ATC can't just tune their radios to any frequency they want. They use fixed frequency radios and the transmitters are sited to cover a specific geographic area. If you fly beyond the transmitter you are out of contact. The controllers called aircraft on the appropriate frequency for the geographic area and asked the A/C to use their tunable radio to attempt contact on the last assigned frequency which ultimately worked. I still dont buy the excuse as the appropriate frequency for each sector is printed on the chart they are required to carry.
I've been on UA flights where ATC called the plane several times before getting an answer... "UA xxx, please say Mach number." "UA xxx, please say Mach number." "UA xxx, are you there?"
Obviously we were on the right frequency since I was hearing that end of the ATC communications, and it hadn't been that long ago that the copilot had been talking to a (different) controller. Finally, right when ATC asked another UA flight about us, the pilot responded, "Sorry--what was that?"
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I've always thought that commercial aircraft flying in the U.S. had to have one of their radios tuned to 121.5, which is the emergency/guard frequency. I could very well be wrong, or maybe the NW pilots had the volume on that radio turned down.
Happened to us on a UA flight in Denver Center sectors a few years ago. Nearly 45 minutes went by where our pilots didn't respond to messages from ATC. Other UA pilots were trying on their radios and finally someone from company sent an ACARS message to our a/c and communication was re-established. I only know that much because the other pilots and ATC were talking about it. I do know our pilot sounded pretty cranky when he finally responded. No idea what happened. Nothing was discussed. Given the reading of the thread, perhaps there was an issue with the audio in the cockpit, where the radio was working but the pilots weren't hearing anything or couldn't respond through the radio gear.
I was a relatively inexperienced flyer at the time and thought perhaps it out of place to say anything. I likely would now.
Well if it's allowed, I stand corrected... I would still think it's rebroadcasting it but what do I know
It's not re-broadcasting because there is no re-transmission, all the headsets are connected to a single radio that is receiving the signal directly from the one authorized original source.
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ua99 iad-tpa 10/27
now, anyone who has flown to tpa with ch9 on has i'm sure heard about the intersection/fixx called "piglet" (pglt?) but today i almost busted a gut....
listening to ch9, i heard "deltaxxx, proceed direct shemp" you got it, shemp* but the best part was that after the delta flight did the read back, another pilot from another flight let out a "soitenly" and suffice to say, there were a few ch9 junkies on ua99 laughing our a$$es off
*i really wanted to make sure it was in fact "shemp" and if the rocket launch the controllers were talking about might be visible out the window so i asked the f/a if she would give the captain a note with those two questions and the answer was yes to both but the countdown was delayed
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just my humble opinion but i used to try and stop hockey pucks so what do i know . Nighthawks fans are everywhere
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UA977 (DXB-IAD) 11/1
ATC: Boston Center ... United 977 heavy, contact Cleveland Center on 1xx.x
UA977: 1xx.x United 977. Thanks
UA977: Cleveland Center, United 977 heavy with you at 330 for 300.
ATC: United 977 heavy, contact New York Center on 1xx.x
UA977: 1xx.x. Perhaps we can spend more time together next time.
UA977: New York Center, United 977 heavy ...
Last edited by UAPremExecflyer; Nov 1, 09 at 9:39 am.
Reason: fixed typo
On Friday (10/30) from ORD to MSP flights were being put into holding around EAU. One NW pilot kept asking if they could get our early - kept getting told no. NW pilot came back on at one point and said "We just did the calculations and if we can't get released in the next few minutes we'll have to divert"
ATC came back with "Where are you thinking of diverting to"
Pause and then NW answered "Possibly LaCrosse"
ATC responded "NW xxx cleared to LaCrosse immediately"
There was a pause and NW came back with "We just re-did our numbers, looks like we miscalculated - we can wait for our release time" Not the funniest thing I've ever heard, but sounded like ATC called his bluff and he backed down very quickly. NW pilot was very quiet after that.
Flying from LAS to IAD denver center called somebody (dont remenber who)
Aircraft one, denver center
Pause
Aircraft one, dnever center
Pause
Aircraft two how do you hear denver
Loud and clear
Aircraft one denver center
Unknown A/C "wakey wakey"
Chan 9 then turned off for about 10 min
Can't wait till somebody records the windows shutting down tone for playback at the appropriate time
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While sitting at the gate waiting for my (delayed ) ORD-DSM flight to push back on Friday, listening to Channel 9, I overheard an AA flight calling the tower to ask a question, the conversation that followed was pretty funny:
Tower: AA###, what is your destination? AA###: D Effin' W
![The Consolidated "Interesting Things Heard on Channel 9" Thread [Merged]](/forum/iconimages/united-mileage-plus/consolidated-interesting-things-heard-channel-9-thread-merged_ltr.gif)
but today i almost busted a gut....
) ORD-DSM flight to push back on Friday, listening to Channel 9, I overheard an AA flight calling the tower to ask a question, the conversation that followed was pretty funny:
