Mar 13, 2013, 9:54 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Wiki note about the forum’s several, active “Channel 9” threads.

Offering live ATC communications on UA flights on Channel 9 of the audio entertainment system (“Channel 9”) is exclusive to United and offered at the Captain’s discretion. This forum has four prime, active threads about Channel 9. This note will guide you to the right thread for your post, or to where you would look for those channel 9 posts you’re interested in.

1) This thread to discuss United’s progress in converting legacy Continental aircraft and now PDE equipped aircraft to offer Channel 9

2) For discussion on issues and availability on Channel 9 equipped aircraft, see Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [Merged]

3) A thread, to discuss interesting things heard on Channel 9, such as interesting exchanges between pilots and controllers or asking about pilot-controller phraseology. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ad-merged.html

The Moderators may move misplaced posts to conform to these thread aims.

Anyone get channel 9 on a reconfigured CO or PDE aircraft yet?

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Feb 5, 2013, 9:55 am

#31

FortFun

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: DEN

Programs: UA Plat, 1MM

Posts: 2,182

Some discussion toward the end of this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...craft-yet.html

You can always look it up here:
https://sites.google.com/site/unitedfleetsite

As of now, at least the non-HI 764s all have it, and there are non-zero reports of it being on (though it wasn't on for the one flight I've taken on such a bird).

Mar 19, 2013, 5:21 pm

#32

JetMan19

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Auburn, WA

Programs: United Mileage Plus AAdvantage La Quinta Returns

Posts: 60

Any one know when/ifs on CH9 on the preCO Birds

Does any one know when/if the rest of the PMCO birds will get CH9 If my research is correct only the 764s have CH9 the rest of the PMCO fleet does not

Mar 20, 2013, 12:14 am

#33

orff

Join Date: Aug 2012

Location: Denver

Programs: UA GS, SPG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Marriot Gold, Hertz PC

Posts: 54

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAL4life

So what does this mean? Are there still plans to add it? I hope it's not as I fear; a case of United silently hoping that no one will notice its quiet disappearance. As we lose more and more pmUA aircraft this year we have to remember we are losing ch9 as well.

Not that anyone cares (which I hope united is not secretly banking on.)

Without any internal UA insight, I would say that management just grossly underestimated the equipment change efforts for all the upgrade. If you recall, WiFi was supposed to be on a significant number of aircraft by the end of 2012, but that of course has been pushed back officially as well. Changes, regardless of size take time... Hopefully.

Mar 20, 2013, 12:18 am

#34

username

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 10,971

Quote:

Originally Posted by orff

...management just grossly underestimated...

This might be the problem with the entire merger

May 12, 2013, 4:05 pm

#35

Ryu2

Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Platinum

Posts: 484

No CH 9 on wifi-enabled aircraft?

I read in another forum ( http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/5759569/ ) that planes getting the wifi/streaming IFE mods may not have CH 9 anymore.

Quote:

"As with Wi-Fi, United will eventually offer the streaming product for purchase, although United initially plans to offer some complimentary content.

The move to Wi-Fi and streaming entertainment also means that live air traffic control will no longer be available via Channel 9, although we are exploring options to bring it to Wi-Fi equipped aircraft. United will continue to offer Channel 9 across much of the rest of United's fleet, including on all international long-haul and p.s. aircraft featuring on-demand entertainment."

This is supposedly a official UA communication but I haven't seen it anywhere else. Anyone able to confirm or deny this?

May 12, 2013, 4:18 pm

#36

FriendlySkies

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native

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Check this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...nel-9-etc.html

May 12, 2013, 4:54 pm

#37

exerda

Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Between DCA and IAD

Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond

Posts: 67,146

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryu2

I read in another forum ( http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/5759569/ ) that planes getting the wifi/streaming IFE mods may not have CH 9 anymore.

This is supposedly a official UA communication but I haven't seen it anywhere else. Anyone able to confirm or deny this?

I note UA said "all international long-haul [...] featuring on-demand entertainment." Is that actually true, though? The sCO 772 I flew IAH-NRT didn't have the "From the flight deck" audio channel available (they did have the map, though it was a different format than the sUA IPTE one).

Jun 15, 2013, 4:08 pm

#38

sshank

Join Date: Oct 2002

Location: NYC

Programs: UA 1K MM

Posts: 294

Channel 9 now available on sCO 777!

Just got into Beijing on UA 89 from EWR, and lo and behold, Channel 9 was on the whole way. The only annoying part was that it only worked on one channel though i.e. only on my left speaker; while with movies etc the the headphones worked just fine so it appears to be not an headphone issue.

I know we have lost some and gained some along the way since the merger, so its good to see the Hou crew sticking to the promises on this one. It has, to me always been a part of the original UA experience, and am now glad to have it on sCO long haul metal - listening to pilots say 'dasvidaniya' to the Russian controllers exiting Russian airspace was pretty neat. ^

Jun 15, 2013, 4:16 pm

#39

lixiaojuventus

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG

Programs: CX Gold

Posts: 1,123

This is nice!^ But where is it? I guess it's programmed in one of the audio channels in AVOD?

Jun 15, 2013, 4:23 pm

#40

stevenshev

Join Date: May 2006

Location: New York, London, Sydney

Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P

Posts: 9,847

From what I can tell, turning on the map forces you to listen to Channel 9. Which is great, except that you can't watch anything else (or play games) with Channel 9 on (very annoying) and if Channel 9 is switched off you can't listen to anything else while watching the map (extremely annoying).

Jun 15, 2013, 4:29 pm

#41

sshank

Join Date: Oct 2002

Location: NYC

Programs: UA 1K MM

Posts: 294

Quote:

Originally Posted by lixiaojuventus

This is nice!^ But where is it? I guess it's programmed in one of the audio channels in AVOD?

Its was "on" when I selected the flight map. Just needed to turn up the volume though as I initially though I was hearing something what sounded like Ch 9 traffic, and turning up the volume unleashed it

Jun 15, 2013, 4:45 pm

#42

warreng24

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: TUS and any place close to a lav

Programs: UA 1.6MM

Posts: 5,423

Quote:

Originally Posted by sshank

I know we have lost some and gained some along the way since the merger, so its good to see the Hou crew sticking to the promises on this one.

Just remember that the same HOU crew is removing Channel 9 from the Airbus aircraft as they add the steaming IFE. I suspect that the streaming IFE on the 747's will also result in the removal of Channel 9.