Sticky Thread for MilAir II

[TinEar]

Tinear,

Just a follow up I am listening to the recorded audio right now of the Pittman 41 exchanges with GUARD DOG this morning from roughly 10:10-10:30ish. Pittman 41 did request clearance to Shaw as a single ship. No mention whatsoever of Pittman 42 through this time period. I was pretty sure that was how I understood it but wanted to have a listen before committing.

Thanks Jeff. Much appreciated. No idea what the other PITMAN pilots were talking about then when they used "pilots" in relation to being taken back to Shaw...perhaps just a slip...or whatever. I'm wondering who they'll use to get 42 back home. A JOSA flight perhaps?

Regarding the boom interphone issue....

I had never heard of that before you mentioned it today (still new to milcom). So, I put the term in Google and instantly had access to a multitude of sources containing the term including USAF and RAF documents. Kind of hard to argue that this DOES NOT exist when it is discussed in official USAF docs.

Some people just like to argue I guess....

You're very right Ben. Easy to access info for it and yet they persist. Actually, I think it's turned into a game rather than a statement of facts. Thanks for jumping in with this.

********************************************
Managed to get back to the radios and PC for a few minutes to hear the end of the CAP for tonight. TANKER 10 will be going back to Meridian MS when relieved around 2300 and the PITMAN pair (51 and 52) back to Shaw of course. PITMAN 51 is the same female from last night but she has the lead tonight.
TANKER 10, at 2235, told Potomac Approach he's ready to RTB in 10 minutes so he's getting out a bit early.
2249: HUNTRESS releases TANKER 10 from the CAP...260.9....he changes to Potomac 135.525 for his clearance to Meridian MS...initial heading toward Montebello at FL 240.
2250: PITMAN 51 to Potomac to pick up clearance to Shaw in 10 minutes...135.525
2257: PITMAN 51/52 released by HUNTRESS...51 reports Code 1 and 9600 pounds of fuel....52 reports Code 2 for the targeting pod and 9000 pounds of fuel...260.9...switch to Potomac 135.525 for clearance out of the area and report in non-standard formation. (They also mentioned switching to U-1 which should be their Squadron Ops freq of 273.7, if that's still current, but I heard nothing there.)
2301: PITMAN 51/52 handed off to ZDC-Irons 360.85 where they check in and request direct Shaw (51 also assigns V-10 (140.375) for their interflight freq while heading home.)
2303: PITMAN 51/52 handed to ZDC-Montebello 284.7 and check in at FL 220.
2306: PITMAN 51/52 finally come up on the V-10 freq...140.375...they just give a fuel check....she's not very talkative tonight...last night she was chatty.
2311: PITMAN 51/52 handed off to ZDC-Gordonsville 351.9 and check in in non-standard formation. Her transmitter is already getting weak from my location...unusual.
1113: PITMAN 51/52 handed off to ZDC-Liberty 348.65 where they check in at FL 220 (sounds better on this freq)
[I can't remember the last time I heard activity on this freq.]

Enough...

 

[Mark]

Dover surprisingly busy this late X-mas eve hour
REACH 626 came in from Northeast ZNY 128.300>127.700 ZDC>132.4250>Dover appch.
No coms with CP 0300z.
REACH 411 arrive Dover with brief CP coms 349.400 0354z
PAT 45 flt of 2 UH-60's with Dover appch 132.425 now with tower 126.350 weak.
EVERGREEN 1609 Heavy landing Dover 127.700 then Dover 132.4250>126.350.

(BTW heard Bill O Reilly yesterday give thanks to Evergreen for his recent trip to Baghdad for moving his cargo)
Wonder if FOX picked up tab or the USAF? Actually I think Evergreen went only as far as Kuwait,USAF the rest of the way.

Commercial traffic VHF fairly busy all over...
Someone's got to work tonite..

Mark

 

[Gemini]

Merry Christmans to all and a CAP Update.

