woody Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Hi All, Does anyone have a list of common airband frequencies? any dedicated for ballooning / helicopters? Could a list be generated for reference? I've tried 'googling' for them and come up with several..... Woody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 (edited) Woody, Ian White - V23b came up with these a little while ago. For a pilot legally to operate a radio from a hang glider or paraglider, he must comply with the law in three areas: • The radio transmitter must be of a type approved by the CM. • The glider operator or owner must have a station licence for that radio. These can be obtained by writing to: WT Radio licensing, Directorate of Airspace Policy, K6 Gate 6, CAA House, 45 - Kingsway, London WC2B 6TE, by telephoning: 0207453 6555, by e-mailing: radio.licensing@dap.caa.co.uk, or from their web site at www.caa.co.uk (search for ‘hang glider’). • The pilot must either possess a Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s (BiT) licence or must only use the following frequencies: — 118.675 MHz. This is a dedicated paragliding and hang-gliding frequency which can be used anywhere in the UK FIR, up to and including 5000 ft AMSL. — 129.9 MHz, 129.95 MHz, 130.1 MHz, 130.125 MHz and 130.4 MHz. These are sport aviation frequencies, and their users include parachutists, balloon pilots and sailplane pilots. — The International Distress Frequency, 121.5 MHz. This frequency can be used to alert the emergency services. Among the station licence conditions is the requirement that operator must exercise strict radio discipline and that the procedures must I based on those set out in the CM publication CAP 413 120.900, 130.100, 130.125 and 130.400 Gliders 129.975 Gliders (to mobile field units) 122.475 Hot Air Balloons 130.525 and 129.900 Parachutes 129.825 Microlights 118.675 Hang/Paragliders Hope that helps. Edited June 22, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 129.825MHz microlight frequency is supposedly ONLY for ground to air, not mid air chats. Cheers, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 Perfect ! Many thanks. Woody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cageuk Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I never realised that you could use an airband radio legally without an operators licences. It obviously wouldn't help with talking to ATC but it would be nice to be legally able to communicate with other pilots. Is the station licence a formality or do you have to prove understanding of Radio procedure/pass an exam? Or am I misunderstanding the whole thing? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_P Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 The station license is a 'pay your fee and fill in a form' type thing. The hiccup with that is that your radio must be included on the list of sets with type approval, which most of the current ones around, including the ICOM A6 & A24 are not. The operators license however is rather more involved, but not impossible by any stretch of the imagination. Go and have a chat at your local flying school, they might let you study for and take just that isolated exam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurff Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 Is what Ian said still valid? Therefore I can pay my £75 for "UK Aeronautical Station (Recreational Aviation)" and then I can use those frequencies, in accordance to CAP 413 (Rule #1 - don't be a bellend) AND *NOT* have to take a Radio course/exam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Pugh Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 I learnt in the UK with Andy Moon at www.planespeak.com All done and dusted in a day, he specifically tailors the day for Paramotor pilots if possible, but my class had 2 paramotor pilots, one balloonist and a gyrocopter pilot. We all wanted a days lessons finishing with both exams to get our radio telephony license. The license cost through CAA is expensive, the air-band handhelds are expensive (don't think BAOFENG prices!!!), but now each time I fly I let my local glider airports know I'm in the air "Powered paramotor one, operating out of Wootton Wawen, en-route to Alcester at 1000 feet". If the control tower is in operation that day they reply that they will let other air traffic know we are in the area. I've also called up hot air balloons on their frequency and asked for permission to fly closer. At first they ask me to stay 100m away and never fly above them (they have a huge blind spot upwards), but after they have seen my control, the local Virgin pilot, says "Hi Mark, come as close as you want". I tend to then move further away and pull a few wing-overs and spiral dives for their passenger amusement. Several times I've landed with the balloon and shared the champagne! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 I learnt with Andy Moon as well. I fly close to an airfield so always talk to them, extra safety all around. I have a frequency for hot air balloons, do they all use the same generally? Nice to share the champers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abaatabit Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I recommend Andy Moon He did my FRTOL exam Contact him at Planespeak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.