Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

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Aero-Tips 12.09.06

Believe it or not, there is a predictability to communications frequencies for non-towered airports... and even in some cases for towered airports as well.

Unicom

Unicom is an FCC-licensed service for unofficial, advisory services at most nontowered airports. There was a time when almost all Unicom frequencies were 122.8 or 122.7; after a while 123.0 was added for airports with large flight schools. As communications radios in general aviation airplanes became the norm, not the exception, and as pilots tended to fly higher (where their transmissions covered a wider area), more frequencies were added and the distinctive use of 123.0 was not observed as strictly.

Currently these are the authorized Unicom frequencies:

• Airports without an operating control tower:
• • 122.700
  • 122.725
  • 122.800
  • 122.975
  • 123.000
  • 123.050
  • 123.075

Unicom is also authorized for Fixed Base Operator (FBO) use at tower-controlled airports. Call this frequency for fuel orders, arranging rental cars, or general requests to an FBO at a Class D airport or with a Flight Service Station providing advisories for the airport:

• Airports with a control tower or FSS on airport:
• • 122.950

Multicom

If an airport does not have a licensed Unicom station then pilots may use the Multicom frequency for traffic advisories and other general information. Broadcast your pattern position "in the blind", but don't expect an answer from the ground because chances are there is no one there (if it was staffed they'd probably have a Unicom).  Here's the frequency:

• MULTICOM FREQUENCY: Activities of a temporary, seasonal, emergency nature or search and rescue, as well as, airports with no tower, FSS, or UNICOM.  
• • 122.900

Air-to-air

If you've ever flown with a radio you've heard rampant abuse of the Unicom and Multicom frequencies by pilots chatting among themselves. There are actually several FCC-approved frequencies reserved for air-to-air communications:

• Air-to-air communications & private airports (not open to the public).  
• • 122.750
  • 122.850
• Air-to-air communications (general aviation helicopters).
• • 123.025
• Aviation instruction, Glider, Hot Air Balloon (not to be used for advisory service).  
• • 123.300
  • 123.500

Aero-tip of the day: Use the right frequency, Unicom, Multicom or air-to-air, and know what to expect with each communications type.

FMI: Aero-Tips