Trying to get some coffee in me this morning. Tanker 11 Called Huntress to report in. Huntress advises Fighters delayed approx 1 Hour due to PITTMAN 54 declared IFE and had to RTB. Huntress comes back to advise Fighters expected 1230z.

 

[TinEar]

Guard Dog CAP still in progress this morning. According to the TFR, it's due to run until 1030 local time. Current players are PITMAN 65/66 with HUNTRESS on 260.9 as primary and with TANKER 15 on boom frequency 228.9.
0940: PITMAN 66 refueling from TANKER 15...228.9
0943: PITMAN 66 completes the AR op after taking 5,700 pounds...228.9...reports back in the CAP to HUNTRESS on 260.9
0944: PITMAN 65 heading to the tanker...260.9
0945: PITMAN 65 reports to the tanker he's in a 3 mile trail and his nose is cold...tanker clears him for pre-contact position...228.9
0948: PITMAN 65 reports ready to contact (the boom)...TANKER 15 clears him for contact...228.9
0954: PITMAN 65 completes refueling after taking 6200 pounds...confirms this will be the last refueling for this pair....says he took 6300, 8500 and 6200 pounds during his three refueling ops...228.9....checks back in with HUNTRESS...260.9
0958: Current fuel remainders...PITMAN 65 has 12,100 pounds, 66 has 10,800 pounds...both report wing tanks feeding properly...260.9

1005: PITMAN 65/66 give maintenance status to HUNTRESS in preparation for the flight home...65 is Code 2 for multiple problems, 66 is Code 1. TANKER 15 also got some unheard info from HUNTRESS which was probably in preparation for his heading home also. PITMAN 66 tells HUNTRESS he received a J-12 Kinetic Control message (text message) on his Link 16 from HUNTRESS...wants to know what it's about...260.9
1020: Just heard a NIGHTHAWK helo with Andrews Tower clearing for Woods Corner...118.4 (this might mean the President is already back at ADW. He's due to get on the big bird and leave for Crawford today.)
1026:TANKER 15 tells Guard Dog he's cleared to leave for home in 4 minutes at 1030...he requests FL 340 to Bel Air flight plan route...he's told to stay at 240 for now...135.525
1030: TANKER 15 cleared by HUNTRESS to leave the CAP...260.9
1030: PITMAN 65 clears 66 to join up in fighting wing formation as they prepare to leave the CAP...260.9
1034: PITMAN 65 (with a scratchy sounding transmitter) to Guard Dog to tell him they're heading to the south and will call back when ready (to leave the CAP)...135.525
Jeff, maybe this is why they're not talking on their VHF radio...65 sounds like he has a bad VHF transmitter.
1036: PITMAN flight cleared to get their clearance back to Shaw by HUNTRESS...260.9
1036: PITMAN 65 to Guard Dog for clearance back to Shaw and out of the CAP...135.525
1037: PITMAN 65 flight cleared direct ???, FL 240...135.525
1039: PITMAN 65 asks HUNTRESS to call Shaw, Mission Director to tell Intel there is no activity in the MOA so they can clear off early. (no idea what that means)...260.9
1042: Again, PITMAN give maintenance status...65 is Code 2 for mutiple MFLs, 66 is Code 1...260.9
1043: PITMAN 65/66 cleared off freq by Guard Dog...135.525
1043: PITMAN 65 flight to ZDC-Brooke and check in at FL 240...327.0
1044: Finally get an interflight freq...PITMAN 65/66 working V-8...143.8 (just checked in - no chat)
1047: PITMAN 66 reports timber sweet (Link 16 data good)...65 acknowledges (not a talkative pair)...143.8
1049: PITMAN 65/66 handed off to ZDC-Blackstone and check in at FL 240...235.625
1052: PITMAN 66 reports (wing) tanks dry...65 acknowledges...143.8
These two certainly don't have anything to say to each other.
1056: PITMAN 65 confirms visual contact with traffic pointed out by ZDC in his area...235.625
And that's the end of my coverage of this pair...and this CAP.


