POA Frequency

mulligan

mulligan

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Mulligan
What needs to be done to get a "POA Frequency" for when I fly and am bored and want to tell jokes in the air or just chit chat? You know, like truckers have channel 16. One that doesn't yell "your on guard" and allows friendly conversation. Does anyone use the one below or any other that they monitor as they fly for fun?

122.75 air-to-air communications (fixed-wing aircraft)
 
You should squawk 7700 and go to 121.5... that'll notify everyone around you that you're game to chat.... or if you're near one of those cool red circles on ForeFlight---use the special squawk 7500. You can even get a little air show.


123.45 for me as well


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mulligan said:
What needs to be done to get a "POA Frequency" for when I fly and am bored and want to tell jokes in the air or just chit chat?
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There isn't one. All frequencies are for aviation use only, not chit-chat and any frequency you might pick could have you ending up blocking people trying to use it for it's intended purpose.
 
What is the intended purpose for frequency 123.45? Atlantic crossings? I doubt I'm going to screw anyone over in Arizona.
 
Well sir, since some of us weren't around the camp fire when this was discussed, would you care to enlighten us?
 
Timbeck2 said:
The airline guys were blowing up 121.5 last night trying to get the score to the Cubs Indians game.
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Years ago flying 135 someone on center freq asked if the controller knew who had shot JR Ewing, TV show that was popular then. The controller knew and told him, and the 2 guys I picked up in MEM had asked me earlier and I told them I don't ****ing know nor ****ing care (not really), so I told them too.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Well sir, since some of us weren't around the camp fire when this was discussed, would you care to enlighten us?
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It is used for air to air in oceanic airspace and for flight test in domestic airspace. Party line use is technically a no-no.
 
Our tower VHF frequency is 118.85. Rocky Point tower in Mexico uses that frequency too. Although the Rocky Point pilots are instructed to transmit below 6,000' we always get their chatter and its annoying when you are trying to talk to someone inbound to us. What can we do about it? Nuthin.

I suppose if someone questioned my whereabouts while transmitting on 123.45 I'd say I'm over the North Pole. What could they do about it? Nuthin.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Our tower VHF frequency is 118.85. Rocky Point tower in Mexico uses that frequency too. Although the Rocky Point pilots are instructed to transmit below 6,000' we always get their chatter and its annoying when you are trying to talk to someone inbound to us. What can we do about it? Nuthin.

I suppose if someone questioned my whereabouts while transmitting on 123.45 I'd say I'm over the North Pole. What could they do about it? Nuthin.
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So, if I interpret your post correctly, you get annoyed when someone is on "your" frequency but you couldn't care less if you're annoying someone else...

Or worse, endagering them if you're tying up their frequency when they really need it as they're doing flight testing.
 
How would I be "endangering" anyone on that frequency Tim? If I heard what I thought was a flight test communication on the frequency I'd simply pick another one. So far, I haven't heard squat. There are multiple people on our frequencies all the time, are you endangered? Also there are specific emergency frequencies just for endangered pilots, 123.45 isn't one of them. Plus, it isn't like we're reading War And Peace to each other over the frequency.
 
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So...every 760 channel com radio should be outlawed and the 8.33 spacing MANDATED.

(Welcome to ICAO standards!)
 
Not to be argumentative here Greg but where is is written that it is "illegal" to broadcast on 123.45? To be clear, I've broadcast on that frequency on two flights and less than 5 or 6 transmissions on each. Do the oceanic flights interfere with the flight tests because they're on the same frequency? Who are the testing facilities that use that frequency? If it is jammed or being used by an oceanic flight do they have a backup or do they scrub the mission? Or is it "illegal" in the sense that asking what the score or the Cubs Indians game is on an emergency frequency is "illegal?"
 
Timbeck2 said:
Or is it "illegal" in the sense that asking what the score or the Cubs Indians game is on an emergency frequency is "illegal?"
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I'm curious if someone can give a citation for the other part of your question, but for this part. The OP asked "what do I use to gossip with my friends" and the answer to that is "nothing". To your point, no one is going to go to prison for it, but that doesn't mean we should condone it. I've had situations on both 122.75 and 123.45 where there was a ton of useless gossip and it took a bit of time before I could break in and coordinate another freq with my buddy.
 
Timbeck2 said:
The airline guys were blowing up 121.5 last night trying to get the score to the Cubs Indians game.
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Hell, I typically always get score reports from NorCal on Sunday afternoons...until the 49ers started sucking.

