Aircraft
Frequencies World Wide HF and VHF/UHF Aircraft
Communications Listening
What do you need to
get started listening to the world of monitoring Aircraft
communications?
If you have a good quality VHF/UHF
scanning receiver and a HF communications receiver that will tune from
about 2mhz thru 30mhz with LSB/USB mode on the HF bands (shortwave radio) then
you are all set to join in the excitement of DX'ing HF Aeronautical radio
communications.!
If you just stumbled into this site and your
looking for a good quality receiver for HF, then check out this page and look
for the Sony ICF SW 7600GR. It is
highly recommended for tuning the Hf aircraft band
frequencies.
To monitor the VHF/UHF
frequencies: You will
need a good quality scanner receiver for VHF UHF to monitor
aircraft frequency bands over land or within line of sight of
major air traffic control centers. You won't have a problem hearing
airborn aircraft within your area. Remember that VHF / UHF frequencies are
"line of sight". If the aircraft are beyond your horizon, you won't hear
them due to their signals being blocked by the earth. Excellent
quality VHF/UHF scanners can be found from ScannerMaster. Click
here to take a look if you're interested! They have all price
ranges and models to choose from.
A good outside antenna will also
help your receiver to receive the signals much better. See the shortwave
antenna projects on this site and build one for HF and also look on the
antenna projects page (Antenna Design) on the left menu, for any
antenna that can be built for the VHF bands and designed for the aircraft
frequencies. Check out the simple projects. You'll save big bucks by doing
it yourself! Most are simple to build using material from your local
hardware store, Lowes, Home Depot, etc and since you will only be using
them on receive only, no special test equipment will be needed. A good HF
multi band project can be found
here!
Who, what and
when! Aircraft
communications from over the oceans can be very boring at times or very
exciting! Along with the use of satellite communications,
commercial and military aircraft use either the VHF/UHF frequencies when
over or near land and switch to worldwide or nearly so, HF frequencies
when over oceans and far beyond line of sight with land based ground
stations.
They are not active all the time and are
not always on the frequency that you are, so be patient and tune around
the frequencies listed on this
page.
The aeronautical voice
communications stations and frequencies listed in the tables below
are available to and utilized by the U.S. FAA Air Route Traffic Control
Centers (ARTCCs) for air traffic control purposes.
The frequencies in use will
depend upon the time of day or night and conditions which affect radio
wave propagation especially on HF frequencies. Voice communications are
handled on a single channel simplex basis (i.e., with the aircraft and the
ground station using the same frequency for transmission and reception)
unless otherwise noted in remarks.
The stations will remain on
continuous watch for aircraft within their communication areas, and when
practicable, will transfer this watch to another station when the aircraft
reaches the limit of the communications area.
Stations listed below which are
designated "FAA" are operated by the U.S. FAA Flight Service Stations.
Stations designated "ARINC" are operated by Aeronautical Radio,
Incorporated. Sections or frequencies highlighted in Green in the table below
are usually long range and are usually transmitted in USB
mode. Other frequencies (VHF/UHF) are AM.
STATION
AND OPERATING AGENCY
RADIO
CALL
TRANSMITTING
FREQUENCIES
REMARKS Freqencies with decimal point
are (Mhz) Others are khz
HONOLULU (FAA)
Honolulu Radio
122.6 122.2 #121.5
MHz
#Emergency. Frequency 122.1 also
available for receiving only.
Volmet
2863 6679
8828 13282 kHz
Broadcasts at H+00-05 and H+30-35;
Aerodrome Forecasts, Honolulu, Hilo, Agana, Honolulu. SIGMET. Hourly
Report, Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, Agana, Honolulu.
Broadcasts at H+05-10 and H+35-40; Hourly
Reports, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento,
Ontario, Las Vegas. SIGMET. Aerodrome Forecasts, San Francisco,
Seattle, Los Angeles.
Broadcasts at H+25-30 and H+55-60; Hourly
Reports, Anchorage, Elmendorf, Fairbanks, Cold Bay, King Salmon,
Vancouver. SIGMET. Aerodrome Forecasts, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Cold
Bay, Vancouver.
Broadcasts at H+30-35; Aerodrome
Forecasts, Niagara Falls, Milwaukee, Indianapolis. Hourly Reports
Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Niagara Falls, Milwaukee,
Indianapolis.