Interesting point: One pair of PITMAN F-16s day before yesterday used tail numbers 94-4040 and 94-4044 which have no ID on Scramble. Jurgen, the editor for USAF info at Scramble, told me this morning there are a batch of aircraft in that particular range that have their tail numbers painted incorrectly. They should be 94-0040 and 94-0044.

Nothing new for NOTAMs for the listening area airports other than at Andrews:
RUNWAY CLOSED RWY 01L/19R CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE. EXCEPT FOR FIGHTER ALERT LAUNCH W/5 MIN PN. 26 DEC 11:00 UNTIL 26 DEC 22:00

Patuxent, Oceana, Willow Grove are all totally closed today.

Last evening, BWI changed to their backup freq for Tower control - 123.75 instead of the usual 119.4. Today, it's back to normal with 119.4 as the primary and a simulcast of Tower (not aircraft) comms on 123.75.

 

[Gemini]

Finally caught the A-A freq here 143.8

Just like you said tinear. Not a talkative pair

 

[HM1529]

More on Boom Interphone

I found an interesting message thread regarding the boom interphone and other aspects of aerial refueling. Interesting reading....

http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=...&start=0&sid=ae4493c45f1e6fcd27273f5a4a239e1d

Use this link if the first one breaks:

http://tinyurl.com/y5twan

As mentioned earlier, there are numerous official publications that are easily found online that mention this technology. I just thought this thread was interesting since it gave some real world insight.

 

[JackTV]

Echo Control Active

I have Echo Control down at Pax active this AM
320.45, 341.95, and 365.7 very active.

Jack

 

[Gemini]

Couple of active freqs

I have been busy reconfiguring the shack here but @ 1:50 PM I have 143.6 and 139.9 active

 

[TinEar]

I have been busy reconfiguring the shack here but @ 1:50 PM I have 143.6 and 139.9 active

It's a pair of WILD F-16s coming home to Andrews. WILD 1 is landing, 2 is chasing him down and will then go around again. Not sure if WILD 1 has a problem. Currently with Tower on 349.0. WILD 1 landed on runway 1R...2 is heading for 1L.
1355: WILD 2 says he's going to do 2 or 3 more low approaches for fuel reasons...further indication that they came home early and that WILD 1 more than likely had a problem which required his landing...349.0
1404: WILD 2 on his fourth low approach at this time...349.0
1410: Warren Grove Range active...283.1
1414: WILD 2 coming in for full stop landing on runway 1R...reports gear down...349.0
1414: BICEP 11 (F-16 NJ-ANG Atlantic city) with ZDC-Woodstown at FL 190...requests 13,000 due to winds...gets 17000...363.0
1416: BICEP 11 requests VFR flight following...cleared to 16,500...363.0
1417: MD-ANG A-10s on interflight...142.3 (AXEMAN)
1417: BICEP 11 flight handed off to freq 325.6 by Woodstown...363.0
(And who belongs to 325.6? Parked on it and listening...maybe it was 335.6 ZNY-Modena...trying to catch up to them )
1419: AXEMAN flight of two A-10s change to U-5 and come up with TRACON (BWI)...317.425
1423: AXEMAN flight handed off to Patuxent on 314.0 and check in there.
1424: Find BICEP 11...indeed with ZNY-Modena 335.6
1424: BICEP 11 handed off to ZNY-Middletown 322.4 report squawk 4464 as they check in VFR.
1425: AXEMAN cancels VFR...314.0....handed off to BayWatch on 354.8 where they ID as two A-10s VFR at 7000 feet.
1425: BICEP 11 flight reports they are descending to enter low level route VR-705...322.4
1425: BICEP 11 flight working interflight...138.425 (It's a flight of 4)
1429: BICEP 11 handed off to Harrisburg App/Dep and check in there heading for VR-705...273.525
1432: AXEMAN flight gets squawk for wingman...says they'll be working south of Vienna (MD)...354.8 (Still working interflight 142.3)
1432: BICEP 4-ship down low now in VR-705 and go out of listening range...138.425

Break time....

