Heard Somthing Different When Flying Today

AKBill

AKBill

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AKBill
So I monitor 121.5 when flying on com 2. Heard something a little different today. It went something like this.

"Anchorage center Alaska Flight xxx on Guard 121.5"

"Can't pick up anchorage center on XXX.XX, is there another frequency?"

It was a strange request on a frequency I did not expect that type of communication.

Is 121.5 (Guard) used as an information frequency at flight levels?
 
AKBill said:
So I monitor 121.5 when flying on com 2. Heard something a little different today. It went something like this.

"Anchorage center Alaska Flight xxx on Guard 121.5"

"Can't pick up anchorage center on XXX.XX, is there another frequency?"

It was a strange request on a frequency I did not expect that type of communication.

Is 121.5 (Guard) used as an information frequency at flight levels?
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I wouldn't have thought to describe it as an information frequency, but it I do hear it used frequently enough by aircraft who can't make contact on an assigned frequency to get pointed the right direction. Say you get a handoff to 1xx.xx and can't raise them, maybe try the last frequency back, but if now you can't raise them then 121.5 is your best choice. Likewise, often hear ATC try to contact someone they can't raise via guard or via relay on guard - "American 123, can you try to contact N12345 on guard and have them contact Center on xxx.xx"
 
rsleeds said:
I wouldn't have thought to describe it as an information frequency, but it I do hear it used frequently enough by aircraft who can't make contact on an assigned frequency to get pointed the right direction. Say you get a handoff to 1xx.xx and can't raise them, maybe try the last frequency back, but if now you can't raise them then 121.5 is your best choice. Likewise, often hear ATC try to contact someone they can't raise via guard or via relay on guard - "American 123, can you try to contact N12345 on guard and have them contact Center on xxx.xx"
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Thanks, I guess I spoke wrong by saying "information frequency"
 
I always monitor 121.5. It is very common here in cantral CA to hear a commercial aircraft asking for a frequency. Usually sounds like they wrote it down wrong or missed it somehow.
 
I hear this at least 4 or 5 times a week on guard.

"American fourteen thirty five, Alaska three sixty four"
"Go ahead"
"Yeah, center is looking for you on one thirty six point eight"
"Thanks"

or

During the Super Bowl there are at least 10 requests for the score.
 
AKBill said:
So I monitor 121.5 when flying on com 2. Heard something a little different today. It went something like this.

"Anchorage center Alaska Flight xxx on Guard 121.5"

"Can't pick up anchorage center on XXX.XX, is there another frequency?"

It was a strange request on a frequency I did not expect that type of communication.

Is 121.5 (Guard) used as an information frequency at flight levels?
Click to expand...

Officially, 121.5 is the International Calling and Distress frequency.....emphasis on calling in this instance. Nothing improper here.

Bob Gardner
 
Timbeck2 said:
On another note, one would be surprised at how many controllers assume pilots have their radios tuned to 121.5.
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Not an unwarranted assumption, since it’s required by FDC NOTAM “if capable”.


ALL AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN UNITED STATES NATIONAL AIRSPACE, IF CAPABLE, SHALL MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH ON VHF GUARD 121.5 OR UHF 243.0.
 
That's not why they assume it and I have yet to meet a pilot with 121.5 tuned on the radio in a tower environment. Usually they'll have approach and tower or tower and ground etc.
 
It’s very common... in addition to the crew asking for a freq, at times ATC will transmit in the blind to see if the aircraft they are looking for is monitoring.
 
SkyDog58 said:
With those buggy eyes of yours, you should be able to see better.
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giphy.gif
 
Timbeck2 said:
That's not why they assume it and I have yet to meet a pilot with 121.5 tuned on the radio in a tower environment. Usually they'll have approach and tower or tower and ground etc.
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En route, especially for longer XC, I generally do. In a tower environment, I generally don't.
 
Tim your right. Always at work never in my plane. Oh, wait I've only got a single comm that might splain it.
 
We in the Marine Corps and Navy call guard “Air Force Common.” Running joke as they do comm checks on it at least 3 times a day on what sounds like 3 different radios around here.
 
Timbeck2 said:
On another note, one would be surprised at how many controllers assume pilots have their radios tuned to 121.5.
Click to expand...

And I always thought tower monitored 121.5.

