© Frankljunior | Dreamstime.com – Air Traffic Control Tower And An Airplane Photo
This has become a popular question with our CC Skywave™.
According to Wikipedia, Airband, also referred to as Aircraft or Aviation band, is a group of frequencies in the VHF radio spectrum that are allocated to civil aviation radio communications. VHF is a short range, line of site transmission. Our radio covers 118 – 137MHz for Airband. In most countries a license is required to operate airband equipment but that appears to apply only to transceivers, not receivers. In some countries it is illegal to listen to or monitor the Airband without authorization (even in the UK).
The language that is used to communicate on this band can be a challenge to follow. Ken Hoke’s article on Stuff Pilots Say, gives some great insight into the meaning of the seemingly cryptic language used on Airband.
The primary purpose of Air traffic control worldwide is to prevent collisions, organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and provide information and other support for pilots. It was difficult to find any “history” of airband but it appears that it was first used extensively after World War I and after 1921 at Croydon airport in London. Navigation and air traffic control have changed over time and many areas use higher frequencies and RADAR and other more sophisticated systems. The Airband radio frequencies still continue to play a part though, especially in ground communication with pilots. It is used almost exclusively in small airports that don’t have control towers. We have one customer who plans to use the CC Skywave for monitoring the ground to pilot communication at the local air races.
As to why we decided to include Airband in our radio? Here is Bob’s answer:
“When you are in a big airport you are sometimes subject to the whims of security and circumstance. TSA does a great job but when the process gets a little tense I yearn for more information. I want to know everything that will affect my tiny domain. When you listen to aviation band you can usually figure out more by reading between the lines on what pilots and the control tower are talking about. Sometimes you gain a sense of power and wisdom as you do with any knowledge.”
For more information on what you might hear or how to listen, visit the links below.
http://radio-scanner-guide.com/radioscannerguidepart3c-civilaircraft.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Listen-to-Your-Local-Air-Traffic-Control
Tell us your best airline story in the comments below.
I don’t have a good story I did listen to the cockpit radio on one trip and found out the reason for our delay was that the engine had sucked in a plastic shopping bag. They never did announce the reason over the intercom. They just said we have a short delay.
In about 2003 I was flying from Houston Texas to Monterrey Mexico and a mini hurricane was over the airport and we had to sit in the commuter jet for about 4 or 5 hours till the storm passed.
I kid you not, the inside of the plane leaked rain water like a sprinkler hose while sitting on the ground. It seems that the plane would seal up only while under flight and cabin pressure.
My Dad was a private pilot and spent years as the commander of the local Civil Air Patrol squadron, but his most notable achievements came as an emergency pilot for blood transportation. I have some pictures of the cars that the police pulled off of the highway and parked along the runway with their headlights on to light up the runway so that Dad could see to land the airplane with an emergency blood supply for a local hospital patient. He also flew many search and rescue missions as a light aircraft pilot as well. It was in interesting time and he was and is my hero for all that he did as a result of his love for flying and caring for others.
I’ll always remember my first time in an airplane. I was about 10 years old flying with my family from Chicago to Austin, Texas, in an unpressurized prop plane. I got air sick, but managed to avoid embarrassing myself by using the air sickness bag. I waited until we landed and lost it in the back seat of our friends brand new Chevrolet. 🙁
Best airline ever is (was?) JetBlue!
I prefer United and Philippine Airlines
Back in the ’80’s we came into Shelter Cove airport to find an abandon Lear jet stunched over the side at the end. No one was around so we went to investigate and found all the seats had been removed and traces of a white powdery substance were quite evident. We left before any authorities arrived.
My first flight, about 1963, was Chicago to San Juan, on the last day of my vacation, I got a blistered sun-burn from snorkeling in the tropical waters. I had to sit straight up without my back touching the seat back, for the return trip, eight hours of misery.
I live in Atlanta and the air band is full of signals from Hartsfield Into airport. I Normally use a scanner. Many hours of fun can be had listening to the pilots and control tower.
I worked my entire life in the aerospace industry. I started in general aviation commercial and military aircraft.
Never had a plane ride but planes are alway in the air at my home planes are great for getting our things from one place to another
My first flight as a child was on Western Airlines from Sioux Falls, SD to Denver Stapleton in 1967. We were dressed in our best outfits and on our very best behavior!
I took a flight from LAX to SFO and our plane had engine problems. I got scared and felt help less. With human nature, I assumed the worst and expected to crash, etc. No such thing! We instead landed at Oakland and took another plane to SFO.
Flying out of Hawaii on our way to Okinawa by way of Tokyo, my travelling companion (a fellow sergeant in the US Army) and I were wondering why he and I were the ONLY passengers on a JAL 747. We were about 15 minutes out and still climbing when we heard a huge bang and saw out the left side window that one of the engines had exploded and was briefly on fire. The fully fuel loaded aircraft dumped all that fuel and returned to Hawaii. We survived to fly out the next day to complete the mission of the final dismantling of the VOA (Voice of America) radio station beaming into China (~1977).