I found an interesting message thread regarding the boom interphone and other aspects of aerial refueling. Interesting reading....

http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=P...273f5a4a239e1d

Use this link if the first one breaks:

http://tinyurl.com/y5twan

As mentioned earlier, there are numerous official publications that are easily found online that mention this technology. I just thought this thread was interesting since it gave some real world insight.

Thanks Ben. Yeah, lots of chatter about the boom interphone can be found on the net - especially on the military blogs and websites. As I mentioned, we all know the boom intercom/interphone exists, but it has just become a game to toss in digs here and in email to each other. By the way, there is a toggle switch on a panel on the F-16 pilot's left side near his elbow that turns the intercom on during refueling. It's a three-position switch...center is off, up is for the intercom and down is for cipher. Over on his right side is the KY-58 encryption panel.
********************************************
1642: Couple of helos on the chat channel talking about a jumper from the Bay Bridge today...seems Anne Arundel County responded, recovered the body and called for the ME. One asks if it was "floater or a sinker." They tend to joke about such things....123.025 (Believe one of the speakers was FOXTROT 1, the Baltimore City PD helo.)
1646: BOOGIE 11 with Potomac TRACON (DCA) climbing...343.7 (Bet this is the F-16 from Shaw that landed Christmas eve with the IFE. His transmitter is certainly that of an F-16.)
1649: BOOGIE 11 handed to ZDC-Montebello...at FL 210...puts SSC on request...284.7
SSC = Shaw AFB SC
1650: BOOGIE 11 cleared to FL 240...284.7
1653: BOOGIE 11 cleared direct Shaw...284.7
(I guess this callsign could be BOOGY rather than BOOGIE...it's not in my callsign database. BOOKIE is listed for Shaw but this guy is using a hard "G" in the callsign. I can't get BOOKIE out of it...at least not up to this point.)
1657: BOOGIE 11 handed off to ZDC-Gordonsville where he checks in at FL 290...351.9 [Last heard]
(Couldn't get BOOKIE out of it that time either.)

1700: PD helos now talking about a "swoop and scoop" to pick up a shot body somewhere in Baltimore - apparently not by them but by an ambo...123.025

1852: CRAB 58 (C-130J, MD-ANG Warfield ANGB) calling Crab Ops...385.9
(Heard him just before that telling someone he took off 25 minutes earlier but I wasn't near the radio to see the freq.)

 

[Mateo]

Heard from Gravelly Point today 1640-1715:

1645: -343.7- BOOKIE 11 (1x F-16 seen) vectors for climb. [I got BOOKIE, but I'll confirm it as a single F-16, and my thought, as well, was that it was the Shaw refugee from a couple of days ago. Did we ever get a serial for that one?]
1649: -118.95- REACH 702T heavy (C-17A Charleston seen) climbs to 5, 11, and 17, direct LDN, and "enjoy Palm Springs."^^
1655: -118.4- something 101 (airliner type seen) contact departure, but I never came back to it. Anyone else hear it? It turned right and flew ENE, probably to go out over SWANN/PALEO.

Lots and lots of helicopter activity over the Potomac, including a formation of 2 CH-46s, 2 UH-60s, and a CH-53. The MDW UH-60s were also active. {Err, slight correction - one of the UH-60s was an H-3. http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20061227/i/r3655349114.jpg }

^^=someone once posited that REACH xxxT missions were Presidential related. There were lots of xxxT flights during the fall with the extensive campaign travel, and over the past 4 days, I've heard RCH382T with ZDC asking to go "direct Waco, Texas," and today's RCH702T going to Palm Springs, where, presumably, it will have something to do with activities surrounding Gerald Ford's funeral.

