The Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Thread [Merged]

[UCBeau]

Didn't have it last night on 901 SFO-SAN.

[DawgmanOH]

I know not everyone is a baseball fan, but we had a huge treat last night on a ORD - CLE flight. The pilot turned Channel 9 to the White Sox - Indians baseball game. Fantastic move, IMHO.

[livitup]

4 / 4 it was turned on for me Monday and Tuesday. Of course in one of the flights someone had stuck a lollypop stick in the headphone jack so I couldn't use it.

[mahasamatman]

Originally Posted by creativity55

Across the atlantic when they switch to VHF radio past the radar service limits at Gander.

It's the other way around. "Standard" ATC is VHF. Transoceanic is UHF.

[Nosmo King]

Quote:
Originally Posted by creativity55
Across the atlantic when they switch to VHF radio past the radar service limits at Gander.

Originally Posted by mahasamatman

It's the other way around. "Standard" ATC is VHF. Transoceanic is UHF.

Not quite. Oceanic comm is HF; or on more modern planes, SATCOM datalink, so no Channel 9 at all.

[Flyer420]

On a couple of UA flights over the past two or three years, the captain has announced that he regretted that they would not have channel 9 on that flight. What was the common element?

An FAA inspector was riding in the jump seat.

Nuff said.

Flyer 420
in Seattle

[iflyua2]

Originally Posted by livitup

4 / 4 it was turned on for me Monday and Tuesday. Of course in one of the flights someone had stuck a lollypop stick in the headphone jack so I couldn't use it.

You may want to ask goalie about that.

[goalie]

Originally Posted by iflyua2

You may want to ask goalie about that.

heyyyyyyyyyy nope wasn't me-must have been one of those other children that was allowed in first class and besides, livitup said it was a lollypop stick and goalie don't need no stinkin' lollypops.

[livitup]

Strikeout on Friday FRA/IAD. I noticed very shortly after seating that XM was on channel 9. I asked the FA as she was doing predeparture drinks, "Excuse me, do you know if the captain will be making channel 9 available?" She said "I don't know, but I am sure they will announce it if they do so."

Sure enough, any mention of channel 9 was skipped in the post safety briefing prattle about beer and wine being $5 and duty free offers. The captain also totally ignored it during his "welcome aboard" speech. I did not press the issue because the FA serving my section was surly enough already and I didn't want her skimping on my warm nuts.

[fadeforward]

Originally Posted by flyinryan

This continued for a minute, until she finally understood and went to flip the breaker, or whatever the FA's do to turn on the IFE. Worked perfectly.
Sometimes, the FA's just don't understand. I gotta have my Channel 9! Otherwise, I might as well fly some other AAirline.

Originally Posted by Ocn Vw 1K

I agree that if it's not on on boarding, most of the problems are with the in-flight audio system not operating or not set properly.

Originally Posted by Buster CT1K

When all the channels are off and the aircraft is on the ground, it's often because the safety video has just ended and the system needs to be reset but has not yet been. Usually I ask an FA to reset it, and after what seems like an eternity, they get around to it as if they were doing me a big favor.

Originally Posted by jmd001

Most of the times when I have tried to get an FA to reset the IFE system, there is never an FA around ...

... or when there is, the typical response to my request to reset it is a condescending explanation of how to operate the IFE!

Equally frustrating is how often during taxiing the IFE switches to Channel 2 (presumedly in response to some power transition/transfer/spike that occurs).

Can anyone tell me how the IFE works with respect to Ch 9? There are two situations, one of which I don't get. 1) The movie ends and all channels are dead as the video rolls to a stop. This is straightforward. 2) All channels work except channel 9.

I've twice had the situation where a) the FA insists the pilot has Ch 9 on, b) all other channels work, and c) there's nothing on channel 9 even in times when you know there has to be air traffic interaction, like ORD taxiing. Then, later, it works again. If all three things are true, then there must be another IFE interference problem I don't understand.

My question is, can 2 occur even if the pilot has Ch 9 turned on? If the answer is yes, then what can I tell the FAs to fix the problem? Is "reset the IFE" the best we can do? I'd rather be able to say, "can you please hit the yellow button above the number 9 switch" or whatever.

Edit: Partially addressed here: When Channel 9/Audio disappears pre-flight?

[ozstamps]

Yesterday flew Paris-ORD on a 777.

Was really looking forward to listering to ATC with french accents but Captain had turned it off.

ORD-SFO was a 767, so whilst settling in asked Purser if she knew if Captain was turning it on.

Came back and said "no sorry, he is not - their option of course, but many of them seem not to lately".

The connecting SFO-SYD it was on.

Might have just been bad luck, but based on her comment, are others here noticing any less ATC 9?

[lucky9876coins]

Can't say that I've noticed it any less lately, but that's just me.

[alliance]

In my 29 segments in the last month, including 4 intl. segments, channel 9 was off only 2 times and 1 of those 2 times it was turned on at my request.

[TWA Guy]

Had it (Ch. 9 of course) on IAD-AMS-IAD a few weeks ago as well as every other mainline flight since Oct. 2006 (pilot turned it off for SEA-IAD).

[mrswirl]

Originally Posted by DawgmanOH

I know not everyone is a baseball fan, but we had a huge treat last night on a ORD - CLE flight. The pilot turned Channel 9 to the White Sox - Indians baseball game. Fantastic move, IMHO.

Had the same experience last week going SJC-DEN. The pilot put on the Rockies-Phillies series. Very cool.