CTAF Frequencies

Upstream I mentioned a CTAF with digits after the 7 of 122.7, and here it is:

KRGA Cen Kentucky Regional Airport

122.725 CTAF
 
You've got to understand with the Fly Baby those radio calls are spread over a l-o-n-g time, and other planes may be coming out of IFR (Fly Baby has no transponder) or just tuning to Sullivan CTAF.

Pushing a button is a small effort to let others know I'm in the neighborhood.

And, of course, there may be some Yahoo who doesn't follow good radio practice.
 
tinerj said:
Upstream I mentioned a CTAF with digits after the 7 of 122.7, and here it is:

KRGA Cen Kentucky Regional Airport

122.725 CTAF
Click to expand...

There's nothing magic about the numbers in a CTAF. If the field has a tower frequency (when the tower is closed) it is usually the tower frequency. If it has no tower, but has a UNICOM, then it is usually the UNICOM freqeuency. If it has no UNICOM, then it's often a multicom frequency.

The original UNICOM was 122.8. This was supplanted by 122.7 and 123.0 in the 70's I think. Later four more UNICOM frequencies became available: 122.725, 122.975, 123.050, and 123.075. 122.95 is available as the UNICOM at towered fields (rarely is this a CTAF). There are a few more reserved for future UNICOM or AWOS's up in the area above 136.

Multicom was 122.9 historically, though 122.85 is sometimes allocated along with a few others.

123.6 used to be the frequency FSS used for advisories back when we had on-field FSS's. That could be a CTAF as well if the FSS was closed.
 
tinerj said:
You've got to understand with the Fly Baby those radio calls are spread over a l-o-n-g time, and other planes may be coming out of IFR (Fly Baby has no transponder) or just tuning to Sullivan CTAF.

Pushing a button is a small effort to let others know I'm in the neighborhood.

And, of course, there may be some Yahoo who doesn't follow good radio practice.
Click to expand...

Makes sense I guess ;)

I'm used to hitting the downwind at ether 120kts or 170kts
 
tinerj said:
Sullivan traffic Fly Baby 4268 10 miles to the west to land Sullivan

Sullivan traffic Fly Baby 4 miles to the west to land on 26 Sullivan

Sullivan traffic Fly Baby entering right downwind for 26 Sullivan

Sullivan traffic Fly Baby turning right base 26

Sullivan traffic Fly Baby turning final 26

Sullivan traffic Fly Baby clear of all runways Sullivan

I say the "traffic" at front but not at end, and if I had my choice, I'd not say traffic at the front. (But it is required)
Click to expand...

And a nice long time between calls too. (being in Fly Baby) So not congesting the airwaves. :)
 
Bobanna said:
On initial call-up for field advisory, I generally ask if Bertha Butt (one of the Butt sisters) is available. I get called "neanderthal" all the time, but it just runs off...
Click to expand...
And why is that? (other than your avatar, of course...)
 
I fly out of a grass field and everyone there uses 122.75, I was told that was called a muti-com freq. cause it can be air to air or ground to air, air to ground
 
Thanks for the post, next time I see the owners I'll bring it up, (will make me look smart)
 
122.75 is *NOT* the multicom frequency despite what "someone" told you. Alas, Rod Machado used to make this error all the time in his lectures. 122.75 is the general air-to-air frequency.

Multicom is the CTAF and air-to-ground/ground-to-air frequency for airports with no UNICOM or control tower (or in the distant past, an on-airport FSS advisory). 122.9 is the most common one, though a few others are allocated on a shared basis (like 122.85).

Absent an indication otherwise from the FAA or FCC, you should be using 122.9 on your random grass strip.

Anybody using 122.75 on the ground is operating illegally.
 
I wonder if maybe that freq was used for air to ground long ago, or something?, well could be too long ago with .xx
 
I was flying into IZA the other day and could hear, loud and clear, transmissions from WVI. Those airports are 163 nm apart and even have some terrain around. Sometimes, weather causes these transmissions to travel farther. Both use 122.8.

Greg Bockelman said:
On that subject, why start off saying "Podunk Traffic" and ending with "Podunk Traffic"? Is that what is being taught now? Why not start with "Podunk Traffic" and simply ending with "Podunk"?
Click to expand...

I think it is just a habit some people develop, likely because human beings enjoy repetition. I usually do the latter, but the former sometimes pops up.
 
N1120A said:
I was flying into IZA the other day and could hear, loud and clear, transmissions from WVI. Those airports are 163 nm apart and even have some terrain around. Sometimes, weather causes these transmissions to travel farther. Both use 122.8.
Click to expand...

"Weather" in the traditional sense is usually not the reason... unless tropospheric ducting is taking place. Space weather in the ionosphere however, can have a dramatic effect a few times a year when the MUF rises to VHF.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top