Took off from ABQ late one night and when the gear went up I flipped the switch to monitor 121.5. As soon as I flipped the switch an ELT started blaring in my ears. I notified tower of my discovery and the questions started.

The ELT was on the airport, parked in a hangar..... maybe set off by a hard landing.
 
Timbeck2 said:
That's not why they assume it and I have yet to meet a pilot with 121.5 tuned on the radio in a tower environment. Usually they'll have approach and tower or tower and ground etc.
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That’s what the second com or monitor option is for and some of us do monitor it - not 100%.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I always monitor 121.5 when on an XC flight. Here in the PNW, it’s very easy to loose touch with Seattle Center or other other control authority when on flight following especially when flying over mountains or down the Gorge (ok - scud running). I have been called on Guard more than once by Delta and others. I also have a laminated chart showing the various frequencies in the PNW and the general geographical areas they cover. More than once I have put in the wrong frequency and was glad to have the chart to correct.
 
Seems every flight that's more than 90 minutes and I have 121.5 dialed in, there is always a request on guard from ATC or to ATC to get or change to a frequency.
 
AKBill said:
So I do monitor 121.5, is this going to be a change since the 406 ELT came into effect?
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The monitoring requirement was born out of 9/11 because ATC couldn’t get ahold of pilots and request them to land. So yeah, if able, you are required to still monitor 121.5.
 
FastEddieB said:
Not an unwarranted assumption, since it’s required by FDC NOTAM “if capable”.


ALL AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN UNITED STATES NATIONAL AIRSPACE, IF CAPABLE, SHALL MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH ON VHF GUARD 121.5 OR UHF 243.0.
Click to expand...

Thanks @Velocity173 I deleted my post as I thought it my be misunderstood. I was wondering if monitoring 121.5 is still required. It's my understanding 121.5 ELT's are no longer monitored, for the lack of better words.
 
AKBill said:
Thanks @Velocity173 I deleted my post as I thought it my be misunderstood. I was wondering if monitoring 121.5 is still required. It's my understanding 121.5 ELT's are no longer monitored, for the lack of better words.
Click to expand...

Not by satellite (RCC) but ATC and CAP still monitor it for ELTs.
 
The dpe on my checkride passed me but did talk to me about the requirement to monitor when able, and shared a story where he was the only one to hear a midair and was able to relay to summon help. I monitor when on xcountry


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
AKBill said:
So I monitor 121.5 when flying on com 2. Heard something a little different today. It went something like this.

"Anchorage center Alaska Flight xxx on Guard 121.5"

"Can't pick up anchorage center on XXX.XX, is there another frequency?"

It was a strange request on a frequency I did not expect that type of communication.

Is 121.5 (Guard) used as an information frequency at flight levels?
Click to expand...

I recently had Tracon tell me to contact him on 121.5. I was a bit confused, but complied. After the call, he switched me back to the original frequency. He must have been checking if he was able to receive 121.5
 
Seldom monitor it - just have two radios, one for ATC and the other for AWOS and everything else. If xctry, in good weather, I may tune it on comm 2.
 
I do not monitor 121.5, but a few times ATC has ask me to monitor for an ELT signal. I think if ATC gets a report of an ELT they will try to triangulate the general location from the reception strength of the signal by several aircraft.
 
I don't monitor 121.5 in the work airplane any more. Too many idiot commuter pilots yelling at each other about being on guard and making cat noises and so on. At least on the east coast, I heard its better on the west coast.
 
Groundpounder said:
I don't monitor 121.5 in the work airplane any more. Too many idiot commuter pilots yelling at each other about being on guard and making cat noises and so on. At least on the east coast, I heard its better on the west coast.
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It’s a shame that some pilots being asshats could discourage another pilot from monitoring and that pilot might by chance be the only one who might have been in a position to hear a distress call or ELT.

If anyone works a two man cockpit and your fellow crew member plays games on guard or you recognize the voice doing so, tell them to stop. Help to instill some professionalism if at all possible.
 
Groundpounder said:
I don't monitor 121.5 in the work airplane any more. Too many idiot commuter pilots yelling at each other about being on guard and making cat noises and so on. At least on the east coast, I heard its better on the west coast.
Click to expand...
I monitor and it's very quiet, that's why I posted.
 
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