Mar 13, 2013, 9:31 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Wiki note about the forum’s several, active “Channel 9” threads.
Offering live ATC communications on UA flights on Chanel 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 interesting things heard on Channel 9, such as interesting exchanges between pilots and controllers or asking about pilot-controller phraseology.
2) A 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.
Channel 9 availability reports (no discussion)[Consoldidated]
3) 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]
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):
sUA 777-200ERs
sCO 777-200ERs
sUA 777-300ERs
sUA 777-200As (high density, first class only)
sUA 767-300ERs
sCO 767-400ERs
sUA 757-200 (28J p.s.)
[sUA A320 and A319 aircraft have had it removed. It is not installed on any 737s, 787s, nor sCO 757-200s (16J p.s.) or sCO 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 Chanel 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 interesting things heard on Channel 9, such as interesting exchanges between pilots and controllers or asking about pilot-controller phraseology.
2) A 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.
Channel 9 availability reports (no discussion)[Consoldidated]
3) 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]
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):
sUA 777-200ERs
sCO 777-200ERs
sUA 777-300ERs
sUA 777-200As (high density, first class only)
sUA 767-300ERs
sCO 767-400ERs
sUA 757-200 (28J p.s.)
[sUA A320 and A319 aircraft have had it removed. It is not installed on any 737s, 787s, nor sCO 757-200s (16J p.s.) or sCO 757-300s.]
The Moderators may move misplaced posts to conform to these thread aims.
Archived posts in Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [ARCHIVE]
The Consolidated "Interesting Things Heard on Channel 9" Thread [Merged]
Jun 13, 2007, 11:15 pm
#181
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.
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The MAGGI 3 standard terminal arrival route (STAR) exists for HNL and OGG (Maui). It's used often from flights coming from the US mainland. Flights for HNL may be routed from the BITTA oceanic fix direct to CKH (Koko Head VOR). IIRC, flights bound to KOA use the the VECKI 6 STAR. Five letter waypoints (i.e., BITTA) are oceanic fixes and three-letter aids (CKH) are land or island based VOR omni-range beacons. So many flights are routed over the same points to keep them out of other traffic patterns. Also, 250 miles or so from the mainland or Hawaiian Islands, radar coverage is lost, so aircraft are kept on defined tracks with oceanic waypoints for reporting or coordination.
Jun 15, 2007, 3:28 pm
#182
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Denver, CO
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Great one out of SYD June 14th UA 870. We had a large monsoon move in after gate push which pretty much shut down the airport. This created a back up from the Domestic and International side coupled with everyone landing and taking off on 1R. After nearly an hour we are 2nd for departure when the captain politely tells the tower another 10 minutes and we will have to go back to refuel. Suddenly the Qantas infront of us is off, CH 9 goes dead, captain comes on and states "flight attendants prepare for immediate take off" we swing onto the runway, I can see the landing aircraft verring off the glide path and we are bombing down the runway!
Amazing what happens when your a long haul and running into your safety margin everything changes. Methinks the controller still had long queues on either side and it would have created mayhem in the queues to have us go back for a refuel so better to wave off a landing aircraft!
Amazing what happens when your a long haul and running into your safety margin everything changes. Methinks the controller still had long queues on either side and it would have created mayhem in the queues to have us go back for a refuel so better to wave off a landing aircraft!
Jun 29, 2007, 7:50 pm
#183
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA, AA, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 666
After pushing back when ramp had headsets plugged in...(i'll paraphrase)
Male Pilot: That is some nice talent you have working downstairs (re:ramp girl guiding the plane during push back).
Ramp Guy: Yes she is, theres not much of that down here, you probably carry more of that onboard.
Male Pilot: I don't know, you can disconnect, have a good night.
I'll leave location out to protect the innocent, but seems inappropriate discussion to be having for many to hear.
Male Pilot: That is some nice talent you have working downstairs (re:ramp girl guiding the plane during push back).
Ramp Guy: Yes she is, theres not much of that down here, you probably carry more of that onboard.
Male Pilot: I don't know, you can disconnect, have a good night.
I'll leave location out to protect the innocent, but seems inappropriate discussion to be having for many to hear.
Jun 29, 2007, 7:53 pm
#184
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,367
After pushing back when ramp had headsets plugged in...(i'll paraphrase)
Male Pilot: That is some nice talent you have working downstairs (re:ramp girl guiding the plane during push back).
Ramp Guy: Yes she is, theres not much of that down here, you probably carry more of that onboard.
Male Pilot: I don't know, you can disconnect, have a good night.
I'll leave location out to protect the innocent, but seems inappropriate discussion to be having for many to hear.
Male Pilot: That is some nice talent you have working downstairs (re:ramp girl guiding the plane during push back).
Ramp Guy: Yes she is, theres not much of that down here, you probably carry more of that onboard.
Male Pilot: I don't know, you can disconnect, have a good night.
I'll leave location out to protect the innocent, but seems inappropriate discussion to be having for many to hear.
to the pilot
Aug 13, 2007, 9:20 pm
#185
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, HIlton Diamond
Posts: 801
Channel 9 Fun
Was on a SEA_ORD flight today. After takeoff it seemed like the pilot and ATC were on a slightly different page. Finally, the pilot asks "What are you showing for our altitude?"