 

[Gemini]

137.9 Active

Have 139.7 NORAD VHF active from Southern MD. Unable to copy weak traffic

 

[freqhopping]

Have 139.7 NORAD VHF active from Southern MD. Unable to copy weak traffic

It's BLACKJACK-1 and HUNTRESS. I was hearing both pretty clearly about half an hour ago. The latest comms were too weak to make out.

 

[TinEar]

Two BLACKJACK helos up in practice intercept activities...just mentioned working around FedEx (Field I guess). They are moving away from each other to begin another exercise. I haven't heard HUNTRESS yet - just the two helos deciding what they're going to do.

Thanks for the tip guys. I didn't have a radio on until I got the email notification of Jeff's message.

2157: BLACKJACK 1 and 2 seven miles apart and beginning the next one...139.7
2202: The two BLACKJACKs finished and have decided to do yet another intercept practice manuever...139.7
Sounds like they are working them at 2200 feet altitude.
2208: BLACKJACK 1 and 2 are in position...1 announces "fight's on"...139.7
2216: And yet another one coming up...110 knots, 2200 feet announced by the "target" helo...139.7
2227: The BLACKJACKs are done...one says he's heading back to Route 3 and the Wilson Bridge, the other will follow....they tried various attack angles - head on, in trail, in various directions and managed to get their practice in....139.7 (I think he meant helo route 3, not Maryland Route 3 that we use.)
2231: BLACKJACK 2 tells HUNTRESS they're going to stay out and do some "routes" for another 20 minutes or so...139.7 (I couldn't hear HUNTRESS. How about you Travis? Wondering where he's transmitting from when talking to these DCA based Coast Guard helos.)

 

[Mark]

1649: -118.95- REACH 702T heavy (C-17A Charleston seen) climbs to 5, 11, and 17, direct LDN, and "enjoy Palm Springs."^^

^^=someone once posited that REACH xxxT missions were Presidential related. There were lots of xxxT flights during the fall with the extensive campaign travel, and over the past 4 days, I've heard RCH382T with ZDC asking to go "direct Waco, Texas," and today's RCH702T going to Palm Springs, where, presumably, it will have something to do with activities surrounding Gerald Ford's funeral.

That would be my guess as well as Tango missions are usually Prez related or non-Mil flights.

(Latest Press release : After a private funeral Friday afternoon in Palm Desert, California, Ford's body will be taken to Washington on Saturday. His casket will lie at the open doors of the House of Representatives and then be taken to the Capitol Rotunda to lie in state.
A service will be held at the National Cathedral on Tuesday.
Later that day, his body will be flown to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for burial on Wednesday in a tomb overlooking the Ford presidential library and museum.)


Look for maybe a Andrews Notam or ramp freezes coming up Saturday as they don't like aircraft landing/departing while arrival ceremony is going on.

Good catch!
(update) 0735 REACH 703T departing Andrews 1235z this am on CP freq.

Mark

 

[HM1529]

Warren Grove Range is active with comms on 283.100 at 9:15 AM.

Just prior to that, I had an unid aircraft on 362.300 mentioning that he had just talked to "the Grove" and they had no power and no phones there. I'm assuming this was the aircraft planning to work the range coordinating with NORAD since the range is apparently having problems.

I'm not sure who's working there right now. The pilot sound like one of the Willow Grove A-10 pilots I often hear.

Since I'm working with only a handheld, the comms keep fading fast as the aircraft go from high to low altitudes. I only gets bits and pieces.

Edit: Flyer flight is returning to KNXX now at 10:05 AM, so I'm figuring they're the guys who were playing at Warren Grove.

