What is RDR SFA?

[eorange]

For the KMTC entry on airnav.com (for example), I see this:

RDR SFA: 259.3 290.9 388.2 391.9

What is RDR SFA, and how is it used by the pilots / airport?

 

[rbts]

If I remember correctly, it is Radar Single Frequency Approach.

Basically, it's for tactical jets so they don't have to change frequencies on radar approaches.

Someone may need to back me up on this.

 

[kcoleman]

Here is the article from Wikipedia for SFA. rbts got it right!!

Single Frequency Approach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To take it one step further; On Airnav, I've seen some of the RDR App frequencies listed like this "SFA 284.625X" or "SFA 348.0X". Does anyone know what the "X" means? These two frequencies are from KPNS, Pensacola NAS.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[eorange]

Excellent, thanks guys. Definitely going to include these in my mil air bank!

 

[CalebATC]

Here is the article from Wikipedia for SFA. rbts got it right!!

Single Frequency Approach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To take it one step further; On Airnav, I've seen some of the RDR App frequencies listed like this "SFA 284.625X" or "SFA 348.0X". Does anyone know what the "X" means? These two frequencies are from KPNS, Pensacola NAS.

Thanks,
Keith

I belive... belive the X is to keep people like us from knowing the frequencies. Not 100% sure though. I have always wondered that with Airnav. But if you look in the FLIPS, everything is normal, with the full UHF frequency in it.

 

[nodak1crdet3]

For the KMTC entry on airnav.com (for example), I see this:

RDR SFA: 259.3 290.9 388.2 391.9

What is RDR SFA, and how is it used by the pilots / airport?

259.300 is used for the Tactical ATIS @ Selfridge for the A-10's.
290.900 That's an old RAPCON freq. I doubt it's been used for many years.
388.200 Is used for IFE (In Flight Emergency) BTN 15.
391.900 Is MTC departure BTN 5.

 

[eorange]

I belive... belive the X is to keep people like us from knowing the frequencies.

Mil Air freqs use a step size of 25 kHz, so in the case of 284.625... that's the entire frequency. There would be no more digits to the right of the 5.

 

[K4DHR]

They're used for ASR/PAR approaches. Military airfields will usually have a dedicated frequency that is used specifically for these approaches, civil airports with ASR approaches typically use their final approach position for radar approaches if they're staffed for it.

Since guidance is verbally provided down to the MDA/DH, a pilot will not be switched over to the tower frequency when conducting such an approach. The radar controller will clear the pilot to land after coordinating with the local controller in the tower.

 

[kcoleman]

Thanks guys!!!

Keith,