I want to give a SHOUT OUT and THUMBS UP to Delta Airlines. They have been getting more and more of my flying business needs. From start middle to finish, Delta is just doing everything right. I look forward to checking out this NEW RADIO band. V T Y, W Porter
My favorite part of a flight is the take-off. Especially from Reno, NV. The planes seem to launch straight up into the sky since they climb so fast to get above the residences I suppose. Anyway, I love it. Landing always kind of bothers me, but I suppose landing correctly and nicely on the ground would be the most important part of the experience!
Back in 1976, two days after turning 18, I was hired as a lineman at our local airport. Cleaning and fueling aircraft. Hung out in the aviation shop often and gained an interest in radio. First CBs then scanning and now mostly shortwave radio,BCB dxing. I would like to acquire a small aircraft ban radio that works well.
I live in NJ and was flying out of Toronto at 6am after a dragon boat tournament. You can clear US customs in TO airport, and the young man behind the counter was examining my passport. He stared at me and said “You work out at Gold’s Gym on Route 35, don’t you !” I realized the government knew everything and I was headed for some black CIA prison ! Turns out he had lifted at the same gym I go to, then moved to Toronto and for some reason remembered me.
Traveling from the Amazon river town of Leticia, Colombia to Bogota, to get some emergency medical help for our daughter, we had an experience we will never forget. We noticed, going over the Andes mt range, that we looked out the window and saw mountain peaks jutting up from the cloud level,. We were traveling in between these peaks and it was sort of scary. When I questioned the flight attendant we were told that to save gas the pilots go between peaks instead of going over them. What a deal. We made it okay to Bogota but will never forget that.
I have a number of C crane radio’s. Being a commercial pilot I would like one with the aviation band. Hope I win.
As a Private Pilot living near the local airport I enjoy listening to the tower and local air traffic.
When I was young, and many years thereafter, I would ride second seat to my father. He was a pilot during WWII. Thereafter he obtained a private pilots license. Growing up we spent precious time together, just me and my father in a Cessna 150. We would rent a plane from a small uncontrolled airport in Olathe, Kansas. We spent many a weekend afternoon dodging thunderstorms, soaring over the flat Kansas plain, and slipping in quietly back to that small field late at night. He assigned to me a job, under careful supervision, to track our progress on the charts and to monitor air frequencies on the radio. I loved every minute and cherish those memories of just the two of us, adventuring over Midwest skies. And to this day I monitor those air frequencies whether at home or travelling on the interstates. It brings me back and takes me back to the memory of my father and I, together. He is gone now but just being able to hear those clearances for departure, or calls as a Cessna vectors into a field, on base leg or wherever. And I am back in the air, second seat…scanning the charts and monitoring radio traffic…50 years ago with the pilot, my father.
Burbank airport day before Thanksgiving. Flew Northwest. From curb to boarding lounge took ten minutes total. Best airport experience ever
Way back when, long before Southwest existed, we were flying TTA from ABQ to Dallas Love (not LUV way back then). (TTA legendarily was Tree-Top Airlines though they were registered as Trans-Texas Airlines.) It was night, and we were flying through one of those legendary summer storm cells out over West Texas. The cabin was asking for any pilots flying layover to come up front to help. We were weaving all over the sky trying to avoid the climbing thunderheads. An uncomfortable trip, but we lived.
Burbank airport day before Thanksgiving. Flew Northwest. From curb to boarding lounge took ten minutes total. Best airport experience ever hands down!!
My own favorite, from the early days of on-board listening to ATC: The pilot who said something like, “that’s just **** bull****,” to the controller before remembering he was being broadcast to his own passengers, which led to, “oh, ****.” Probably apocryphal, but who knows, it circulated among the road warriors back in the day. Speaking of back in the day, my use of asterisks probably proves i was already old, back in the day.
Many decades ago my most unusual flight was aboard a C130 cargo plane going across the Atlantic ocean from the US to a stopover in Spain. The seating all the way across the Atlantic was sitting on a cargo net, the “deluxe” meal was a box lunch consisting of a dry turkey sandwich, a package of twinkies, I think an orange, and a small carton of milk. Not complaining though as I looked at it as an adventure 🙂
I have traveled on many airlines but I love southwest. they are always friendly and try to help in whatever way they can. I am a senior 76 yrs. their is always a smile and helping hand.
Late flight from OHare to New Jersey and flight delayed one hour due to weather, meaning an even later arrival. They load the plane anyway and close the door, plane is now “on-time”. We taxied to the tarmac to wait an hour for take-off, expecting an open-bar, no dice. As soon as we parked and began our hour wait the pilot announced we had an opening and we were airborn immediately. Hurray! But it was still a late night.
When I was in high school, we lived near the south end of Dulles Airport. A couple times daily, the Concorde would fly over. Seeing it was always a treat, but to give you an idea how loud it was, I was mowing our lawn one day, and the plane coming in to land completely drowned out the sound of the mower five feet away.
I believe you! In the early 1980s I worked in one of the black office buildings between the north-south runways at Dulles. The office buildings were soundproofed so that one could not hear any of the planes taking off or landing. Except the Concorde. We could hear the Concorde just fine. Every Tuesday and Friday at 1:30 pm, if I remember correctly. I consider myself lucky to have been one of the relatively few Americans to see that plane in operation.