 

[Gemini]

143.6

1009: Just waking up here and have 143.6 active from PAX. Heard WILD on it. referenced using 340.2 as well
1012: Have Wild 1 & 2 reporting modes & codes. 10 minutes out. 139.9

 

[TinEar]

1513: AXEMAN pair of A-10s from MD-ANG active at Warren Grove Range...283.1
1514: AXEMAN pair also on interflight freq...142.3
1526: BICEP 11 flight of NJ-ANG F-16s with Harrisburg App/Dep requesting higher altitude and to go to New York Center...281.525
1527: BICEP 11 flight handed instead to Philadelphia TRACON...again request higher when able...319.15
1527: BICEP 11 working inteflight freq...138.425
1532: BICEP 11 is a flight of two aircraft...sounds like they're heading home...138.425
1533: BICEP 12 to Ops to report the flight is 10 minutes out, both Code 1...261.0

There are some ramp freezes and other happenings at Andrews in conjunction with President Ford's funeral. Here are the published NOTAMs: (All times are Zulu)
M0554/06 - AERODROME CLOSED 02 JAN 16:45 2007 UNTIL 02 JAN 18:45 2007

M0553/06 - AERODROME CLOSED 30 DEC 21:30 UNTIL 30 DEC 23:30

M0550/06 - AERODROME OBO. ARR/DEP LIMITED TO ACFT IN SUPPORT OF STATE FUNERAL PROCEEDINGS. 27 DEC 13:52 UNTIL 12 JAN 23:59 2007

L0640/06 - QUIET HRS IN EFFECT DUE TO STATE FUNERAL PROCEEDINGS. NO ACFT ARR/DEP. NO VEHICLE TRAFFIC OR SUPPORT EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS. ALERT SCRAMBLE ACFT WILL OPERATE FROM THE EAST RUNWAY. 02 JAN 16:45 2007 UNTIL 02 JAN 18:45 2007

L0639/06 - AIR TERMINAL RAMP FREEZE 02 JAN 16:45 2007 UNTIL 02 JAN 18:45 2007

L0638/06 - AIR TERMINAL RAMP FREEZE 30 DEC 21:30 UNTIL 30 DEC 23:30

L0637/06 - QUIET HRS IN EFFECT DUE TO STATE FUNERAL PROCEEDINGS. NO ACFT ARR/DEPS. NO VEHICLE TRAFFIC OR SUPPORT EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS. ALERT SCRAMBLES ACFT WILL OPERATE FROM THE EAST RUNWAY. 30 DEC 21:30 UNTIL 30 DEC 23:30

L0634/06 - FROM FRIDAY DECEMBER 29, 2006 TO WEDNESDAY JANUARY 3 2007, NAF WASHINGTON TRANSIENT AIRCRAFT ARRIVALS WILL BE LIMITED TO "DROP AND GO" ONLY AND THOSE SUPPORTING THE FORD STATE FUNERAL. RON PPRS FOR NON PARTICIPATING AIRCRAFT WILL BE APPROVED BY THE NAFW OPERATIONS OFFICER ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS." 27 DEC 17:06 UNTIL 03 JAN 23:59 2007

 

[Gemini]

TinEar,

I had ARROW flight of 2 on 138.875 during the same time frame the other A-10s were up. I have been installing more Computer protection here and have not reviewed the audio here as yet. But I did hear ARROW used quite a bit.

 

[TinEar]

TinEar,

I had ARROW flight of 2 on 138.875 during the same time frame the other A-10s were up. I have been installing more Computer protection here and have not reviewed the audio here as yet. But I did hear ARROW used quite a bit.

Good idea Jeff. That's what I did during a recent shack reconfiguration also. I now have all my radios and all my PCs running through UPS units. This stuff is just too valuable to take a chance on a power surge or a nearby lightning strike.

