries for each airport. Along your route you can find the nearest airport and look up its Approach/Departure/Center frequencies. I think another place for the answer is in IFR en-route charts and/or approach plates but I don't have that rating yet so let someone else chime in.

Actually, give us a sample route (but not your solo X/C :)) and let the group here explain which frequencies would be used. I bet I'll learn something too.
 
The paper chart has a lot of the approach and center frequencies listed on the top of one side. You should be able to narrow down to a couple for each route.
 
ok, well while all air space is controlled once you leave the class D or C airspace you can monitor any freq you like. if you have dual radios i like monitoring the CTAF freqs of airports that are near my flight path on one and the guardcfreq on the other. once i'm within 30-miles or so of my destination i'll tune to the ATIS/AWOS for current conditions and then to the field's CTAF. all of those freqs can be found on the sectional map or the chart supplement (former A/FD). you can also find them on AIRNAV.COM.
 
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Do you have Foreflight on your iThingy? A lot of times the departure frequency is listed - but be aware that there are times (like around DFW) where a controller can get really busy and they set up another frequency and hand off some aircraft to that. When I used to teach down at Stinson Municipal in San Antonio we were almost always given a different frequency than the sectional listed for arriving aircraft - the controller was listening to both, but they always gave us the local one.
You can often memorize frequencies - like SE Dallas usually uses 125.2, S of Fort Worth, usually 135.97, etc... and the more you fly and write stuff down, the more likely you'll remember them.
 
I once felt the same way, I wanted to plan in advance every freq along the way. it's not worth the effort, in my opinion. know your departure and arrival freq's, everything else is just whatever they tell u. once u get into the xc rhythm, it won't matter as much as u think it does now.
 
eman1200 said:
I once felt the same way, I wanted to plan in advance every freq along the way. it's not worth the effort, in my opinion. know your departure and arrival freq's, everything else is just whatever they tell u. once u get into the xc rhythm, it won't matter as much as u think it does now.
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Wisdom (finally).
 
I know the approach freqs I usually get at home and make sure I have the weather before I check on with them. The rest I don't worry too much about... someone will tell me where to tune.

That said, even for an unfamiliar airport I'll note the "probable" approach freq and do the same thing as my local. Sometimes it works, sometimes I get to reply "advise when I have weather."
 
Mohamed Ahmed said:
. Is there is a way of doing that?
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Honestly, no. There is no published frequency map. It will vary with altitude and proximity to C and B airspace and even those boundaries of what frequencies or facilities you will talk to vary based on workload, times, and other active airspace.

I do a lot of long XC trips, some you will come to know from repetition and Center frequencies can be found if you learn how to read IFR charts, but the only en route frequency I look up is the approach frequency to my destination so once I hit that I know I can dial up Tower and have it in standby since that is typically a higher workload time. Another reason for as much techno garbage that I have in the cockpit, I sill rely on a kneeboard and paper for the quick frequency jot down.
 
NOS IFR LOW charts will get you close. As other people have stated just know the arrival and departure freq but not all of those are well known either.

centerFreq.png
 
PaulS said:
Not that I've found, you get center and FSS there, but that usually requires a change unless you are in their (center's) area and altitude.
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Not sure if I got the question right, if I am leaving the airport , say towered, I know the tower and say departure frequency, en route low IFR chart has the sector frequencies, the blue postage stamp. Most times it matches, sometimes it doesn’t. Thought that’s what OP is asking. I refer to that on every XC and have the next frequency dialed in in my stand by.
 
WannFly said:
Not sure if I got the question right, if I am leaving the airport , say towered, I know the tower and say departure frequency, en route low IFR chart has the sector frequencies, the blue postage stamp. Most times it matches, sometimes it doesn’t. Thought that’s what OP is asking. I refer to that on every XC and have the next frequency dialed in in my stand by.
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I think it depends on where you are flying, others can probably explain it better, but around here, New England, there is a pretty good concentration of c's and d's and when at lower altitudes you are handled by approach control. There are areas where approach controls don't cover so you'll get center, which is on the chart, but the approach frequencies are not on there, probably because around the busier c's and b's there are many approach frequencies in a smaller area. It's tough to anticipate the next frequency unless you fly an area often. Working on my IR I'm starting to know some of the frequencies, but it's important to use the radios correctly if you have a flip/flop or write the freq down if you don't.
 