I’ve always enjoyed listening to radio; FM, AM, SW, you name it! I really like the SW BBC broadcasts and their news. I’m sure I will enjoy the airband as well on this radio and the pilot’s conversations. I look forward to it! Thanks CC!
Jet Blue is the best. Unlimited snacks!
while I was stationed in Franfurt Germany. I was an MP worKing along side of the Geman Customs Police in the Frankfurt intnl. Airport. While conducting a cursory search of a women’s bags we could hear “buzzing.” We eventually came across several “toys,” one of which would not turn off !!! I think I blushed more than the owner ! lol
Best airline story: Years ago arrived in LAX from Europe on way to SEA, did not change the time on my watch since I am good in Math or so I thought. I computed the time difference in my head, made a mistake of course, and saw everybody board and my connecting flight, the last one for the night, take off right in front of my eyes. Among the most stupid things I’ve done! Had to spend the night at the airport to catch a 6 am flight.
Best domestic airport: SEA. Best international airport: AMS. Best airline food: Lufthansa. Worst airline story: emergency landing of JAL in Malaysia, 1980, due to lightning strike.
When I was in the USAF, I worked in the ER as a medic. I remember a Lt. Col. coming in obviously drunk to get flight-approved by the Flight Surgeon which he of course was. Later that day we had to go to an in-flight emergency. He ran his F-16 off the flight line on landing and buried the landing gear (same Lt.Col.) He called it a bird strike and it never went on his record. Funny how a college degree can excuse trashing a multi-million dollar bird.
I live right under an approach to O’Hare, and have worked either at the airport or near the airport for years. I have always listened to aircraft audio, and since the time when I worked as a cargo agent years ago, knew the value of listening to it. Back in the day, it was the only way we could confirm our freighter flights were on the ground.
I live next to Syracuse, NY airport and I am direct path of planes landing from the east. I think it is fun to watch them approach with the big lights. I used to have a sw radio when I was young and got to listen. I have been looking at shortwaves in the past few weeks. My best and only trip on a plane; was when I went to Russia. From syracse was a double prop plane and it was exciting. We went to JFK and then border a Hugh double Decker to Russia. The view over Iceland and the arrival to Russia was beautiful. What a site to see!
I sometimes fly into Binghamton,Ny
It is a smaller airport, so I would love to know what any delay may be.
I would LOVE to have the SkyWave radio.
Thank you, Carollee Allen
I LIVE NEAR THE LAS VEGAS AIRPORT AND I LOVE TO SEE ALL THE VISITORS THAT COME HERE..ALL 40 MILLION OF THEM LAST YEAR ARRIVED HERE………..
I we live near a hospital w/ helicopter traffic, have always been curious ABT their radio traffic. BILL. N7AG
In February 1994 I flew out of Boston in a blizzard and we hit 225 knot headwinds all the way to Chicago even after taking the plane up to 35000 ft. We had to stay in our seat belts all the way and we were 2 hours late on our arrival time.
I used to fly private planes long ago. I remember once when I was a student I ended up on an active runway by accident. That made for some interesting radio communications.
You may have heard of the “Jurassic Jet” aka the Boeing 727. You may also have heard of the “MadDog” aka the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series of aircraft. You can hear ATC use the term “MadDog” occasionally when listening on your CC Skywave! But…I bet most don’t know that the B-727 has essentially been retired in the U.S. thus making the MadDog the new and proud owner of the Jurassic Jet term of endearment. Also, McDonnell Douglas company no longer exits and the MadDog is technically a Boeing aircraft now. I currently fly the MadDog MD-83 for an up and coming company based in Las Vegas. The MD-83 is old school, low tech, and just a ball to fly!! Happy Listening!!
Years ago at Sky Harbor I was in a (I think) 727 that had one tire of a double blow out while taxiing out for take-off. Everyone on the plane heard it, but no one knew what the noise was. As we were making the turn for take-off, the second tire collapsed. The right side of the plane dropped a couple of feet it seemed to me. As we were exiting the plane to get on the bus back to the terminal I kept thinking: “The pilot was going to take off with one good tire on that side”. Could have been interesting when we landed; or in the middle of our take-off run.
I live near an airport in Tampa, FL and I would love to hear what is being said by pilots and control tower. I recently retired and would love a new hobby! Thanks Steven G
I book Flights when I can get the Best service to My Destination
LAX best Airport ,always nice to visit and land. Love SW HAM All Kinds of Radios to listen to various interests ,Radio was KING and still is to me.
Southwest is by far the best airline as regards customer service and fight attendant attitude. I fly them all the time, even if I have to spend a few more dollars for a ticket. As an MD, upon a call for “any medical professional” to head for the galley, I cared for a flight attendant who became light-headed and had some chest pain. I tended to him for an hour and a half until we landed. The man was extremely appreciative and the entire crew, including the flight crew, were very thankful. This is really one heck of a classy airline.
My favorite airport would be st.petersburg/Clearwater airport
because when I get off the plane I know I’m home.