this is true the aircraft radios can monitor two channels simultaneously.
example; my local Air Attack platform has three VHF FM radios and three AM radios. all can monitor two channels simultaneously. now AirGuard is always monitored.
I was hoping this info would come up. (Maybe it should be in a different thread).
Lets think about how the 'Air Attack' uses their radios. (This will all be relevant to the channel loads found in fire engine radios).
(Sorry - I have to go back and rethink this - it just occurred to me that the 'Lead Plane' is not the same as the 'Air Attack' (usually a plane). )
For starters - on the largest fires - the chain of command seems to be - IC tells Air Attack and Ground Division bosses what needs to be done. Ar Attack and Ground Division bosses then pass the word along to their units.
Air Attack gives direction to the Lead Plane and to the Helco (helicopter coordinator). (Caveat - sometimes the Air Attack also serves as the Lead Plane)
So radio channels for aviation assets are probably set up like this -
IC talks to Air Attack on Command Net or on A/G channel
Air Attack talks to Lead Plane on 'Air Tactics' or 'Air Tactical' channel - (at this point I dont know if there is any real difference in those 2 terms)
Air Attack talks to Helco on AM RW (rotor wing) channel
Lead Plane talks to air tankers on Air Tactics channel
Helco talks to helos on AM RW channel
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If Air Attack has 3 FM and 3 AM radios - each of which can monitor 2 channels simultaneously - then Air Attack can monitor -
Air Guard - 168.625 - for emergencies
FAA Air Guard - 121.50 - for emergencies
maybe some back country AM aviation channel
Air Tactics / ?Air Tactical? - to talk to airtankers
RW AM - to talk to helos
A/G - to talk to IC or to talk to ground units maybe
A/G Tactical - maybe this would be used by just the IC and the Air Attack - like a A/G Hotline - seems to be a new concept
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we have filled 7 slots of 12 so far - what else could go into these slots? Maybe 163.10 for ?heliport? - maybe nearest airtanker base? - maybe 168.65? Which channels are the most relevant? How many channels can 2 people in the Air Attack monitor at once?
If I was the "Air Attack" I would probably just want to monitor 1 channel - and share that channel with just the Lead Plane, Helco, and IC.