Broadcasts at H+35-40; SIGMET (Oceanic-New
York). Aerodrome Forecasts, Windsor Locks, St. Louis. Hourly
Reports, Bangor, Pittsburgh, Windsor Locks, St. Louis, Charlotte.
Minneapolis.
Broadcasts at H+40-45; Aerodrome
Forecasts, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington. Hourly Reports, New
York, Newark, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington.
Juan). Aerodrome Forecasts, Nassau, Freeport. Hourly Reports,
Bermuda, Miami, Nassau, Freeport, Tampa, West Palm Beach,
Atlanta.
STATION AND
OPERATING AGENCY
RADIO CALL
TRANSMITTING
FREQUENCIES
REMARKS
NEW YORK (ARINC)
New York
3016 5598 8906
13306 17946 21964 kHz
North Atlantic Family A
Network.
2962 6628 8825
11309 13354 17952 kHz
North Atlantic Family E Network.
2887 3455 5550
6577 8846 11396 kHz
Caribbean Family A Network.
5520 6586 8918
11330 13297 17907 kHz
Caribbean Family B Network.
3494 6640 8933
11342 13330 17925 kHz
Long Distance Operations Control (LDOC)
Service (phone-patch). Communications are limited to operational
control matters only. Public correspondence (personal messages)
to/from crew or passengers can not be accepted. NOTE: New York
ARINC can also provide HF communications over South America on these
LDOC frequencies through their remote site located in Santa Cruz,
Bolivia.
129.90 MHz
Extended range VHF. Coverage area includes
Canadian Maritime Provinces, and oceanic routes to Bermuda and the
Caribbean, from Boston, New York and Washington areas to
approximately 250 nautical miles from the east coast.
130.7 MHz
Extended range VHF. Full period service is
provided within most of the Gulf of Mexico. Also on routes between
Miami and San Juan to a distance of approximately 250 nautical miles
from the Florida coast and within approximately 250 nautical miles
of San Juan. NOTE: New York ARINC also provides VHF
communications over the Northern two-thirds of Mexico on 130.7 MHz
for FAR Part 121.99 compliance.
436623* 631-244-2492
Aircraft operating within the New York
Oceanic FIR. *NOTE: This satellite Voice Air/Ground calling
number is available to call ARINC and will be recognized and
converted by all Ground Earth Station (GES) service providers to the
appropriate Public Service Telephone Network (PTSN) or direct dial
number for this communications center.
Long Distance Operations Control (LDOC)
Service (phone-patch). Communications are limited to operational
control matters only. Public correspondence (personal
messages)to/from crew or passengers can not be accepted. NOTE:
San Francisco ARINC can also provide HF communications along the
polar routes on these LDOC frequencies through their remote site
located at Barrow, Alaska.
131.95 MHz
Extended range VHF. Coverage area includes
area surrounding the Hawaiian Islands and along the tracks from HNL
to the mainland. Coverage extends out approximately 250NM from
Hawaii and from the West coast.
129.40 MHz
For en route communications for aircraft
operating on Seattle/Anchorage/Routes.
436625* 925-371-3920
Aircraft operating within the Oakland and
Anchorage Oceanic FIRs. *Note: This satellite Voice Air/Ground
calling number is available to call ARINC and will be recognized and
converted by all Ground Earth Station (GES) service providers to the
appropriate Public Service Telephone Network (PTSN) or direct dial
number for this communications center.
Unscheduled broadcasts H+00,
H+15, H+30 and H+45 as appropriate, for Weather and Military
Activity Advisories, on 110.6, 109.0, 108.6, 108.2, 113.5, and 114.0
MHz. #Emergency. For frequencies 114.0, 113.5, 108.2 and 109.0 MHz
use 122.1 MHz for transmissions to San Juan Radio. For frequency
108.6 use 123.6 MHz.
Source of table information:
The FAA (Federal Aviation
Administration) Sept, 2006
AirCraft Frequency listing by State! Click Here! (You
will leave this website)
Military Long Range
Aeronautical Frequencies U.S. ARMED FORCES GLOBAL
HIGH FREQUENCY SYSTEM IS NOW CALLED The High Frequency Global Communications System
(HF-GCS).
