LVMPD Air units
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trailhiker30
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- Mar 27, 2003
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I've heard traffic on 156.030 between an air unit and their base but most of the time I've heard their traffic on the individual area dispatch channels between the air unit and either control or the ground unit. It seems like they get a lot us use in the NE. On a related note, what are the designators for the air units and do they have a mutual aid frequency with either HEN or NLV?
other freqs to listen to are the airport towers for the airspace the helo is in. Since Las Vegas is class B airspace the pilot has to be in contact with the controller at all times. I have heard some cool ops while listening to McCarrans LAS helo freq 123.820 AM (maybe 123.825 I don't rember off the top of my head), and 125.790 AM for North Las Vegas VGT (where they are based out of). You shold also through in the freqs for Nellis LSV, and Henderson HND.
jaymatt1978
Member
I would also try 122.9000 and 123.1000 which are the universal search and rescue frequencies. A friend of mine said once ALL CHOPPERS, public safety AND commercial have PROGRAMMABLE radios. They can come up on the local taxi, or in Las Vegas's case casino frequency, if they needed it. Yes the chances aree slim, but it can happen!! Also BJ that frequency is indeed 123.825. Even though I haven't heard it personally, 123.820 ISN'T a valid aircraft freq. All airport and heliport freqs have a 12.5 Khz split, well for now anyway!
They sometimes talk to one another on simplex 150.775 according to the Third Edition of the Southern Nevada Scanner Book. I have heard them speak somewhat informally on this one.
Also, 123.82 is the McCarran Tower frequency used for helo control in and around the valley.
They have been heard here and often they will tell the tower where they want to fly and that is a help. In the helos they have access to most LVMPD channels, selected SNACC talk groups, some NLVPD talk groups, and the 800 MHz mutual aid channels (the common ones).
Also, 123.82 is the McCarran Tower frequency used for helo control in and around the valley.
They have been heard here and often they will tell the tower where they want to fly and that is a help. In the helos they have access to most LVMPD channels, selected SNACC talk groups, some NLVPD talk groups, and the 800 MHz mutual aid channels (the common ones).
As far as the identifiers for Metro's helos: Air One is the most common designator. Air Four seems to be the backup. These are the only two I have heard in the LV area. I am aware of one more in existence that serves Laughlin (also based out of there). Anyone ever see the hangar at the North Las Vegas airport? Are there others sitting around?
just listened to the ATIS on 132.400, and they say Las vegas helo control is on 123.820.
**edit**
Also I am not a pilot, but I am very interested in flying. I looked at a flight instruction book that I have and the pictures of the radios either installed in the plane, or the pictures used in the radio communications chapter only show 2 places past the decimal, so 123.825 would not be able to be tuned in on these radios. Many radios have a knob for each digit past the begining 1 (1XX.XX) to make it faster to tune the radio.
here is a quote from the N4JRI webpage on aircraft communications:
**edit**
Also I am not a pilot, but I am very interested in flying. I looked at a flight instruction book that I have and the pictures of the radios either installed in the plane, or the pictures used in the radio communications chapter only show 2 places past the decimal, so 123.825 would not be able to be tuned in on these radios. Many radios have a knob for each digit past the begining 1 (1XX.XX) to make it faster to tune the radio.
here is a quote from the N4JRI webpage on aircraft communications:
Understand how tactical frequencies are often selected: Three considerations seem to prevail in the selection of tactical frequencies. First is to find numbers that are easy to remember, and the second is to set them up so that frequencies can be changed easily with the least possible manipulation of the radio dial. Third is to have frequencies in use that won't already be in use elsewhere. (Priorities are not necessarily in this order)
- Easy to Remember - There are lots of 'cute' numerical patterns. Famous examples include 333.3, 125.125. 252.525, 123.45, 234.5, 242.4, 282.8, 345.67(5), etc. Also there are suggestive patterns such as 300.6 (Thirty Ought-Six), 357.0 (Magnum) and 303.0 which is suggestive of the 30-30 rifle caliber. Zillions of these combinations are possible in the various bands, which makes them even more popular.
- Easy to change - Each digit of a manually-input frequency has its own knob on an aircraft radio. Years ago, some A-7Ds in my town were using 36.8, 46.8 and 56.8 for air/air. They had it set up so that they need only turn the 10-MHz knob to change channels. In most cases, though, we're seeing this done with the 1 MHz and 100 kHz knobs. Consider a unit who uses frequencies like 300.025, 300.125, 300.225, up to 301.525 and 301.625. Look again with the 1 MHz and 100 kHz digits in bold: 300.025, 300.125, 300.225, 301.525, 301.625. What do want to bet that these guys call these freqs, "00", "01", "02", "15" and "16"?
