Radio and Radar Communications

Hi Readers: In flying, our radio and radar communications are all-important - a necessity from the beginning - to get from one point to another - from departure to arrival safely. This includes our use of radar navigation en route - some a convenience, others a necessity.
These radio and radar communications originate from a broad spectrum of frequencies (electromagnetic waves) broadcast and received by Transmitters and Receivers from a Low frequency (100 Khz) through MF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, and to EHF (Extremely High Frequency at 100 Ghz). If you've forgotten, Kilo is one thousand, Mega is one million, Gigga is one billion - and, of course, "Hertz" is the ICAO designation for cycles/second. These frequencies in the U.S. are assigned by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In the very beginning, whether a local or X-C flight, we must necessarily contact a Ground Control, a Tower, or FSS to get departure instructions, and by regulation we must use the assigned frequencies. Normally, Towers and FSS's are assigned VHF frequencies (118+ Mhz). These frequencies can be found for any airport designated by the FAA. Ground Control frequencies are also in the VHF range, 121.66 to 121.9 Mhz.
En Route, we should expect to communicate with VORs and VORTACs (108-118 Mhz); or use GPS on 1215-1240 Mhz; or ARTC as assigned, perhaps NDB on 190-535 Khz; or LORAN C at 100 Khz; Mode S radar at 1030, 1090 Mhz; TCAS at 9660-1215 Mhz; and ARSR at 1215-1400 Mhz.
On Descent and Approach we'll use ILS Localizer on 108-112 Mhs (VHF) and Glideslope on 328.6 - 335.4 (UHF). And then back to the Tower and Ground Control frequencies. All of these communication frequencies have to be known and used, as needed, by the pilot. The emergency frequency is still 121.5 Mhz.
UNICOM (No Tower or FSS) uses CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies) of 122.7-123.0 Mhz. Other communications frequencies designated by the FCC are air-to-air and private airports on 122.750 and 122.850 Mhz; air-to-air GA Helicopter communications on 123.025 Mhz; and Aviation Instruction, Glider, and Hot-Air Balloon operations in the 123.300 Mhz range.
Other Airborne frequency assignmentss are Microwave Landing Systems (MLS) used by DOT, DOD, and NASA are 5000-5150 Mhz, with DME at 960-1215 Mhz; Airborne Weather Navigation Radar at 9300-9500 Mhz; Airborne Radar Altimeter at 4200-4400 Mhz; and Precision Approach Radar (PAR) used by the Military at 9000-9200 Mhz.
Large Ship Radar at 2900-3100 Mhz and above; Amateur Radio (HAM) at 1800 Khz to 250 Ghz, and Space Communications at 2290-2300 Mhz are of interest to many users.
Surface frequencies of interest, also, are AM Radio 535-1700 Khz; FM Radio 88-108 Mhz; Short Wave Radio 5.9-26.1 Mhz; CB Radio 29.96-27.41 Mhz; Television 54-88 Mhz and 174-220 Mhz, depending on the Channel; Cordless Telephones 40 to 50 Mhz; and Cell Phones at 824-849 Mhz.
As the need for air travel and the increase of airplanes in the airspace appear, the lack of available radio frequencies may become a stumbling block in operations as early as 2005. The demand for assigned frequencies is getting beyond the supply. A log-term digital plan seems to be the best option for the future.
Thanks for listening. R.S.

