Does anyone use a handheld radio to notify the airport and monitor traffic when flying?
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Notify Airport / Tower with a radio.
- Thread starter MTNestr
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I will shorty as I recently received approval to fly in Class D airspace right next to the airport and they are requiring this. I recently asked for recommendations and a few mentioned the Yaesu FTA550 as a good inexpensive one (if you are looking for recommendations).
N017RW
Premium Pilot
You can monitor all you like but you are not a licensed Station so Tx is a No-No.
There are specific communication terms and protocol used by controlling entities and if this was required for drone operators it would have been part of the 107 test & certification program.
IIRC, the current protocol for airport operator/tower notification is via phone for the Part-101 hobbyist and via an FAA website for Part 107 commercial ops.
There are specific communication terms and protocol used by controlling entities and if this was required for drone operators it would have been part of the 107 test & certification program.
IIRC, the current protocol for airport operator/tower notification is via phone for the Part-101 hobbyist and via an FAA website for Part 107 commercial ops.
Did your FAA approval specifically say that you were to notify the tower via radio and give you specific frequencies to use? Do you have to contact approach control and/or ground control? What information before, during and after do you have to give the tower? Hand held fm transmitters have a limited range (line of sight), but if you are that close, it may not matter. And as mentioned above, have you checked out the FCC license requirements? Believe that you will, as a minimum, have to have a ground station license.
I would imagine you could use unicom for uncontrolled airports, and the tower frequency for controlled. Unicom radios are not always monitored at the airport though. 122.8 and 122.9 are the usual frequencies. You do however need a license to transmit.
Aren't UASs issued a callsign when they're registered? Why can't you just use that to call up the tower with your request?
N017RW
Premium Pilot
I'm pretty sure I've read that drones are issued a registration. I seem to remember reading that if you want the traditional N-number then you have to register via the paper method.
Are pilots required to have a certification of some sort (FCC?) to operate the radio in their aircraft? I'm thinking not...
Are pilots required to have a certification of some sort (FCC?) to operate the radio in their aircraft? I'm thinking not...
N017RW
Premium Pilot
I don't get it. Drones have registration numbers. Drones have pilots. I'm just trying to understand your answers. How is asking the question "conflating things?" I obviously don't know enough to know where to begin researching. If you have answers (with some references to get started) I'm all ears...
N017RW
Premium Pilot
One of these day’s I hope we have it all this worked out. A hand held radio seems like a good next step. My line of thinking if the FAA thinks our Phantoms is a a/c then we should be able get a radio licence for our a/c just like any other a/c. After all if memory serves me right on my Remote Pilot Test there was some questions about radio protocol. If things are going to advance we need to have some of the privileges other aircraft have. Especially when it come to communication. So we all can operate in a safe and sane manner.
N017RW
Premium Pilot
Yes, In the Sectional Chart interpretation section you may have been asked something like this:
"At XYZ (airport) which frequency should be used as a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to monitor airport traffic?"
I agree. I took N017RW's kind advice and did some research. A quick search of the google and I found this:
FCC Licensing
Emphasis added...
N017RW
Premium Pilot
I would you more but my typing is not so good.
When flying HAWK N66CB the proper phraseology for initial contact with Whitted ATC tower is
A-“Whitted Tower, HAWK SIX SIX SIX CHARLIE BROVO, five NM west of the airport, request permission to enter Class D airspace for unmanned aircraft for unmanned aircraft operations below four hundred AGL. Three NM west of the airport”
B- “Whitted, HAWK SIX SIX SIX CEE BEE, requesting to operate within Class D, west of the field”
C- “Witted tower, Triple Six Charlie Bravo, five NM west, operating in Class D below four hundred AGL west of the airport”
(A is correct)
When flying HAWK N66CB the proper phraseology for initial contact with Whitted ATC tower is
A-“Whitted Tower, HAWK SIX SIX SIX CHARLIE BROVO, five NM west of the airport, request permission to enter Class D airspace for unmanned aircraft for unmanned aircraft operations below four hundred AGL. Three NM west of the airport”
B- “Whitted, HAWK SIX SIX SIX CEE BEE, requesting to operate within Class D, west of the field”
C- “Witted tower, Triple Six Charlie Bravo, five NM west, operating in Class D below four hundred AGL west of the airport”
(A is correct)
My point is, since a license is not longer required, and since the UAS has a registration (which is what pilots use as their callsign) why can a UAS pilot not use the UAS registration as his callsign and operate a VHF aviation radio.
The FCC doesn't have an answer, btw. I just got off the phone with them and was given a case number. I have a feeling we're inventing the wheel with this...
N017RW
Premium Pilot
What is the point of this?
An sUAS (drone) operator is not, by virtue of his/her FAA registration, authorized to operate radio equipment or stations on the Aviation bands.
Sorry if it doesn't make sense to you presently but that's the way it is.
An sUAS (drone) operator is not, by virtue of his/her FAA registration, authorized to operate radio equipment or stations on the Aviation bands.
Sorry if it doesn't make sense to you presently but that's the way it is.