- Unlikely to Interfere - For years, aircraft radios were made to tune in 50 kHz increments. That means that frequencies like 121.1, and 121.15 were tunable by all, but that frequencies like 121.125 and 121.175 were not available except in aircraft with newer radios. You'll find that many tactical frequencies are on .25 and .75 increments. Most UHF air traffic control frequencies are still on .00 and .05 increments, so that gives those who use the .25 and .75 increments a lot of clear channels to work with. This doesn't work so well in Europe, but should do very well in the US.
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"Air 5" heard last night on Metro's NW channel. Doing routine work. That brings the count for the LV Valley to 3 identifiers: Air 1, 4 and 5. Has anyone heard any others?
emtjohn
Member
I think Air 7 and 8 are the SAR Hueys. Not positive. Even if they are I think only one of them is functional (7). If anyone drives by N Las Vegas Airport they are usually out on the tarmac and there should be a fairly easy number to see on the tail. I think they only have five birds. 3 patrol (hughes 500's or similar model) which also get used frequently for SAR in places the big helos can't get and the 2 SAR. Don't quote me on any of this because it is based on observation only and not on any confirmable info!
jaymatt1978
Member
Also keep in mind the "usable" VHF frequencies go from 118-136, 108-117.9875 is reserved for radar an d other aircraft tracking devices. On the UHF band they have the entire 225-400 band just for voice communication, a lot of places for even civil aircraft to "hide"!! Since I'm not a pilot myself I don't really know if civilian aircraft can use the UHF frequencies. It would seem like a waste of spectrum if they couldn't!
Gabe777
Member
air to air
Most of the time all the air units talk to each other on 156.030, and air 1(the new bell 407), air 4 and 5 are the helicopters they dont use for SAR, air 6 and 7 arent used for patrol, except on new years they patrol the strip.
and alot of times 123.82 is down for some reason so traffic switches off to 118.75.
did anybody know they had a cessna 182 that they call metro 8?
it must be for practice, its the only fixed winged aircraft licensed to them.
Most of the time all the air units talk to each other on 156.030, and air 1(the new bell 407), air 4 and 5 are the helicopters they dont use for SAR, air 6 and 7 arent used for patrol, except on new years they patrol the strip.
and alot of times 123.82 is down for some reason so traffic switches off to 118.75.
did anybody know they had a cessna 182 that they call metro 8?
it must be for practice, its the only fixed winged aircraft licensed to them.
eraweeb
Member
Recently the Sheriff was being interviewed on one of the AM radio stations and he was asked how many choppers Metro actually owned. His reply was that they owned 5 plus had 2 others available to them if needed.
Now when you stop to think about the price tags on those birds plus the pilots, fuel, insurance, etc. that seems to be an obscene amount of taxpayer expense for a city of only 1.5 million people.
No wonder we are being taxed to death and they ALWAYS want more!
Now when you stop to think about the price tags on those birds plus the pilots, fuel, insurance, etc. that seems to be an obscene amount of taxpayer expense for a city of only 1.5 million people.
No wonder we are being taxed to death and they ALWAYS want more!
Gabe777
Member
hah!
yea true, but they get help from their SAR team(totally different company) but they utilize the same aircraft. i believe they get federal taxing for it, but the gaming tax takes care of that
yea true, but they get help from their SAR team(totally different company) but they utilize the same aircraft. i believe they get federal taxing for it, but the gaming tax takes care of that
Anyone catch the pursuit, I think it was Tuesday night, stemming from a break-in south of the strip? I believe Air 1 spotted the suspect vehicle on the Blvd heading towards Henderson. Ground units broke off the pursuit but the Air unit was able to follow the susp vehicle. It got back on 215 going west then got off somewhere on Maryland Pkwy before overturning. Several wrecks were caused by the susp vehicle's actions. Air unit kept up a great running commentary as ground units moved to the area. This was all monitored on LVMPD's SCentral freq. These helos are worth their weight in gold/in Vegas it's chips I guess.
Gabe777
Member
argh
i didnt catch that, i wish i could have, i monitor mostly northwest.
but yea with their new air one theres alot more visibility, and because of the hydraulic flight systems they have a much smoother flight
i didnt catch that, i wish i could have, i monitor mostly northwest.
but yea with their new air one theres alot more visibility, and because of the hydraulic flight systems they have a much smoother flight
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