Apr 22, 2018, 1:13 pm
Last edit by: JALsnipe
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 – intended as a basic status thread only to list the specific channel 9-equipped flights offering or not offering Channel 9. The thumbs-up/down codes used in the thread are:
^ Channel 9 offered on this flight but no announcement made about it.
^^ Channel 9 offered and crew announced or promoted its availability.
: td : Channel 9 not offered on this flight.
Please postings to status reports of availability -- and use the thread below to discuss the general topic.
2) A discussion thread to pursue issues about Channel 9 availability. (See the previous paragraph. if you merely wish to list the flights offering or not offering channel 9.)
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. The Consolidated "Interesting Things Heard on Channel 9" Thread [Merged]
4) A thread to discuss United’s progress in converting legacy Continental aircraft to offer Channel 9.
Anyone get channel 9 on a reconfigured CO or PDE aircraft yet?
The following aircraft types have "From the Flight Deck" installed (commonly known as "Channel 9," as that's the location it is found on audio handset selectors):
pmUA 777-200ERs
pmCO 777-200ERs
pmUA 777-300ERs
pmUA 777-200As (high density, first class only)
pmUA 767-300ERs
pmCO 767-400ERs
pmUA 757-200 (28J p.s.)
pmCO 757-200 (16 p.s.) -- To be retrofitted with cabin refresh per Oct 2019 announcement
[pmUA A320 and A319 aircraft have had it removed. It is not installed on any 737s, 787s, nor pre-2019/2020 refresh pmCO 757-200s (16J p.s.) or pmCO 757-300s.]
The Moderators may move misplaced posts to conform to these thread aims.
Archived posts in Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [ARCHIVE]
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 – intended as a basic status thread only to list the specific channel 9-equipped flights offering or not offering Channel 9. The thumbs-up/down codes used in the thread are:
^ Channel 9 offered on this flight but no announcement made about it.
^^ Channel 9 offered and crew announced or promoted its availability.
: td : Channel 9 not offered on this flight.
Please postings to status reports of availability -- and use the thread below to discuss the general topic.
2) A discussion thread to pursue issues about Channel 9 availability. (See the previous paragraph. if you merely wish to list the flights offering or not offering channel 9.)
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. The Consolidated "Interesting Things Heard on Channel 9" Thread [Merged]
4) A thread to discuss United’s progress in converting legacy Continental aircraft to offer Channel 9.
Anyone get channel 9 on a reconfigured CO or PDE aircraft yet?
The following aircraft types have "From the Flight Deck" installed (commonly known as "Channel 9," as that's the location it is found on audio handset selectors):
pmUA 777-200ERs
pmCO 777-200ERs
pmUA 777-300ERs
pmUA 777-200As (high density, first class only)
pmUA 767-300ERs
pmCO 767-400ERs
pmUA 757-200 (28J p.s.)
pmCO 757-200 (16 p.s.) -- To be retrofitted with cabin refresh per Oct 2019 announcement
[pmUA A320 and A319 aircraft have had it removed. It is not installed on any 737s, 787s, nor pre-2019/2020 refresh pmCO 757-200s (16J p.s.) or pmCO 757-300s.]
The Moderators may move misplaced posts to conform to these thread aims.
Archived posts in Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [ARCHIVE]
Channel 9 availability reports (no discussion)[Consoldidated]
Jan 26, 2020, 5:50 am
#226
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: UA GS; Marriott Titanium / LT Plat
Posts: 658
UA80, Jan 25! On, gate to gate! Wish I would have read through this thread before my flight, and known that I could have asked for the fader to be turned up... all my flights transmissions were really low, all other communication was crystal clear.
Note - one of the pilots was entering the plane the same time I was (I think post inspection?) and I asked if it would be on... he replied that he would turn it on if it was available.
Note - one of the pilots was entering the plane the same time I was (I think post inspection?) and I asked if it would be on... he replied that he would turn it on if it was available.
Sep 11, 2021, 9:19 am
#230
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,039
9/11 UA363 EWR-HNL 764 
Asked the captain before takeoff if he would have it on and was told “yes.”
Asked the captain before takeoff if he would have it on and was told “yes.”
Sep 25, 2021, 1:38 am
#231
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,039
9/24 UA362 HNL-EWR 764
I didn’t have to ask; it was on when I boarded. I was able to listen to dispatch, maintenance, and the ground crew during pushback along with ATC.
I didn’t have to ask; it was on when I boarded. I was able to listen to dispatch, maintenance, and the ground crew during pushback along with ATC.
Nov 11, 2021, 12:38 pm
#234
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
Not sure why many captains are still allergic to it
Nov 11, 2021, 1:54 pm
#235
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Perhaps sue to some passengers
Multiple reports of passengers "reporting" things they thought they heard.
Such as the use of NATO alphabet phrases -- "whiskey", pilots reported for drinking
There have been many other similar misguided incidents reports in this thread and
Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [Merged]
In some case even lawsuits!!
Multiple reports of passengers "reporting" things they thought they heard.
Such as the use of NATO alphabet phrases -- "whiskey", pilots reported for drinking
There have been many other similar misguided incidents reports in this thread and
Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [Merged]
In some case even lawsuits!!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 11, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Dec 28, 2021, 4:45 pm
#239
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 107
UA 2143 EWR - SJU 12/24/2021 B764 (N69063) 
Asked a flight attendant during boarding using both the "channel 9" and "from the flight deck" phrases. He had no idea what I was talking about, I explained, he was nice and said he'd ask the pilots. He clearly did, because about 10 minutes later he came back telling me both that "it's broken on this plane" and also that United has said to leave it off, because someone got upset about something they misunderstood.
I don't believe United corporate has said to leave it off? And I somewhat doubt it happened to be broken on that aircraft. But I do respect that the cockpit crew sees it as something with no upside, only potential headaches for them. What if I wrote a nasty letter to United or the FAA about the drunks in the cockpit, because I heard them tell ATC that they "had whiskey"? Still, disappointing and a shame, it's the best entertainment in the air (for me, my wife disagrees), and could really set UA apart.
Asked a flight attendant during boarding using both the "channel 9" and "from the flight deck" phrases. He had no idea what I was talking about, I explained, he was nice and said he'd ask the pilots. He clearly did, because about 10 minutes later he came back telling me both that "it's broken on this plane" and also that United has said to leave it off, because someone got upset about something they misunderstood.
I don't believe United corporate has said to leave it off? And I somewhat doubt it happened to be broken on that aircraft. But I do respect that the cockpit crew sees it as something with no upside, only potential headaches for them. What if I wrote a nasty letter to United or the FAA about the drunks in the cockpit, because I heard them tell ATC that they "had whiskey"? Still, disappointing and a shame, it's the best entertainment in the air (for me, my wife disagrees), and could really set UA apart.