On the Airbands

This ATIS on 316. l MHz and 365 kHz actually ran during the Exercise Coral Sea attack sortie on Williamtown Base by US Naval aircraft from the United States Seventh Fleet when it visited recently.

During the attack, the airfield was closed to all other traffic with a restricted area declared in airspace surrounding the Base. A call sign used during the exercise by RAAFFlA-18s was the rootword ”. Adder”, and the Americans were copied on UHF using Manta and Aurora for the F-14 Tomcats. Frequencies in use were 271. 1 for the RAAFF/A-18s, with the F-14s on 292. 450, and 342. 0.

STUD 17 from Williamtown (270. 8) was in use all day as well, meaning airband monitors had plenty to listen to. The RAAF refuelling tankers weren’t heard on any of the usual frequencies they normally use, although the fast jets were using them for hot turnarounds. Fleet Support’s four Learjets were also involved in the Coral Sea Exercise, and the fact that most of the Lear 35 drivers were ex-Mirage pilots really showed up! One of my spies at the Willy Base stated that he thought “that most of them thought they were still flying Mirages!”

Thanks to Bill Duncan from Nooroo NSW for much of this information.

* * *

Frequencies Fleet Support were monitored on were usual company 133. 3, with 133. 6 and 135. 2 as well for the “Spiders”. Kiwi Gold (RNZAF) were using 322. 7 MHz, which is the RAAF 37 Squadron company channel, for air-to-air.

* * *

Peter Calder from Beaumaris in Victoria was monitoring Melbourne Flight Service on 126. 8 listening to western Victorian FIS traffic, when all of a sudden he was also treated to Adelaide Control speaking with aircraft transiting between Melbourne and Adelaide, who were on various frequencies including Adelaide Control channels 135. 4, 132. 7, and 135. 0. Some of the aircraft were heard reporting at Nhill, and others, including Qantas 9 and Qantas 279 reported at Lizzi (S35 00. 0, E130 00. 0), and were instructed to change to 135. 0. Maybe someone in the know can w rite and tell us about how it happened. A patching accident is our guess at this stage!

* * *

Peter Calder also has monitored Amberley Approach on 126. 5 while on a visit north on business, and heard Qantas 21 with something added to it’s callsign. The letter J, “Juliet”. Qantas 21 Juliet had it’s unusual suffix questioned by the Controller, and the reply was that the aircraft was painted in the JAL livery, and as such it was a Japanese Government requirement that the letter “J” be added to the flight number. The aircraft was actually VH-EBX, one of three Qantas 747-300s wet leased to JAL for the next two years, in a $200 million agreement which commenced on April 1 this year.

The contract is a big shot in the arm for Qantas, as it is the first time that foreign airline crew have been entrusted by JAL and the Japanese Government to operate aircraft on JAL services. Qantas Chief Executive John Ward and President of Japan Airlines Mr Matsao Toshimitsu agreed that a special relationship has been built between JAL and Qantas based on respect and appreciation for each other’s professionalism and commitment to high standards. Just by the by, Qantas was voted Best Airline to the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand by readers of Business Travel International recently. The Flying Kangaroo also trumped all in ABM magazine’s 1992 quality airline poll. Makes you proud doesn’t it?

* * *

Andrew North from Timaru on the South Island of New Zealand recently heard Qantas 65 talking with Christchurch Control, using his Realistic PRO-30 handheld receiver.

QFA 65: ‘Mm . . . Control, Qantas 65, any speed restrictions for us?” CTL: “Qantas 65 . . . that’s no. Use warp factor five, or just go into hyperdrive!”

Thanks Andrew. Great to hear from you again. New Zealand contributions are very welcome.

* * *

P Feltham from Kelmscott in Western Australia enquires as to the best times etc to hear North Atlantic Track (NAT) frequencies, and what channels are the best to dial up. 5616 and 8864 are my particular favourites, with a lot of activity from NAT also being heard 0600-0800z on frequency 11396, which SEA also uses. The times mentioned around 0600z to 0800z embrace the short “window” period when both the North Atlantic area and your location have daylight.

* * *

Ansett Selcal, provided by C D McFarlane, Victoria.

F28-1000 – VH-FK A FM-BE; -FKC HK-AC; -FKD EH-DK; -FKE EH-DG; F28-3000 – VH-EWF CK-AF; -EWG CK-AG; F28-4000 – VH-EWA GC-BE; -EWB CG-BF; -EWC CG-AK; -EWD CG-BK;BAe 146-200 – JJP EH-DL;-JJQ EH-DM; -JJW EP-JM;-JJY FQ-DK;-JJZ FQ-DL; 727-200 – VH-RMN FM-BD; 727-200LR – VH-ANA AD-GJ; -ANB FM-BC; 727-200F – VH-RMX HK-AB; 737-300 – VH-CZA BE-FG; -CZC AD-GL; -CZG BE-FM;-CZH AD-GH;767-200 – VH-RMD AD-FG;-RME AD-FH;-RMF AD-FJ;-RMG AD-FK;-RMH AD-FL;A320-200- VH-HYA DP-LM; -HYB EF-AP; -HYC EF-BP; -HYD EF-CP; -HYE EF-DP;-HYF EF-GP;-HYG EF-HP;-HYH EF-JP;-HYl AD-LR;-HYJ AD-LS;-HYK AD-MR;-HYL AD-MS.

According to our correspondent, the aircraft listed are the only ones currently fitted with selcal, adding that for operational purposes, occasionally Ansett switch codes around between various aircraft of the same type. Mr McFarlane is Ansett’s Maintenance Development Engineer, and is based at the Engineering Base at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport.