I haven't heard the ARROW (AERO) F-16 flight from New Jersey. I was busy doing some other things and on the phone and no doubt missed some of the activity.
************************************************
1553: PACER 98 to Griffin Command with arrival message....home station C-21, tail 40092, 45 minutes out, status A-3...mission complete upon landing...378.1
1558: AXEMAN flight to Raven Ops to report 10 minutes out, both Code 1...347.2
1558: AXEMAN flight with Dover Approach...257.875
1559: AXEMAN flight handed to Potomac TRACON (BWI) where they check in on U-5...317.425

1602: AXEMAN reports field in sight and handed off to Tower...317.425
1603: AXEMAN flight changes to U-3 MTN Tower for approach and landing...297.2
1607: AXEMAN 1 reports full stop landing coming up to Tower...297.2
1608: AXEMAN 1 and then 2 report left base, gear down, full stop...297.2
1619: Have Raven Ops talking to a WARDOG OA-10...not sure if he's airborne or still on the ground at MTN...347.2
1620: Lots of helos on the Baltimore helo chat channel looking for guys that robbed a Howard County bank...123.025
1625: PACER 01 in the pattern at Andrews with Approach...119.3
1640: There is a TITUS or TITAN 01 in the pattern at Andrews with Approach...119.3
1644: TITUS 01 handed to ADW Tower for landing runway 19R...118.4
Sounds more like TITUS now than TITAN. Nothing in my callsign database lines up with this callsign.
I seem to remember one of the planespotters (Tony or Mateo) logging this callsign in the past.
1649: SAM 0895 with Andrews Tower...10 mile DME, approach to runway 19R...118.4
1650: SAM 0895 reports gear down...118.4
1650: The helos are still trying to spot the main guy in that Howard County incident....probably some good action on Howard/Baltimore Counties police radios...123.025

1707: SAM 1218 (think I got that right...helos talking at same time)...landing Andrews 19R with Tower...118.4
1722: BATON 56 (EC-130J 193rd SOW, PA-ANG Harrisburg) to Baton Ops with arrival message...10 minutes out, 18,000 pounds of fuel remaining, A-2 for autopilot LAT defective, pilot side only...395.1
1722: Among the helos working the search are Arundel 1 and 2 and Air 30...they are doing a lot of chatting because of all the air traffic involved - including news helos...123.025...the chat is interesting because of the content which I won't mention now while they're still searching for the guy. The Howard County Police are using C-1 Incident 10 talkgroup [46128] for this. Interesting stuff there too.
1724: REACH 040 calling Dover Command Post...states he's A-3 for fuel ?probe?...349.4
1736: One of the helo pilots says they can't say anything in the clear now since the freq is being rebroadcast on the "web" ...123.025 (I don't know where that might be...seriously, I don't.)
But now that I know the PD copters are working on the Howard County PD freqs, I understand what he means...the county PD is rebroadcast several places on the net.
1741: TROOPER 8 coming in to the search to replace ARUNDEL 2...123.025
Howard PD dispatch says TROOPER 8 doesn't have the capability to come up on TG 46128 [C1). Well...he does come up on TG46128...think he's being patched in, not direct comms.
Guy they're looking for is 40-ish, white, bald, armed. Two in custody...still the one loose.
Add Chopper 13 (TV 13) helo in the batch on 123.025...and Channel 11's copter is there.
1755: CRAB 58 (C-130J MD-ANG) reports airborne at 54 past the hour to Crab Ops...385.9
1759: You've almost got to have at least two radios to follow this search in HowCo...one for PD TG46128 and one on the helo channel 123.025. Helos are getting instructions on the PD talkgroup and then chatting about it on the air channel. This has gotten real interesting.