Mohamed Ahmed said:
Hi, I’m a low hours private pilot. When I take a xc flight, I wish if I could anticipate the controllers frequencies when I’m asked to switch from one controller to the other. Is there is a way of doing that?
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At or below 10,000 feet, the best bet is to look up the frequencies for approach/departure control along your route of flight in the A/FD (Ahem, "Chart Supplement").

As post #20 shows, Center frequencies can be found on the IFR Low Enroute charts, and that's your best bet above 10,000 but below FL180.

There really isn't a foolproof method of doing this, since frequencies also change based upon time of day and traffic load. If you fly a particular route frequently enough with flight following, you'll figure out what the normal frequencies are.

However, all this exercise does for you is to get you frequencies that you *might* tune to next. I really only do this if I'm already in the air on a long cross country and get bored.

Sinistar said:
Actually, give us a sample route (but not your solo X/C :)) and let the group here explain which frequencies would be used. I bet I'll learn something too.
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That's an excellent idea.
 
To answer the OP's question, you can't easily anticipate the frequencies unless you are flying the same route at the same time with traffic in the area the same volume. Approach control frequently combines sectors during slack periods and sometimes the frequency itself (meaning the radio or other electronic snafu) can be out of service for that sector and they have to use a back up. Just keep paper and pencil handy during your flight if you have trouble remembering numbers. If you miss the frequency or can't reach anyone on the frequency they gave you, go back to the last assigned and ask them to tell you again, they won't mind.
 
WannFly said:
Not sure if I got the question right, if I am leaving the airport , say towered, I know the tower and say departure frequency, en route low IFR chart has the sector frequencies, the blue postage stamp. Most times it matches, sometimes it doesn’t. Thought that’s what OP is asking. I refer to that on every XC and have the next frequency dialed in in my stand by.
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Part of it is understanding how airspace is divide up between Approach (TRACON) and Center. Got that classic 3D picture in your head of D/C/B airspace and upside down cakes?...now, as a generalization Approach controls the airspace around every C and B airport for about 30 miles and up to 10,000'. Center controls everything above and in between that (gross generation and many exceptions but pretty close to reality). If you have say a Delta or uncontrolled airport in the middle of nowhere not near a C or B, your first contact off the ground may be a Center frequency vs a TRACON frequency. Each of those approach and Center areas are broken up into different sectors and those actively expand and contract which is why there is no published map. I have had frequencies be different on the same route headed different directions at different times.

So if you depart a C or D in a busy area, it might be quite a while or quite an altitude before you are handed off to that charted Center frequency.
 
Really overthinking it and making something simple into something difficult. Yeah frequencies for the departure and arrival airports is easy to find and have. En route there are too many variables. Most charts don't provide the information, and the switch over points are not listed anyway. Just get on with your departure controller and do what he says. If you're really bored, some GPS will show you the nearest ARTCC frequency, but it isn't even always right.
 
PaulS said:
I think it depends on where you are flying, others can probably explain it better, but around here, New England, there is a pretty good concentration of c's and d's and when at lower altitudes you are handled by approach control. There are areas where approach controls don't cover so you'll get center, which is on the chart, but the approach frequencies are not on there, probably because around the busier c's and b's there are many approach frequencies in a smaller area. It's tough to anticipate the next frequency unless you fly an area often. Working on my IR I'm starting to know some of the frequencies, but it's important to use the radios correctly if you have a flip/flop or write the freq down if you don't.
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Definitely depends where you're flying. At and below 10,000 MSL in the Midwest and Northeast, there are enough TRACONs that you don't talk to Center a whole heck of a lot. For example, when I fly down around the bottom of Lake Michigan and out to Wings Field for the FlyBQ, I'll talk to:

Milwaukee Approach
Chicago Approach
South Bend Approach
Fort Wayne Approach
Toledo Approach
Mansfield Approach (Yes, Virginia, there are class D airports with their own approach...)
Cleveland Approach
Akron Approach
Youngstown Approach
Pittsburgh Approach
Johnstown Approach
New York Center
Harrisburg Approach
Philadelphia Approach