* * *

Some RAAF STUDS for 35 Squadron. STUD 1 = 264. 6 Ground, STUD 2 = 257. 8 Tower, STUD 3 = 307. 8 Approach, STUD 4 = 328. 5 Townsville Control, STUD 5 = 270. 6 GCA Final, STUD 6 = 275. 9 35 Squadron Tarmac, STUD 7 = 316. 5 35 Squadron air/air, STUD 8 = 263. 8 9 Squadron Tarmac, STUD 9 = 316. 7 9 Squadron air/air, STUD 10 = 308. 0 5 Squadron air/air, STUD 11 = 275. 6 12 Squadron air/air, STUD 12 = 316. 938 Squadron air/air, STUD 13 = 269. 6 Rocky Tower, STUD 14 = 363. 8 Amberley Approach, STUD 15 = 287. 5 Romeo 750 Range Safety Officer air/ground/air, STUD 16 = 273. 2 Romeo 750 Quadrant, STUD 17 = 279. 2 RAAF Marine freq. Townsville, STUD 18 = 282. 8 FAR, STUD 19 = 245. 1 SAR Training, STUD 20 = 316. 2 ATIS.

Those frequencies courtesy of an anonymous (name supplied but withheld) service flyer from way up north.

* * *

During the recent horrendous Los Angeles street violence, Qantas were forced to cancel flights to LAX (such as Qantas 11) and reroute through to San Francisco. This was due to some gang members attempting to shoot at aircraft flying low on final approach to LA International Airport whilst smoke from the numerous fires were also creating visibility problems.

Qantas always monitor world trouble spots on an up to the minute basis, and if necessary diverts their flights by ACARS or on HF radio while the aircraft is airborne and making its way to the original destination. This policy has saved passengers from getting into trouble at world hotspots many times over, and they are to be applauded for their efforts in this regard. Well done Qantas, as usual.

* * *

Eric Giddio from Mascot copied this little gem of a story while listening to the airband radio inside the Ansett Sydney Domestic Terminal. Young Eric says . . . “The airport security staff there know me well and don’t seem to mind me getting an audience of travellers around me in the terminal asking all sorts of questions about my receiver and what I am listening to. ”

Frequency: 127. 5 MHz Sydney Clearance Delivery. QANTAS 1: “Sydney Clearance Delivery, this is Qantas 1, stand 1, requesting clearance to Bangkok. ”

SYDNEY ACD: “Qantas 1, good afternoon, clearance is a West 1 departure, thence Wollongong, Flight Level three-seven-zero, and squawk code 2731. ”

QANTAS 1: Roger, clearance West 1, Wollongong, FL 370, Squawk 2731. :

SYDNEY ACD: :And Qantas 1, wind is zero two zero degrees at 15 knots. Do you want runway zero seven or three four for your departure?”

QANTAS 1: (After a lengthy pause) . . . “Well, we could take zero seven (short runway – 2,529 metres) but I forgot to put our rocket engines on!”

The crew was immediately allocated RW 34. Wonder why?

* * *

Anyone wanting official charts or other publications from the CA. Ns Publications Centre Shop can address mail orders to the postal address PO Box 1986,Carlton South 3053. The street address is 607 Swanston Street Carlton, with the shop open 8. 30am to 4. 30pm Monday to Friday. Phone (tollfree) (008) 33 1676, (008) 33 4191 or Melbourne local calls on (03) 342 2000. Fax (03) 347 4407.

* * *

James Smith from Gladsville NSW monitored 125. 3 and heard Sydney Departures speaking with VH-KZQ which was involved in parachute operations at Wilton, south of Sydney. DEPARTURES: “Kilo Zulu Quebec, there’s a loud background hum right over all your transmissions!”

VH-KZQ: “Correct. We have no door . . . so it gets a bit hows your-father in here!

and . . .

Domestic aircraft asking for permission for the second time to cross RW 07 at Sydney Airport.

SYDNEY GROUND: “Negative, and if you look out your left window you’ll see why!”

* * *

A recent article in the Wollongong Advertiser concerning the Albion Park Air Show is a classic case ofa journalist not familiar with aircraft getting caught out when trying to write about the airshow.

Various aircraft at the Air Show were misnamed, as in the following list: Lockheed became Lockhead, Oshkosh was labelled Oskkosh Five, Beechcraft as Beechcroft, WmJeel was referred to as Wingeel, a Stampe was written up as a Stomp, a Pitts Special as a Pitt, and finally an Extra 300 as an Exit 300! Who let this non-aeronautical writer loose on the airfield with a word processor, without pointing out some basic spellings of the names of these aircraft?

Kevin Wright from Castle Hill NSW, who alerted us to this situation, doesn’t know the answer to that either!

* * *

Tony Arbon, our register specialist advises me that CTAFs are usually within 5 nautical miles and up to 3,000 feet of licensed aerodromes (not AFIZs) whilst MTAFs are usually within 15 nautical miles and up to 5,000 feet and replace AFIZs, which are Airfield Flight Information Zones. Tony is involved with the Queensland Air Traffic Services Awareness Programme, which involves presenting seminars to local aero clubs and training organisations.

This programme is aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of CA A procedures, including use of AM ATs, CTAFs, and MTAFs. Tony states that “The people involved in the Queensland ATS Awareness Programme are doing a great job”.

* * *

Ifyou wish to contribute, write to On the Airbands, PO Box 16, Georges Hall 2198. Replies require a stamped self addressed envelope please.