Van's Air Force
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AIR TO AIR FREQUENCY
- Thread starter RV-4
- Start date
In aviation, 123.45 MHz (commonly known as "Fingers") is an internationally designated air-to-air VHF frequency. While often misused for casual chatter in the US
123.45 is not a “legal” Air to Air in the US as it is reserved for flight test use (not casual flight testing by us amateurs….supposed to be used with permission). Lots of folks that are used to using it internationally carry it into their US use without actually checking the AIM. Understandable mistake, but a mistake nevertheless. As davidd said - 122.75 is the only designated one for us mortals….
Actually it is designed for flight test operations and trans oceanic communications. It is not designated as general air to air.
122.75, as everyone has said - is pretty much it for "legal" A/A freqs. The problem is if you're doing formation work with a group and there is an active "training area" nearby, there is no way you're going to be able to cleanly do your formation work. Because that "practice area" freq is going to be busy.
I do a lot of formation stuff here locally, usually as a 2 or 4-ship lead. We have several freqs that we use for interflight "Company" or "tactical" usage. We use them because we know they are clear freqs not in use in the area. And that's mainly from trial and error by just listening and seeing if anyone is there or not.
Published transoceanic freqs are usually pretty good to use, especially if you are well away from the coasts. Again, NOT LEGAL. But workable in a pinch.
Buy yeah, I would definitely stay away from 122.7, 122.8 and 122.9 - as those are common unicom freqs at untowered airports.
I do a lot of formation stuff here locally, usually as a 2 or 4-ship lead. We have several freqs that we use for interflight "Company" or "tactical" usage. We use them because we know they are clear freqs not in use in the area. And that's mainly from trial and error by just listening and seeing if anyone is there or not.
Published transoceanic freqs are usually pretty good to use, especially if you are well away from the coasts. Again, NOT LEGAL. But workable in a pinch.
Buy yeah, I would definitely stay away from 122.7, 122.8 and 122.9 - as those are common unicom freqs at untowered airports.
We use 123.47 (RatTrap) for our RV formation group. Winchester (130.30) as primary when flying with the Cinci warbirds, with “cheap suit” (129.95) as our backup.
Bruno,
Not 122.8
That is a common uncontrolled traffic advisory freq.
Use your choice:
123.45 "cheap suit"
129.95 "MAACO Paint"
something easy to change within your cockpit.
Daddyman58
Christopher Murphy
Well Known Member
Ive been flying the US to Hawaii tracks for over 20 years and I can't count how many times I have been switched to enroute coms by Oakland center over the Pacific Ocean and dialed up the oceanic air to air ( SOP) and heard some formation or gaggle flight on the west coast yacking on the radio.
