[aprssig] VHF Aircraft Channels

[Joe Della Barba]

Ground stations still have a station license and an assigned frequency. 
DO NOT just pick one at random, you could interfere with an aircraft 200 
miles away. This sounds like it might fall in the "test flight" 
category. Actually 123.45 is part of that assignment and the rightful 
users go nuts with everyone thinking it is for air-to-air chitchat. Even 
some official publications have it put down for that. ARINC just down 
the road can help you if you need a frequency assigned to you. If you 
want to "just do it" and hope no one complains use 122.75. This is 
officially for air-to-air chitchat and carries no important ATC or FSS 
traffic. Please keep in mind with the ADIZ (security measures) around DC 
that what we do here is much more carefully monitored than elsewhere. If 
you want to get some real quick attention, use 121.5 :)
I would think about using ham radio for this if you can. You can easily 
talk all day on 2 meter simplex and never hear anyone else.
Feel free to contact me if you need any more advice. BTW, I may be 
flying a 144.99 input/144.39 output digi in the area this weekend to see 
how it works.
73
Joe Della Barba N3HGB
commercial pilot.

Chuck Gooden wrote:

>John Habbinga wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Use of aviation radio frequencies requires an FCC license.  If you
>>don't have a license you can probably operate under the control of a
>>licensed aviation service organization.  Usually one that operates at
>>the airport the plane is kept at.  You would want to ask the plane's
>>pilot what frequency to use.  I know that 123.450 MHz is commonly used
>>for informal chit-chat among pilots.
>>
>>On 1/23/06, *Robert Bruninga* <bruninga at usna.edu
>><mailto:bruninga at usna.edu> > wrote:
>>
>>    Hummh... We all have these radios that tune the
>>    118-137 MHz AM aircraft band...  But what channels
>>    are available to communicate plane to plane or
>>    plane to ground?
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>The best way would be to look at an Anreonautical chart, or airport
>facilities directory for the area the plane is going to be in.  Since
>your on the east coast, I would expect the frequencies to be quite
>crowded given the plane will be flying 2500 feet and above.
>
>Ham band frequecencies, or FRS may work better without causing
>interferance to other pilots ect.
>
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