Map Of US ATC Sector Freq's?

[K4DHR]

Sector 34 is part of the airspace I work there, incidentally it was the last position I worked before I went home today.

It is just distorted. We were supposed to do an airspace redesign about 4 or so years ago that would have made some minor tweaks to some of the boundaries to reduce frequent coordination along some routes and to combine and split few other sectors (5/7 would have become a single sector, 33 would have been divided in two) but the funds weren’t available to make it happen so it was scrapped. It would have not been a very radical change in terms of the way the sectors are currently drawn overall.

 

[AirScan]

K4DHR

It is just distorted.

Thanks for pointing that out. After further review I see I drew it poorly or was using an older out of date chart ?

I re-drew it based on that 2014 data. Does this look better ? (see attached image).

Sector 34 is part of the airspace I work there, incidentally it was the last position I worked before I went home today.

Thanks for the info. I notice that Sector 28 and Sector 21 are sometimes combined during the day shift. Does Sector 34 ever combine with another sector when traffic is light during the day shift ?

Cheers,

AS

 

[K4DHR]

34 combines with 33 overnight, on sector 33. Seldom will they be combined during the daytime unless it is a holiday with lighter traffic or weather reroutes have pushed a lot of traffic around those sectors. 33 is/was the highest volume sector in the center as of numbers I saw a few years ago.

25/26 usually stay combined most of the time these days. During times of heavy traffic in and out of Memphis and Nashville, they’ll be split off, but the volume otherwise doesn’t warrant it.

After the FedEx arrivals come in during the week, 33/34 will be combined onto 25/26 and will usually stay that way until about 6 am the next morning.

Last time sectors 5 and 7 were split (low altitude) was during the eclipse in 2017.

28/44/21 will all be combined in various configurations based on whatever supervisor is there and the traffic levels. If there is a in trail spacing to DFW, they’ll put 28 and 21 together if the overall volume is lower. On busier days they’ll all be split apart.

ZME areas:

North (1): 5,7,25,26,33,34
West (2): 3,4,19,22,27,35
New (3): 1,2,20,21,28,44
South (4): 15,65,66,67,43,45,46
East (5): 40,41,60,61,62,63
Central (6): 12,13,14,42,30,31,32

Officially the areas use the numbers in parentheses, but most controllers use the names.

 

[AirScan]

K4DHR,

Thanks, very interesting. As well as a sector chart displaying boundaries and frequencies I'm also trying to show typical sector configurations as well as display commonly used waypoints (typical waypoints aircraft are given directs to, or prominent flyover waypoints on busy routes). So your info. is very helpful.

I have a few more questions, if you are not to busy.

Does ZME have frequency cross-coupling capabilities on any of their frequency pairings ?

Any news on when ZME might start using CPDLC for enroute ops in high level airspace ?

Thanks again, appreciate your time.

AS (pilot - B737)

 

[AI7PM]

.....Does ZME have frequency cross-coupling capabilities on any of their frequency pairings ?

Boy do I wish we had had that. (ZSE-ZLC-ZFW). It's used in many other countries, and sure helps prevent "stepped on" transmissions on combined sectors. When Harris instaled VSCS back in 93-94, I was told the system had the capability, but couldn't segregate the paired UHF sector freq. Apparently someone thought not everyone should hear the Military side being rebroadcast. I know London ACC uses it.

 

[alcahuete]

When Harris instaled VSCS back in 93-94, I was told the system had the capability, but couldn't segregate the paired UHF sector freq.

It can be done as long as each sector only has one radio site. If any of the sectors have more than one site, cross-coupling can't be done.

 

[AirScan]

Boy do I wish we had had that. (ZSE-ZLC-ZFW). It's used in many other countries, and sure helps prevent "stepped on" transmissions on combined sectors.

So far I've heard frequency cross-coupling being used in Cleveland (ZOB), Washington (ZDC), Indianapolis (ZID) and Atlanta (ZTL) ARTCC's. And I think Miami (ZMA) has it now too ? I agree about the "stepped on" problem, annoying from our end too when trying to get a call in sometimes.

It can be done as long as each sector only has one radio site. If any of the sectors have more than one site, cross-coupling can't be done.

Different systems I guess, but in Canada and Europe they cross-couple multiple sites at a time. There is Montreal sector that cross-couples something like 15 frequencies together at once.

