Gatwick Ops

Caz has sent the following message:

"Hello! I took your advice on the frequency tuning as I could not hear the ground controllers for my local WILLO sector or the Gatwick approach and so I re-tuned 5khz up and now I get them, if a little scratchy at times. Thank you for the advice on that one it makes a big difference to hear both sides! Also, I have been tuning in to some of the company Operations frequencies at Gatwick and they make very interesting listening, getting to hear what goes on behind the scenes with the aircraft, crew and passengers. Just last night, one aircraft on it's way in to Gatwick told their ground staff they wanted the airport police to meet them at the air bridge on arrival as a passenger had been caught smoking on board!! Anyway, best go but will be in touch again soon. Still love the site! Caz. "

Thanks for that Caz, perhaps when you have time you could post some info on which airlines use which frequencies at Gatwick.

Quite a lot of these frequencies (but not all of them) can be found in the 131MHz area. I have a search band set up between 131.00 - 131.975MHz to monitor airline company ops. You might need to 'lock out' the ACARS frequencies though (another subject that I'm not going to cover now!).

Recommended Airband / Air Traffic Control Books

Caz has requested some recommendations on books relating to our hobby, I have to say I haven't read any books on the subject for many years (only books relating to pilot training) so if anybody could offer some recommendations on good airband / air traffic control publications available please click the comment button and post a reply. Thanks all, Mark.

THE AIRBAND AND OFFSET TUNING

Something to consider when listening:

Many London/Swanwick air traffic control frequencies are deliberately offset from the exact quoted frequency by plus or minus 5Khz. For example, I like to listen to London Welin sector frequency 130.925MHz however I cannot hear the controller side of the conversation that is UNTIL I tune up 5KHz to 130.130MHZ. I now receive the controller loud and clear.

If I wish to listen to Brecon sector, frequency 133.6 I can't actually hear the controller until I tune down 5Khz to 133.595.

You should experiment with some of your favorite London/Swanwick frequencies by tuning either up or down by 5KHz (assuming your scanner allows for 5Khz steps). You may be surprised and find a previously unheard controller coming through load and clear!

I have to admit I'm not sure of the reasons for this, maybe one of you can enlighten us all? In any case, the important thing for listeners are that you know about it and can experiment with some of those frequencies where you cannot here the controller side of the conversation. Happy listening!

Regular Readers Comment.....

Caz posted the following:

"Hi there & Happy New Year! It's Caz back again! I spent a bit of time over the holiday period listening to the London FIS on 124.6 and i thought it was fascinating! Not only could i listen to people flying in Wales, Norfolk & The Cotswolds (not bad considering i live down near Brighton)and hearing all about various weather reports and planes being turned around as the airfields they were trying to get to were not open on New Years Day and the Bank Holiday Monday, but the controller chap was also telling one of the pilots he was talking to about the New Years party he was going to and that he wasn't looking forward to it! It is a great frequency to listen to for all sorts of reasons and can be very varied!! "

Thanks for the comments Caz. It certainly makes for interesting listening at times and is a bit different compared with the standard air traffic frequencies.

Signal R535 Airband Scanner

Well, I have reluctantly put my Signal R535 scanner up for sale on ebay. I want to try out a new scanner but simply can't afford to without selling the trusty R535. I know many of my readers will know this, but the R535 really is the 'rolls royce' of airband receivers and truly offers fantastic performance being a dedicated civil & military scanner. If you should be interested then please check out my auction here.

I know its blatent advertising but who better to advise of the sale of this great scanner than my airband listening colleagues? The succesful bidder will have my full ongoing support and advice on the use of this fine radio and any other aspect of the hobby.

All the best for now. Mark.

Wainfleet, Donna Nook & Holbeach

The following was posted by a reader:

"I live near the Wainfleet range and was recently treated to a Stealth B2s flying over, usually it's F15s.Donna Nook - 340.15 - 342.175 Wainfleet - 356.8 - 387.9 Holbeach - 343.375 - 360.45 Try and get a copy of AirWaves for all airband frequencies.Good Web sites www.fightercontrol.co.uk
www.rocketradio.net
www.airsupply.co.uk"

Thanks for the input, I'm sure I read somewhere else about B2's visiting the range and had apparantly made a non stop round trip from their US base!

Yupiteru MVT3300

The following was posted by Chris:

Hi there.Just stumbled on this site and was wondering if anybody can help. I have just bought an airband radio(yupiteru MVT3300EU)and a discone antenna,what sort of stuff can I listen to and on what frequencies.I live in Solihull in the West Midlands and used to do this ages ago but I imagine that things have changed a bit since then.Thanks.

Hi Chris, sound like you have pretty good set up there. Birmingham would be an obvious listening choice (approach: 118.05 / 131.325 tower 118.3) and Manchester 'Stafa sector on 134.425 up to FL195 and above that, Swanwick on 129.2.

As regards military, I believe the Yupiteru MVT3300 starts coverage at 300Mhz which does mean your missing about half the military airband (220.00 - 400Mhz), but you should still monitor activity from 300 - 400Mhz.