Alpena Air Band Question. 127.125 ?

[AirScan]

Anyone in the Alpena MI area on here that can monitor the airband (108-137 mHz) ?

I'm trying to confirm the use of 127.125. This frequency is listed by the FAA as being located there, it appears to be at the VOR site at the airport.

It's not listed in the RR ARTCC Database.

I'm wondering if the controller can be heard and if you can tell what sector it's used for. It should be a high altitude Minneapolis Sector possibly simulcasting with aircraft on 125.825 and/or 132.425 at times. Or even if anyone in the area can only hear aircraft on 127.125.

Any reports appeciated.

 

[15188n]

I have heard traffic on this before, but I'm not very familiar with how air band operates. I know it was what seemed like commercial flights, and I only heard the planes themself whilst overhead. If you provide more insight I can try and help.

 

[AirScan]

If you provide more insight I can try and help.

Thanks for the response.

I have an official sector chart from around 2014 that shows the airspace in that area is divided into 3 sectors. The only problem is this chart doesn't list the frequencies. I'm trying to verify the sectors altitude limits and frequencies as I suspect they might have been changed since this chart was published. This is the area over northern Michigan, Sector 12, 14 and 46 on the chart below.





WIth normal traffic volume 132.425 which I presume is sector 12 usually controls all the airspace from FL220 and above. When it gets busier and they need another controller they will split the airspace and add 125.825 which from what I can tell extends from FL360 and above.

What I'm wondering is where 127.125 fits into this ? It seems to be a high altitude frequency so it might be that intermediate sector 14 or maybe it's just another frequency used for coverage or backup.

If you scan the 3 frequencies while observing the traffic using a flight tracker like Flight Radar 24 or adsbexchange, noting the location and altitude of the aircraft, it should be fairly easy to figure out what configuration they are running. This would be easier if you could hear the controllers, as they can combine sectors, but still possible without.

So if you or anyone can identify any aircraft you are hearing on 127.125 and note the date and time that would be very helpful. Also if 132.425 and 125.825 were active at the same time.

I'm not currently in the area so can't verify them myself. Any info appreciated.

Here is a bit more detailed chart I put togther showing the sectors and frequencies in the area that might help
.



On the chart. An * beside the frequency means it's used when required, otherwise the other frequency listed controls both areas. "sc" means the controller continues to simulcast on that frequency even when that sectors is not operational and covered by the other frequency.

A good reference for areonautical charts is SkyVector.com

 

[nodak1crdet3]

Anyone in the Alpena MI area on here that can monitor the airband (108-137 mHz) ?

I'm trying to confirm the use of 127.125. This frequency is listed by the FAA as being located there, it appears to be at the VOR site at the airport.

It's not listed in the RR ARTCC Database.

I'm wondering if the controller can be heard and if you can tell what sector it's used for. It should be a high altitude Minneapolis Sector possibly simulcasting with aircraft on 125.825 and/or 132.425 at times. Or even if anyone in the area can only hear aircraft on 127.125.

Any reports appeciated.

I'm at Alpena right now & I can hear 127.125 MN.C. controller talking to aircraft, but they're answering on another freq. It must be a rarely used back up freq.

Chuck in Detroit / NODAK 1

 

[AirScan]

I'm at Alpena right now & I can hear 127.125 MN.C. controller talking to aircraft, but they're answering on another freq.

Thanks for the report ! I suspect the aircraft would be on 132.425 or 125.825. Not sure if it's a backup or if it's used for that intermediate sector when required ?

I'm also trying to confirm the UHF frequencies in Alpena. Can you hear any controllers on either 323.075, 336.400, 285.450 ? Would probably be simulcasting with the controller that you hear on 127.125 ?

Then there is the low sector frequencies 125.475/269.450 that you shoud be able to hear the controllers as well.