 

[alcahuete]

Different systems I guess, but in Canada and Europe they cross-couple multiple sites at a time. There is Montreal sector that cross-couples something like 15 frequencies together at once.

Correct, other countries do it all the time. Unfortunately, our antiquated VSCS here in the states doesn't allow it. Well...it does, but as I said, the sites can only be single-site to allow it to work. That is a severe limitation, since the majority of large sectors have multiple radio sites.

 

[K4DHR]

K4DHR,

Thanks, very interesting. As well as a sector chart displaying boundaries and frequencies I'm also trying to show typical sector configurations as well as display commonly used waypoints (typical waypoints aircraft are given directs to, or prominent flyover waypoints on busy routes). So your info. is very helpful.

I have a few more questions, if you are not to busy.

Does ZME have frequency cross-coupling capabilities on any of their frequency pairings ?

Yes, every area can cross couple two sectors frequencies to each other, but due to the limits of VSCS, it has to be a defined pair. You can't just pick two sectors and cross couple them at random, though my understanding is that those pairs can be changed fairly quickly if need be.

In my area, we can cross couple 25/26, and 33/34. We can't do 5/7 because 5 has two RCAG sites. Right offhand, I know that the East Area can cross couple 62/63, West Area 27/35, 3/4, 19/22, Central area 14/42, 30/31. New area 1/2. I don't interact with the South area and I can't remember how the New area cross couples their high sectors. We got that about 6-7 years ago if memory serves right.

Any news on when ZME might start using CPDLC for enroute ops in high level airspace ?

Well..the original plan was to be at 24hr ops by now. Then the shutdown happened and EVERYONE in the building lost their currency on it. To keep it short, ZME is no longer a test site any longer. What I heard is that it will likely be 2020-2021 before it trickles its way to the facility again. I will likely see it implemented at ZDC (I'm transferring there in November) before ZME does. As a SME and workforce instructor, I'm frustrated about all the time that has been flushed down the toilet.

ZID and ZKC are in the process of getting their workforce back up to speed, and I think they are supposed to start testing again in a few weeks.

Thanks again, appreciate your time.

AS (pilot - B737)

You're very welcome. Glad I could be of some assistance.

 

[xantegh]

K4DHR



Thanks for pointing that out. After further review I see I drew it poorly or was using an older out of date chart ?

I re-drew it based on that 2014 data. Does this look better ? (see attached image).




Thanks for the info. I notice that Sector 28 and Sector 21 are sometimes combined during the day shift. Does Sector 34 ever combine with another sector when traffic is light during the day shift ?

Cheers,

AS

@AirScan where can I find the same map for ZSE (Seattle Center) ?

 

[n4yek]

I am sure some have seen this sight but I find it helpful:
Military Radio Comms VHF/UHF Frequencies

 

[AirScan]

@AirScan where can I find the same map for ZSE (Seattle Center) ?

Attached is what I have for ZSE High.

 

[xantegh]

Thank you @AirScan .
Appreciated.

 

[slayer816]

Attached is what I have for ZSE High.

Any chance of ZME Low, ZFW High/Low, ZHU High/Low ?

 

[xantegh]

@AirScan , i have downloaded the exact boundaries from FAA, and subsequently created a new layer representing this specific ARTCC on PiAware Skyview as shown in the attachment. however my goal was to create a detailed layer showing the sections and frequencies.

do you know where i can find the polygons coordinates so i can create the complete layer?

i can share the script in this forum once completed.

 

[mws72]

This is I have found on the FAA website. Looks like just the main boundaries
Center Surface Boundaries

 

[xantegh]

Correct @mws72 , this is what i have used to draw the above shown polygon, however i'm looking for the coordinates of each section.

 

[mws72]

Correct @mws72 , this is what i have used to draw the above shown polygon, however i'm looking for the coordinates of each section.

Ok, That is what I thought, I been looking for the same thing as you, I used to have a graphic that showed the geographic coordinated of each corner inside the Chicago ARTCC sectors.

 

[AirScan]

Any chance of ZME Low, ZFW High/Low, ZHU High/Low ?

I don't have any low altitude charts. Attached is my customized High Altitude chart centered around Bastrop, LA.

 

[AirScan]

do you know where i can find the polygons coordinates so i can create the complete layer?

No sorry I don't have the lat/long coordinates of the individual sectors. I just copied the sector boundaries off another chart.