Grizzly One designation

[vagrant]

Sunday 1/18/2015 around 13:15 pm (21:15 UTC) I heard the following on 123.450 MHz AM here in central California.
- Initially heard the pilot say that he was 45 NW of Paso Robles. (Minutes? Miles?)
- Scanner roles through search and stops again with a weaker signal of pilot and is hard to understand
- Scanner roles though again and stops on strong signal
- I then heard the same pilot say "We have grizzly on board. We are now Grizzly One."

I am near Fresno California. Paso Robles is about 90 NM from my location. I am not sure who or what Grizzly One would be.

Hmm...hearing more chatter now about 15 minutes later. I heard pilot who earlier identified himself as Grizzly One call for Grizzly Two. That pilot answered back and they were talking about their positions again near Paso Robles and flying escort. A third voice was heard, but not clearly. It appears they were using 123.450 for chatter as Grizzly One pilot advised the other to have some beers ready as they were behind in position, I am assuming. After some additional chatter Grizzly Two advised they were going to back to the designated frequency. I'm rolling through the air band on other receivers to see if I can hear them elsewhere. The audio sounds like fixed wing and not rotor.

 

[rfradioconsult]

123.45 MHz the equalivent of channel 19 of the airways around the world. If I remember it is actually assigned as a common frequency for air carriers crossing the North Pacific routes Aisa to North America.

 

[teufler]

maybe that was the ex gov of alaska

 

[vagrant]

maybe that was the ex gov of alaska

You know, that's a good guess. I thought it might be Jerry Brown, California grizzly bears and all, but I could not find anything linking the two.

 

[nr2d]

123.45 MHz is designated in the FAA/NTIA channel plan as "Flight Test". These frequencies are used by aircraft manufacturers for misc comms with an aircraft that is being flight tested.

BUT since there is little use of the frequency some people will just jump on it and use it for something else. At one time in the Philadelphia area the traffic reporting helicopters would hang out on the frequency.

 

[jaymatt1978]

123.4500 has been the "unofficial" air-to-air freq for years nd the FAA doesn't enforce its use because it doesn't interfere with other aviation communications. "Flight testing" isn't preformed a lot any more so I geuss pilots took over the frequency as their own chit chat frequency. I live in the NY metro area and you would think there would be tons of traffic but I rarely hear anything. Still it's only of those frequencies I would keep in your scanner because you never know!

123.45 MHz is designated in the FAA/NTIA channel plan as "Flight Test". These frequencies are used by aircraft manufacturers for misc comms with an aircraft that is being flight tested.

BUT since there is little use of the frequency some people will just jump on it and use it for something else. At one time in the Philadelphia area the traffic reporting helicopters would hang out on the frequency.

 

[kny2xb]

Not trying to take the thread away from Grizzly One topic
but to offer two cents on 123.450 MHz

I forgot the exact document, but 123.45 is allocated as a "long-range" air-to-air frequency

I believe 122.750 is a fixed wing specific frequency [maybe regarded as "short range?"]

123.025 is rotary wing or helicopters

I usually hear chat on 122.75 between pilots going to or coming from air shows

If you're looking for "interesting" chat, keep 123.450 going
[I have heard some very enticing sounding lady pilots, co-pilots, or flight attendants before]

I keep all 3 loaded and running when I'm scanning aero band

73