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]
Mar 23, 2018, 7:33 am
#108
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Cod MA
Programs: GS, 3 MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 752
Mar 31, 2018, 11:21 am
#110
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I'm not doing good this year. In addition to my trip to PVG earlier this year (that I have already reported on) there was no Channel 9 on my trip to PEK.
UA 851 9Mar18 ORD-PEK 772 No
UA 850 17Mar18 PEK-ORD 772 No
On both flights, I asked the purser at boarding. On the return, I saw the purser asking the captain who said he was not sure the plane had capability for it. Then I asked one of the pilots when he was walking through the cabin before the plane left the gate. But no.
Anyways, these were my only 2 trips on United this year.
UA 851 9Mar18 ORD-PEK 772 No
UA 850 17Mar18 PEK-ORD 772 No
On both flights, I asked the purser at boarding. On the return, I saw the purser asking the captain who said he was not sure the plane had capability for it. Then I asked one of the pilots when he was walking through the cabin before the plane left the gate. But no.
Anyways, these were my only 2 trips on United this year.
Apr 5, 2018, 3:36 pm
#111
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: 67,129
Wasn't on for FRA-IAD yesterday (UA 988); we got silence. I've rarely had it on for that route.
Also no wifi.
Also no wifi.
Apr 9, 2018, 10:37 am
#113
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
Wow! Two long-hauls in a row. UA882 NRT-ORD 09Apr18, pmUA 772-200ER, with enthusiastic agreement by the captain (upon boarding) and announcement ^^^
Apr 10, 2018, 2:22 pm
#115
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM/AA Gold & 1MM/HH Gold/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,924
Monday, April 9 on UA 946 IAD-AMS B763 was on! ^
I asked a flight attendant if Channel 9 would be on and she went right into the cockpit and asked the pilot, he said would be on.
I asked a flight attendant if Channel 9 would be on and she went right into the cockpit and asked the pilot, he said would be on.
Apr 29, 2018, 11:47 am
#117
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
19 April 2018: UA 2396 6 am SFO->BOS ^ gate-to-gate. Captain cautioned that UA has been taking Ch. 9 off of a/c so didn't want me to be disappointed if I got no audio. On this 28J 752, audio was 5x5!
28 April 2018: UA 760 6 pm EWR->SFO ^ gate-to-gate. This was a sudden swap from another 28J 752 which went inop. just before boarding and as the pilots were coming up to the gate to board it. (I was able to break the bad news to the crew while they were looking for the GAs.) Fortunately, the next gate had a just arrived 28J ship so EWR ops swapped that for the OTS one and the same crew was willing to offer it.
28 April 2018: UA 760 6 pm EWR->SFO ^ gate-to-gate. This was a sudden swap from another 28J 752 which went inop. just before boarding and as the pilots were coming up to the gate to board it. (I was able to break the bad news to the crew while they were looking for the GAs.) Fortunately, the next gate had a just arrived 28J ship so EWR ops swapped that for the OTS one and the same crew was willing to offer it.
Apr 29, 2018, 5:34 pm
#118
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
The pilot is mis-infomed. The aircraft types in the Wiki have remained constant, and to the best of my knowledge there have been no "removals" since the Airbus fleet. In fact, just the opposite -- the 777-300ERs have all been equipped with Channel 9 (now called "From the Flight Deck") as a factory-installed option. It will be interesting to see if it's on the 787-10s that come later this year; they were ordered by the post-merger management (the 777-8s and -9s by pmCO).
Apr 29, 2018, 10:24 pm
#119
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
I assumed that the pilot was misinformed but didn't want to contradict him in person. From my FT experience as well as flying on the different types, I was aware that all of the 752/28J ships had channel 9 installed and workable if the Captain wanted to flip the switch. I have had a few rides on 752/28J planes where there was no audio, even despite the Captain trying to troubleshoot the problem and knowing of the different ways that audio can be fixed per our Ch. 9 discussion thread. So in those cases, it's not a decision to remove ch. 9, rather it's a need for an avionics tech. to repair the feature.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Apr 29, 2018 at 10:30 pm
Apr 29, 2018, 10:42 pm
#120
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sydney, NSW Australia
Posts: 895
Saturday April 28, 2018
772
DEN-LAX
UA1613
STD 18.55
The captain stood at Door L2 using the PA and introduced himself, welcoming everyone on board with a few details about the flight and the fact Ch 9 would be available for the duration.
772
DEN-LAX
UA1613
STD 18.55
The captain stood at Door L2 using the PA and introduced himself, welcoming everyone on board with a few details about the flight and the fact Ch 9 would be available for the duration.