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.

 

[15188n]

I’m hearing traffic on that frequency today, I’ll let you know if I can identify what it’s for. It seems like it’s a controller, heard them referring to changing to 32.9?

 

[AirScan]

I’m hearing traffic on that frequency today, I’ll let you know if I can identify what it’s for. It seems like it’s a controller, heard them referring to changing to 32.9?

"changing to 32.9" most likely is referring to 132.900 which is an adjacent low altitude sector's frequency.

I just received an updated Minneapoils Center Sector Chart but for some reason they don't include the frequencies on their charts !? They also redacted the frequencies from their Standard Operating Procedures Manual that I was sent !? I have no idea why Minneapolis does this, all the other ARTCC facilities I've seen show the frequencies and sector names on their charts.

Area in question. From the new High Altitude Sector Chart dated 07.10.2025



From a Chicago Center High Altittude chart that does show the adjacent Minneapolis Center frequencies.

Sector 12 Traverse City = 132.425, FL240 to FL350
Sector 13 Tomahawk = 133.175, FL240 to FL350
Sector 46 Mackinac = 125.825 (above 12 and 14) and 133.450 (above 13 and 34), FL360 and above

Sectors 14 and 34 are not shown on the Chicago Chart.

From what I've been able to determine so far with limited internet radio sources available in that area is that typically Sectors 12 and 14 are combined at 132.425 and Sectors 13 and 34 are combined at 123.725. This would make 123.725 Sector 34 by default and 127.125 "possibly" Sector 14. Another possibility is that 127.125 is being used for the low altitude (FL230 and below) sector in the area.

Any reception reports on 127.125 or 133.175 would be helpful. Something that includes the frequency, date, time, aircraft ID, any noted transmissions. With just a few reports and cross checking the aircraft position using Flighradar24 it wouldn't take much to confirm the frequency useage.

 

[nodak1crdet3]

08-06-25
Heard these freqs while hanging out at the Alpena airport.
127.125 MN.C. can hear center talking to aircraft, from Alpena airport, but no aircraft answered.
125.475 MN.C. can hear from Alpena airport, & aircraft answering.
132.425 MN.C. can hear from Alpena airport & aircraft answering.
323.075 MN.C. can hear from Alpena airport.
269.450 MN.C. can hear from Alpena airport, & aircraft answering.
336.400 MN.C. think I heard center while driving towards Grayling.

08-14-25
While driving home from Alpena, I heard these 2 freqs while at Oscoda.
125.475 MN.C.
269.450 MN.C.

Chuck in Detroit / NODAK 1

 

[AirScan]

Heard these freqs while hanging out at the Alpena airport.

Thanks for that !

Interesting that you could hear the controller on 132.425. The FAA AFF only lists it at the Pellston and White Cloud RCAG sites. The rest of the frequencies at Alpena and Oscoda correspond to what they have listed.

Could you tell if you remember if it was the same controller on 127.125 and 132.425 ? I suspect 127.125 would be used for Sector 14 when required, otherwise 12 and 14 seem to be usually combined at 132.425. With the controller simulcasting on 127.125 while the aircraft are on 132.425 ?