Practice Area Frequency

This forum has been developed to discuss flight instruction/University and College programs.

Moderators: Right Seat Captain, lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako

Post Reply
niss
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 6745
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:54 pm
Location: I'm a CPL trapped in a PPL's Body.
Contact:

Practice Area Frequency

Post by niss »

OK, so yesterday I was supposed to do some solo air work in our practice area (Orr Lake South of Midland, Ont). I took off after an ultralight who announced he was also headed to the practice area. He had his radio turned down so he couldn't hear me. No biggie I just left for Lake Simcoe to do some circuits and headed back after to hear him leaving. I didn't want to risk bombing around in a practice area knowing someone was there but I couldnt talk to them.

When I got on the ground I had a chat with him and found that when he is in the practice area he turns to Midlands frequency of 122.85. Well when we had the other flight school here going to the same practice area they stayed on Springwater Traffic of 123.00. Apparantly when the flight schools out of Simcoe go to the practice area they are chatting on 122.7 (Simcoe Unicom). I would imagine that the people at Edenvale are staying on their local freq. as well.

So how do we avoid airplanes smashing into each other due to lack of communication? I always keep a good lookout but it would still be nice to know how saturated the area is before farting around.
---------- ADS -----------
 
She’s built like a Steakhouse, but she handles like a Bistro.

Let's kick the tires, and light the fires.... SHIT! FIRE! EMERGENCY CHECKLIST!
User avatar
MorganAirCFI
Rank 2
Rank 2
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:32 pm
Location: CYYC
Contact:

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by MorganAirCFI »

See and Aviod is the number one policy. There is no requirements in alot of areas to even have radio. Radio does not replace a good scan. Besides student pilots are not very good at reporting their precise location.
---------- ADS -----------
 
niss
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 6745
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:54 pm
Location: I'm a CPL trapped in a PPL's Body.
Contact:

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by niss »

Obviously a radio does not replace a good scan, but my concern is since we are all talking, how do we make sure we can all hear each other?
---------- ADS -----------
 
She’s built like a Steakhouse, but she handles like a Bistro.

Let's kick the tires, and light the fires.... SHIT! FIRE! EMERGENCY CHECKLIST!
Hedley
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 10430
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 6:40 am
Location: CYSH
Contact:

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by Hedley »

Talk less on the radio. Look outside more.

Heck, first thing I do when I'm flying to Central America
is turn the radio off after takeoff, so I can listen to my
mp3 player without the intercom muting it.

LOOK OUTSIDE.

Sometimes, when I'm at an uncontrolled airport, I
can hear two low-time pilots talking to each other,
and I can hear the stress in their voices, as they go
up an octave, and try to resolve their "conflict" -
one is 10 miles west, and the other is 15 miles north -
and they're going in different directions away from
the airport :roll:

Why would I want to listen to that crap?

LOOK OUTSIDE.
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
Strega
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1767
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:44 am
Location: NWO

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by Strega »

Hedley,

one thing thats fun to do:

Aircraft GXXX "Mudsville traffic GXXX is level 7500'. 26 miles north of mudsville, eastbound to timbucktoo, and conflicts please advise GXXX Mudsville traffic"

Well if your able to hear this person and are flying GYYY and lets say your 35 miles south of muddsville; "ya GXXX, its GYYY, Im level 10500', 35 miles south of mudsville, westbound, should be no conflicts"

Its a hoot to hear the replys..
---------- ADS -----------
 
Rule books are paper - they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.
— Ernest K. Gann, 'Fate is the Hunter.
E-Flyer
Rank 8
Rank 8
Posts: 985
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:43 pm

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by E-Flyer »

He had his radio turned down so he couldn't hear me. No biggie
No Biggie eh? Hopefully you won't have to learn it the hard way.

I always promote safety and situational awareness, if he could have listened to you and you listened to him and maintained contact, that makes it just so much safer. I know I know, looking outside, but if you have something you can use like a radio, use it.
---------- ADS -----------
 
niss
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 6745
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:54 pm
Location: I'm a CPL trapped in a PPL's Body.
Contact:

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by niss »

My main concern isn't that he had his radio turned down it was that there are tons of people here unaware that they arent on the same freq.
---------- ADS -----------
 
She’s built like a Steakhouse, but she handles like a Bistro.

Let's kick the tires, and light the fires.... SHIT! FIRE! EMERGENCY CHECKLIST!
200hr Wonder
Rank 10
Rank 10
Posts: 2212
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:52 pm
Location: CYVR
Contact:

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by 200hr Wonder »

I tune out 99% of these so called position reports because they are inaccurate anyway! "Cessna 152 GZZZ over crescent island, lever 4500." How can you be there when I am?!?! Then after a frantic scan they are 2 miles south, and actually well below 4500. Thank god I do not instruct anymore!

See and be seen! there is no need to babble on for ever and ever on the sinking radio. Heck if no one else talking I would not even bother.
---------- ADS -----------
 
Cheers,

200hr Wonder
User avatar
FlaplessDork
Rank 7
Rank 7
Posts: 605
Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 9:50 am
Location: British Columbia

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by FlaplessDork »

I guess we could petition Transport to add another useless regulation to General Aviation making it virtually impossible to afford to own or operate an aircraft.

See and be seen. Radio is useless in Class G anyway.
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
MorganAirCFI
Rank 2
Rank 2
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:32 pm
Location: CYYC
Contact:

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by MorganAirCFI »

niss wrote:Obviously a radio does not replace a good scan, but my concern is since we are all talking, how do we make sure we can all hear each other?
Most collisions happen in the vicinity of an aerodrome with both aircraft travelling in relatively the same direction during dawn and dusk. Use the proper frequency for the aerodrome when arriving and departing, but still its all about the lookout and good airmanship. Never rely on others position reports, but your own eyes.
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
Right Seat Captain
Rank Moderator
Rank Moderator
Posts: 1237
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:51 pm
Location: Various/based CYOW

Re: Practice Area Frequency

Post by Right Seat Captain »

When I used to instruct in Ottawa, the practice area had a common frequency and despite the occasional incorrect position report made by a student, it helped a lot to keep us in non-conflicting areas. If the problem is that you think people are making too much noise on the radio or there are erroneous position reports on the radio, then really that's a problem with the instruction that's being given. Students aren't supposed to be out and about in the practice area unless they know where they are, where they are going, and how to speak on the radio for the situations they'll be in for their exercises.

I would suggest someone get all those flight schools together and decide on a common frequency, even if it's something like 123.45. An even better solution would be to talk to TC/NavCanada about designating an area as a training area, having it marked on the map, and designating an accompanying frequency.

Of course nothing ever beats a good lookout, but why not have the radio on your side too?
---------- ADS -----------
 
Post Reply

Return to “Flight Training”