PIREPS

Hello Readers: Before we get to PIREPS, have you thought about your weight lately? Do you know what your Body Mass Index is? BMI will give you a good indication of where you stand on weight. This through the courtesy of Karen Miller-Kovach, RD, Chief Scientific Officer of Weight Watchers In'l, the formula: Divide your weight, multiplied by 703, by your height in inches squared. You should comeout somewhere between 20 and 30. 20 to 30 - optimal, 25 to 30 - overweight, and 30+ - Obese.
Now the PIREPS - What are they? Get out your Acronym reader.
Pilot reports are inflight, usually en route, weather reports to help other inflight pilots know what is up ahead of them. You can check PIREPS either prior to your takeoff or en route. Or if need be, you can contact the pilot directly to ask his assesment of the weather. Normally you would contact your FSS (Flight Service Station) and get EFAS (En route Flight Advisory Service).
EFAS (Flight Watch) is a service specifically designed to provide, upon pilot request, timely weather information pertinent to type of flight, intended route of flight, and altitude. This service is within the FSS system, and is listed in any Airport/Facility Directory.
FAA, through the air traffic facilities, is required to solicit PIREPS when the following conditions exist - reported or forecast:
1. Ceilings at or below 5,000 ft.
2. Visibility at or below 5 miles - surface or aloft.
3. Thunderstorms and related phenomena.
4. Icing conditions of a light or greater degree.
5. Turbulence of a moderate degree or greater.
6. Wind shear, reported or forecast, and volcanic ash clouds.
Pilots are urged to cooperate and volunteer reports of cloud bases, tops and layers; flight visibility; precipitation; visibilitity restrictions such as haze, smoke, or dust; wind at altitude; and temperature aloft.
PIREPS should be given to EFAS, AFSS/FSS, ARTC (Air Route Traffic Control), and terminal ATC. The EFAS (Flight Watch) facilities, as mentioned, has the specific duty of collecting and exchanging PIREPS with en route aircraft. If pilot are not able to make PIREPS by radio, then the reports should be given to the local FSS upon landing.
Some of the uses of PIREPS areas follows:
ATCT (Tower) uses the reports to expedite the flow of air traffic locally.
AFSS/FSS uses the reports to brief other pilots inflight and en route.
ARTC uses the reports to expedite the flow of en route traffic.
NWS (National Weather Service) uses PIREPS to verify or amend conditions contained in Aviation Forecasts and Advisories, and pilot weather briefings.
There are numerous pages of information in the FARs regarding PIREPS, their importance, and specifically how to prepare and use them. Pilots should take the time to digest this information in the FARs, with the idea of participating in PIREPS. Thanks for listening. R.S.

Did You Know - Random Facts

Did you know that:

AOPA (Aircraft Owners Pilot Association) now has 412,000 members.



GA (General Aviation) makes up less than 4% of FAA's Tower Operations - but is expected to increase in the future.



International passenger flights are taking a bigger slice of the flying pie each year, by fuel consumption accounts, gradually increasing from 10% of the total in 1977 to 30% in 2006. Domestic passenger flights dropped from 90% to 74% for the same time periods, while the total of International and Domestic flying increased by 53%. By all accounts, these figures will only increase year by year in the future.

In a more recent accounting by the Department of Transportation (DOT) research, U.S. Airlines carried 64.9 million scheduled Domestic and International passengers in April 2007, 2.7% more than in April 2006 - 7.5 million of those were schedled International passengers, a 2% increase.

During the first 4 months of 2007 the Domestic and International flights of the major carriers enjoyed average load factors exceeding 77.8%.

The DOT also reported that American Airlines carried more total system passengers in the first 4 months of 2007 than any other airline, while SouthWest Airlines carried more Domestic passengers. American Airlines also carried more International passengers.

Closer to home, the Domestic revenue passenger miles market share from May 2006 to April 2007 was: American 15.3%, United 12.1%, Southwest 11.9%, Delta 11.1%, Continental 7.7%, Northwest 7.0%, U.S. Airways 4.7%, Jet Blue 4.0%, America West 3.8%, Alaska Airline 2.6%, and Other 19.8%.

The top Domestic Routes for the same period were: (passengers in millions) New York to Chicago 3.24, Los Angeles to Chicago 2.78, Washington D.C. to Chicago 2.69, Ft. Lauderdale to New York 2.65, Atlanta to New York 2.63, Atlanta to Orlando 2.62, Denver to Chicago 2.53, Atlanta to Washington D.C. 2.51, Las Vegas to Chicago 2.4, and Dallas/Ft. Worth to Chicago 2.36. (Chicago appears to be the central Hub, - no doubt, but probably with more delays).

The top airports - More total System and Domestic passengers boarded flights in the first 4 months of 2007 at the Atlanta - Hartsfield Johnson International airport, while more International passengers boarded flights at Miami International. (I'm sure that the Air Traffic Controllers are mindful of these increases since they report that there are too few of them to handle it all).



And, hey, did you know that Live Rock 105 radio is owned by CBS and (for Robin and Leta) have pretty good music, too. I wonder if those "rock-jocks" can come up with a "flying dreamliner" song. RS.