The High Frequency Global
Communications System is a network of single sideband shortwave transmitters of the United States Air Force which is used to communicate with
aircraft in flight, ground stations and some United States Navy surface assets. All worldwide receiving and
transmitting sites in the HF-GCS system are remotely controlled from
Andrews AFB.
PUBLISHED FREQUENCY
LISTING - HFGCS stations operate on “core" frequencies to
provide increased "Global" coverage. The published
frequency listing does not reflect complete system frequency
authorizations. These published frequencies will be used for
initial contact, EAM broadcasts, and short-term C2 phone patch and message
delivery. Other extended or special services will be moved to each
station’s available "discrete" frequencies.
You may hear highly
encrypted or coded voice transmissions at times that make no sense
whatsoever. Just be patient. Military and national security at
work!
HF-GCS stations tend to operate in the
aviation bands clustered around 5, 8 and 11/12 MHz, although other
frequencies are in use.
The primary HF-GCS
voice frequencies are 4724.0 KHz, 6739.0 KHz, 8992.0 KHz, 11175.0
KHz, 13200.0 KHz and 15016.0 KHz. Primary HFGCS
Frequencies 24 Hours: 8992 and 11175 Back up HFGCS
Frequencies Day: 13200
15016 Back up HFGCS Frequencies Night:
4724 6739
In addition to the HF-GCS, U.S. aircraft frequently use
Military Affiliate Radio
System (MARS) HF stations
(13927.0 KHz) and Canadian
Forces HF stations (11232.0
KHz) to relay messages.
Although transmissions are often
single sideband, the use of the ALE , a
type of digital transmission mode, is more and more common.
HF-GCS complements the use of
satellite communications, and digital modes between aircraft and ground
stations.
Stations of the HF-GCS
Network
Andersen Global,
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam Island
Andrews Global,
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland USA
Ascension Global,
RAF Ascension Island, Atlantic Ocean
Croughton Global,
RAF Croughton, United Kingdom
Diego Garcia Global,
Diego Garcia
Naval Station, Indian Ocean
Elmendorf Global,
Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska
Hickam Global, Hickam Air Force Base,
Hawaii
Keflavík Global, Keflavík NAS, Iceland
Lajes Global, Lajes Air Base, Azores
McClellan Global (aka West Coast Global),
McClellan Air Force Base, California
Offutt Global, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Puerto Rico Global, Salinas, Puerto Rico
Sigonella Global, Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily,
Italy
Yokota Global, Yokota Air Base, Japan
Closed Stations
Thule AFB, Greenland USB
Voice
The table below lists some common
frequencies presenty in use. Remember to tune around these frequencies
also. (All frequencies below in KHz. To convert to mhz, count from
right hand side of number 3 places to left and add
decimal)
USAF Bases such as
Andrews, Edwards, McClellan, Offutt, Ascension, Hickam, Thule,
Elmendorf, etc. can be heard with worldwide phone patches, Emergency
Action Messages, general traffic, etc on or near these frequencies and
in the table below: 4742, 6712,
6739, 8992, 11175, 11244, 13200, 15016
AF Eastern Test Range (Backup for
Ascension), Cape Canaveral, Antigua, Ascension,
Maui
Aeronautical Mobile HF Bands (Khz)
Commercial Aircraft 2850-3155
kHz 6525-6765khz
3400-3500
8815-9040
4650-4750
10005-10100
5450-5730
13200-13360 15010-15100
Note: Military aircraft can be heard on some
of these bands.
Disclaimers: NOTICE AND WARNING!: Frequencies and modes listed
here are considered accurate but are subject to change. We are not responsible for your use of these
frequencies. This information is for entertainment
and educational purposes only.
Despite popular opinion,
listening to and/or repeating any conversation not intended as a general
broadcast TO THE PUBLIC over the airwaves is ILLEGAL IN SOME COUNTIRES! This article is presented for information and
educational purposes only and therefore in no way can be construed by
anyone as an attempt to aid and abet another person to break any laws or
contravene any Act or Regulation made by any
country. Check your local rules and regulations!
We welcome any corrections you may have to these
frequencies! Email us n4ujw at
hamuniverse.com
