United Airlines received new 800mhz trunked system license grant to be used at DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CHANTILLY, VA, that "Provides communications to United Airlines, a commercial air carrier".
Freqs put it in public safety band? Wonder if they are going to give up dmr in the future? Wonder if MWAA and UAL might add a frequency or two for use in disasters?
Also guessing new system might be on hold for lack of money?
854-860 is not exclusive to public safety, rather is a mixture of public safety, business/industrial, and non-cellular SMR. They wouldn't have obtained a YB Business Trunked license in the band otherwise. 851-854 is the portion of the band exclusive to public safety (NPSPAC).
The emissions on the license indicate a DMR system, most likely Tier III or Capacity Max if they're building new, as Connect Plus is EOL.
The 900 band (935-940) is being reconfigured to create a broadband segment right in between two narrowband LMR segments, and so because some of United's frequencies at Dulles are impacted by that, they probably found it a better option to relocate to 800 MHz.
Moving to 800 MHz allows them the ability to operate on their trunked system, as well as have interop capability on 800 MHz analog channels (8CALL/TAC, as well as the two LCFR analog channels), using a single radio. Kenwood multi-protocol NX series radios are capable of both P25 and DMR, and so they could also have interop capability on the Loudon County ASTRO 25 system.
It's also interesting that this 800 MHz DMR system is licensed for two four-frequency sites (the same two sites as the existing 900 MHz Connect Plus system). The four frequencies are the same for each site, which would indicate a simulcast system. I've never heard of simulcast on DMR, but I suppose it's possible...? Someone with more knowledge will have to comment.