So, on a 654nm flight, if I'm at or below 10,000 feet I'll talk to 13 Approaches and only one Center (and that, only for a brief time in central PA). So, the "blue postage stamp" trick doesn't really work very well in some pretty significant areas of the country unless you're above 10,000. And I really hate it when I'm above 10,000 and I get a descent to 10,000 because I know Center is just tired of dealing with me and wants to pawn me off on Approach...
 
rk911 said:
ummm, part of the proper planning of a XC flight is knowing which frequencies you might be expected to use at the departure point, the arrival point and in between. you should have learned that in training for your PPL. if you're still in training your CFI will show you how to do that.
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Really?
 
Move the pointer on the G1000 to where you want to check and push it. Or bring up the chart page on the GTN750 and touch.
 
Mohamed Ahmed said:
Hi, I’m a low hours private pilot. When I take a xc flight, I wish if I could anticipate the controllers frequencies when I’m asked to switch from one controller to the other. Is there is a way of doing that?


Thank you
Mohamed
Click to expand...

Look at the Communications listing in the Airport/Facility Directory part of the Chart Supplement for specific airports beneath your flight path, especially listings for Center. Note that Centers divide their airspace into many sectors, each with its own frequency, and there is currently no way for pilots to access that information. Use the listed Center frequency...the controller who answers will give you the correct sector frequency. It is good operating practice to make a notation on your sectional whenever you get a frequency change so that the next time you fly over that location you will know what to expect.

Bob Gardner
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
The paper chart has a lot of the approach and center frequencies listed on the top of one side. You should be able to narrow down to a couple for each route.
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Sometimes. When going past Atlanta on flight following, I've used up to 5 or 6 frequencies talking to them. There's no good way to know in advance which one I will usw or when to expect to change. Some trips it's only 2 or 3 frequencies.

My early XCs from furthest WV to central / eastern NC had 10-11 freq changes. I'm not going to try to predict that many . . . .
 
I travel RYY to FIN about once a month. I wrote down all the freqs on the way to try what the OP is asking. Never worked. Far better to learn how to write/memorize vs anticipate as you'll often be wrong (en-route, not departure/destination)

As an aside, why does every question from a new/student pilot have a "why didn't your instructor teach you that?" comment.
 
Hang 4 said:
I travel RYY to FIN about once a month. I wrote down all the freqs on the way to try what the OP is asking. Never worked. Far better to learn how to write/memorize vs anticipate as you'll often be wrong (en-route, not departure/destination)

As an aside, why does every question from a new/student pilot have a "why didn't your instructor teach you that?" comment.
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I'm surprised he hasn't been called troll yet.
 
There was a comment above relating to a frequency being displayed on your Garmin GTN 750 if you select location on your Garmin G 1000… All very good if you have all that expensive panel candy.

Most pilots these days are flying with a GPS/COM navigator like a Garmin 430, or a similar device.

I fly behind and Avidyne IFD 440, and if I turn the frequency tuning knob, it will automatically pop up a list of valid frequencies for facilities near where I am, including (as may be appropriate) airport frequencies, Approach frequencies, Center frequencies and Flight Service Station frequencies. I can then tune them with a touch. Handy.

I don't think the Garmin 430 did that, but I do remember one trick you could use in similar circumstances with the 430 was to select a nearby airport with the cursor, or from the "Nearest" list, and open its information page, and relevant frequencies will be displayed there for easy selection.

If you're using Foreflight, you can select any airport near you, and on the Info page, there will be a list of relevant frequencies, which will include all this kind of information for your use. I assume other EFB products are similar.
 
SCCutler said:
...I fly behind and Avidyne IFD 440, and if I turn the frequency tuning knob, it will automatically pop up a list of valid frequencies for facilities near where I am, including (as may be appropriate) airport frequencies, Approach frequencies, Center frequencies and Flight Service Station frequencies. I can then tune them with a touch. Handy....
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GTN650:
upload_2019-1-11_11-26-0.png

not sure about the 430
 
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