1817: Couple of aircraft on tanker interplane freq...one is using suffix 49...at 16,000 feet, heading 223...139.875
1818: CRAB 58 with Phillips AAF Tower...126.15
1820: One of the aircraft on tanker interplane freq now at 17000 feet, the other at 16,500 feet and just broke through the clouds and have clear skies for their op...139.875
1823: CRAB 58 to Crab Ops to say they're 15 minutes out for final landing...he wants ops to tell Tower they'll be doing 2 dry passes before landing...385.9...ground is loud and clear here but can't hear the aircraft which is booming here.
1825: CRAB 58 then goes to Raven Ops freq to pass the same message and is successful there...143.8
1825: REACH 687T calling SAM Command...no joy...378.1
1828: The two aircraft on tanker interplane are using suffix 48 and 49 (probably TEAM KC-10s)...139.875
1830: REACH 687T makes contact with Andrews...pax and rolling stock to offload...378.1
1833: REACH 9462 calling Andrews CP...no joy x3...378.1
1840: CRAB 58 ready to land at MTN...with Tower...121.3
1841: TEAM 48 Heavy and TEAM 49 both with ZDC-Calvert...48 is at FL 240 and wants clearance to Flat Rock....49 is at 17,000 feet...133.9 (Same two that were on 139.875 interplane freq)
1844: REACH 9462 still calling Andrews CP...no joy to many calls...378.1
1845: TEAM 49 requests FL 240....TEAM 48 Heavy cleared direct Flat Rock, direct PXV...133.9
1847: JOSA 539 on PTD freq 372.2 and then as JOSA 935 on 378.1 (Not sure yet which is correct)
1850: The Howard County PD is still working on that search off Route 40 and helos are still involved. ARUNDEL 1 replaced TROOPER 8...AIR 30 still in there....TG46128 is still primary on Howard County system and helo channel 123.025 still busy.
1852: REACH 9462 called a dozen times with no reply on 378.1...he's now in the pattern at Andrews with Approach on 119.3

1905: DC 44 [female] (KC-135R, 756th ARS AFRC Andrews) calls LIBERATOR to report airborne time was 2359Z (Hi Debbie!!)
1907: DC 43 reports 10 miles out to LIBERATOR...378.1
Potomac TRACON's ground controller simulcast on 257.2 of the 118.95 freq is loud and clear from here tonight. The Andrews ground controller on Command Post freq 141.55 is the same way. Excellent conditions from that direction tonight.
1911: DC 44 handed off by TRACON to ZDC and told to climb to FL 240...257.2/118.95
1912: DC 44 checks in with ZDC-Montebello climbing to FL 240...121.675
1922: NAVY 101 landing at Andrews with Tower...118.4 (Heard a few minutes ago with TRACON 119.85)
1926: MUSSEL 01 doing ILS approaches at Andrews...currently with Approach...119.3
1940: DC 43 Heavy doing pattern work at Andrews...with Approach ...119.3

1940: Enough logging for now...the Howard County PD search is still ongoing although they aren't as talkative as an hour or two ago...getting tired I guess.

Ref below:

Got a new LP for Xmas and I can hear ZNY controller on 133.475
NEVER been able to hear them before. Now if I can only hear the UHF side.

Way to go Jack! That's Harrisburg I believe. Hope you do get the UHF side. What type Log Periodic did you get?

Excellent. I have the MilAir LP but haven't put it up yet and probably won't until spring.
Do you have them both on rotors?

Another question for you Jack...are you saying the wideband LP is providing a better VHF signal than your MilAir LP in the MilAir range?

 

[JackTV]

New antenna can hear ZNY controller

Got a new LP for Xmas and I can hear ZNY controller on 133.475
NEVER been able to hear them before. Now if I can only hear the UHF side.

I got the 118-1000mhz lp from DPD. Really has increased signal on the VHF air side.
Real nice antenna.I also have the Mil Air LP...that too is a nice antenna.

Yeah Tin I can see and hear louder(more signal bars...for example 119.4 with Mil LP maybe 3...with the new antenna 4-5 bars.based on a Bearcat 785D & Bearcat898T signal bars) The UHF air as a comparison BWI...all of the UHF stuff is a little weaker audio wise and a little signal wise compared to the Mil LP.But over all I like the 118-1000 better.
Yes I have it on a RS rotator
One more note: this morning I did hear the person on the ground on 141.55
Never heard ground side with Mil LP
Jack