One day, I asked Fresno for an update.
It resulted in an early handoff.

"Tampico 470, contact Lemoore approach on 124.85, the sailors are watching SF...we're watching Denver"


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I get a War Eagle every time I fly into KAUO. Problem is, I also get a Go Tigers when I fly into KBTR.
 
Tarheelpilot said:
22.75 for me. Have been yelled at for being on fingers in some parts of the country.
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Got no problem using 22.75 either but I'm curious, who yelled at you and what did they say?

You know the pilot/forum community is funny. We admittedly defend our position on what we think is illegal or frowned upon or may endanger someone else yet we think nothing at all of breaking the posted speed limit on the road. Just an observation of which I'm just as guilty as the next guy.
 
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Timbeck2 said:
How would I be "endangering" anyone on that frequency Tim? 0
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If someone needs to make an emergency call to their base while you're yapping away. It is the flight testing frequency after all and flight testing doesn't always go well. You may not have flight testing in your area but we do around here and I'm confident that Wichita and Seattle do also along with other parts of the country. (albeit it's my understanding that some mfgrs have their own designated frequency also).

Timbeck2 said:
Not to be argumentative here Greg but where is is written that it is "illegal" to broadcast on 123.45? To be clear, I've broadcast on that frequency on two flights and less than 5 or 6 transmissions on each.
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This has been discussed numerous times here and I'm pretty sure Levy provided chapter and verse but I can't find it since his account has been deleted.

But the larger issue... I think it's a slippery slope when we start choosing which rules we intend to follow and which we don't. (not saying I'm a saint either ;) )

jaybee said:
hadn't heard it called fingers in a while :) I was going to ask if anyone else called it that
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That's what everyone around here calls it also! That or Mickey Mouse.

172andyou said:
There isn't one. All frequencies are for aviation use only, not chit-chat and any frequency you might pick could have you ending up blocking people trying to use it for it's intended purpose.
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Actually, I think 122.75 is specifically for air-to-air chitchat...
 
timwinters said:
This has been discussed numerous times here and I'm pretty sure Levy provided chapter and verse but I can't find it since his account has been deleted.
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All his posts are still there. People think that when we delete an account the posts go with it. No. Your user name becomes POAdeletedxx. In fact, we do not delete accounts by request any more. If you want all your post deleted you need to do it yourself.
 
It is according to the AIM. 4.1.11. It says. 122.75 is designated by the FCC for air to air communication for private fixed wing.

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Tim, you can be assured that if I ever dial up that frequency and I hear someone talking about a test flight or discussing parameters or something such as that, I would never broadcast on the frequency in the first place. K? (I'm not the idiot who tried to kill you at Gastons) I've never been accused of "yapping away" on frequency or normal conversation. Around here in Southern Arizona, I've never heard anyone on the frequency at all.

I'm sure testing centers have back up frequencies that they use just in case they need to "make an emergency call to their base." There's really no need to be overly dramatic about this issue. By the way, Boeing doesn't use the frequency. I don't know who Levy is but if it is truly "illegal" to broadcast on 123.45, then a document expressing that fact shouldn't be so hard to find.

bottom line - going for education here, not confrontation. ;)
 
timwinters said:
Actually, I think 122.75 is specifically for air-to-air chitchat...
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Nope. It's for aviation use only.

Coordinating operations of a practice area? Legit

Coordinating between two pilots flying to lunch? Legit

Talking about what you're going to have for lunch? Nope
 
Looky Here! Aeronautical Informational Manual

4−1
11. Designated UNICOM/MULTICOM Frequencies
Frequency use
a.
The following listing depicts UNICOM and
MULTICOM frequency uses as designated by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
(See TBL 4
−
1
−
2.)
TBL 4
−
1
−
2
Unicom/Multicom Frequency Usage
Use
Frequency
Airports without an operating
control tower.
122.700
122.725
122.800
122.975
123.000
123.050
123.075
(MULTICOM FREQUENCY)
Activities of a temporary, seasonal,
emergency nature or search and
rescue, as well as, airports with no
tower, FSS, or UNICOM.
122.900
(MULTICOM FREQUENCY)
Forestry management and fire
suppression, fish and game
management and protection, and
environmental monitoring and
protection.
122.925
Airports with a control tower or
FSS on airport.
122.950
NOTE
−
1.
In some areas of the country, frequency interference
may be encountered from nearby airports using the same
UNICOM frequency. Where there is a problem, UNICOM
operators are encouraged to
develop a “least interfer-
ence” frequency assignment plan for airports concerned
using the frequencies designated for airports without
operating control towers. UNICOM licensees are
encouraged to
apply for UNICOM 25 kHz spaced channel
frequencies. Due to the extremely limited number of
frequencies with 50 kHz
channel spacing, 25 kHz channel
spacing should be implemented. UNICOM licensees may
then r
equest FCC to assign
frequencies in accor
dance
with
the plan, which
FCC will r
eview and consider for appr
oval.
2.
Wind direction and runway information may not be
available on UNICOM frequency 122.950.
b.
The following listing depicts other frequency
uses as designated by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC). (See TBL 4
−
1
−
3.)
3/15/07
7110.65R CHG 2
AIM
5/26/16

AIM
12/10/15
4
−
1
−
7
Services Available to Pilots
TBL 4
−
1
−
3
Other Frequency Usage Designated by FCC
Use
Frequency
Air-to-air communication
(private fixed wing aircraft).
122.750
Air-to-air communications
(general aviation helicopters).
123.025
Aviation
instruction, Glider,
Hot Air
Balloon
(not to be used for
advisory service)
 
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Everskyward said:
All his posts are still there. People think that when we delete an account the posts go with it. No. Your user name becomes POAdeletedxx. In fact, we do not delete accounts by request any more. If you want all your post deleted you need to do it yourself.
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Okay, I went back and tried again. You can indeed do the search, the site just doesn't auto fill so I thought it wouldn't work. i.e. if you search for posts by Henning, his name doesn't pop up like yours does, but the search still works.

So, now since it doesn't autofill, I just have to remember what Ron became. POAdeleted20 I think it was.
 
172andyou said:
Nope. It's for aviation use only.
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Ron Levy seems to disagree with you:

poadeleted20 said:
122.75 is designated for this purpose, and is the only frequency authorized in the Continental USA for this purpose.

123.45 is (within the USA) specifically assigned to Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, and some other companies for their exclusive use for their own flight test operations. Intrusion on their frequency is an FCC violation, and if those companies hear you, they will respond on the air, reminding you that you are violating FCC rules by interfering with their operations (yes, I've heard it, and don't ask me more than that).

Note that in some Oceanic areas (North Atlantic for sure), 123.45 is designated for inflight interplane communication -- but not over the Continental USA.
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Quit using 123.45.

It was my understanding that both 122.75 and 122.85 were for air-to-air comms. I guess it's 122.75 for fixed-wing aircraft.
 
And here's what some other local d!ckhead said about it 18 months ago when it was last discussed:

timwinters said:
If 122.75 is too crowded and someone wants to "bootleg" a frequency, then I'd suggest something other than 123.45.

Maybe the chopper air-to-air frequency would be quieter; 123.025.

Or 122.25 which is assigned to balloons. Doubt that one sees much traffic.

Or 122.775 which is listed as "air shows and air-to-air" (or appears to be unassigned, depending upon the reference.)

I've also heard of people using 122.725 which is a Unicom frequency but not assigned to any airports around here.

Anything but 123.45, at least in this area, because actual flight testing does occur around these parts.
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172andyou said:
I'm curious if someone can give a citation for the other part of your question, but for this part. The OP asked "what do I use to gossip with my friends" and the answer to that is "nothing". To your point, no one is going to go to prison for it, but that doesn't mean we should condone it. I've had situations on both 122.75 and 123.45 where there was a ton of useless gossip and it took a bit of time before I could break in and coordinate another freq with my buddy.
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I have an 9 year old cockpit card from the King school that list Air-to-Air Freq as 122.75 and 122.85.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Got no problem using 22.75 either but I'm curious, who yelled at you and what did they say?

You know the pilot/forum community is funny. We admittedly defend our position on what we think is illegal or frowned upon or may endanger someone else yet we think nothing at all of breaking the posted speed limit on the road. Just an observation of which I'm just as guilty as the next guy.
Click to expand...
I used yelled figuratively. Don't remember how they identified themselves. Has been more than a few years ago. I was on a cross country somewhere over central Illinois headed towards the east coast. I was chastised for unapproved use of the frequency. I monitored fingers for a while and heard some comments between two aircraft that were apparently coordinating a form up in the flight levels.

Prior to that experience I had one other time where someone said something to me but I thought they were just screwing with me. I always thought the don't use fingers crowd were full of **** until the second occurrence. The folks that ran me off sounded like they were up to something a little more "official" than me.
 
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