The response was "1 - 4 thousand 4 hundred" (or something similar)
Pilot: Really?
A stutter and then, "Why. What do YOU show your altitude at?"
"1 5 thousand 6."
Then channel 9 changes to music for about 5 minutes. Afterwards, it goes back to normal channel 9, hearing traffic out of SEA.
I worked and watched the movie and then turned channel 9 back on during landing, only to find it was music again.
Makes you wonder...
The response was "1 - 4 thousand 4 hundred" (or something similar)
Pilot: Really?
A stutter and then, "Why. What do YOU show your altitude at?"
"1 5 thousand 6."
Then channel 9 changes to music for about 5 minutes. Afterwards, it goes back to normal channel 9, hearing traffic out of SEA.
I worked and watched the movie and then turned channel 9 back on during landing, only to find it was music again.
Makes you wonder...
Aug 13, 2007, 9:28 pm
#186
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Sounds like the altimeter was set incorrectly, by quite a bit!
Aug 13, 2007, 9:29 pm
#187
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver
Programs: UA 1K in training
Posts: 2,107
Aug 13, 2007, 9:36 pm
#188
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, HIlton Diamond
Posts: 801
flight 470
Aug 13, 2007, 9:41 pm
#189
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Had a similar odd exchange on a visual flight approach to SFO during a parallel set of landings about a week ago. Tower control told our flight crew that "XX123" (ids fictionalized for this posting) would be passing our flight on the right. Our crew (United flight) says "OK -- but that's illegal!" (which according to my travel companion, a private pilot, and also listening to channel 9, is true)
The tower control guy cames back and says "What's illegal??" -- flight crew and tower have a brief exchange about NorCal visual approach rules. Note Channel 9 stays on during this 40-50 second exchange. 30 seconds later Tower guy cames back and says the other plane would be holding position.
All very profession and calm -- doubtful would have been any risk (according to pilot friend) -- but interesting exchange.
Channel 9 can be rather routine but it has its interesting moments.
The tower control guy cames back and says "What's illegal??" -- flight crew and tower have a brief exchange about NorCal visual approach rules. Note Channel 9 stays on during this 40-50 second exchange. 30 seconds later Tower guy cames back and says the other plane would be holding position.
All very profession and calm -- doubtful would have been any risk (according to pilot friend) -- but interesting exchange.
Channel 9 can be rather routine but it has its interesting moments.
Aug 13, 2007, 10:08 pm
#190
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SFO-OAK-SJC
Programs: UA MM/1K; Marriott Au; Hyatt Dsc
Posts: 443
Had a similar odd exchange on a visual flight approach to SFO during a parallel set of landings about a week ago. Tower control told our flight crew that "XX123" (ids fictionalized for this posting) would be passing our flight on the right. Our crew (United flight) says "OK -- but that's illegal!" (which according to my travel companion, a private pilot, and also listening to channel 9, is true)
The tower control guy cames back and says "What's illegal??" -- flight crew and tower have a brief exchange about NorCal visual approach rules. Note Channel 9 stays on during this 40-50 second exchange. 30 seconds later Tower guy cames back and says the other plane would be holding position.
All very profession and calm -- doubtful would have been any risk (according to pilot friend) -- but interesting exchange.
Channel 9 can be rather routine but it has its interesting moments.
The tower control guy cames back and says "What's illegal??" -- flight crew and tower have a brief exchange about NorCal visual approach rules. Note Channel 9 stays on during this 40-50 second exchange. 30 seconds later Tower guy cames back and says the other plane would be holding position.
All very profession and calm -- doubtful would have been any risk (according to pilot friend) -- but interesting exchange.
Channel 9 can be rather routine but it has its interesting moments.
Had a similar incident on my last trip into SFO. Controllers (who work in a building in Fremont) were under the impression that SFO was VFR. Unfortunately, there was a thin cloud layer around 2000 feet which established a ceiling. Planes would "disappear" momentarily as they descended through. Enough to blow VFR and simultaneous parallel approaches. Plane on parallel approach had to do some wide "S" turns to get enough spacing -- did manage to avoid a missed approach.
Aug 13, 2007, 10:18 pm
#191
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Programs: UA 1K (MM), MR Plat Prem, Hertz Pres
Posts: 1,164
Wild listening out of ORD last Wednesday evening. I was on UA 959 departing late due to weather earlier in the day. ATC was a young lady doing a bang-up job getting planes into and out of the air. I heard multiple "good jobs!" from the pilots as they'd leave her channel. It was like a ballet the way she got us going.
It was interesting to me that she cleared us for takeoff and then once we left the ground, she was gone. Her relief had taken over and he was there like he'd always been there. She was outstanding, tho, and great fun to listen to.
It was interesting to me that she cleared us for takeoff and then once we left the ground, she was gone. Her relief had taken over and he was there like he'd always been there. She was outstanding, tho, and great fun to listen to.
Aug 13, 2007, 11:18 pm
#192
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Eco-Conscious Travel, United and Flyertalk Cares
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Oakland Center is in Fremont. NorCal TRACON, is near Mather, near Sacramento. From what I can tell of your post, it would appear the plane was talking to the TRACON.
Last edited by l etoile; Aug 14, 2007 at 7:35 am
Aug 13, 2007, 11:24 pm
#194
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SFO-OAK-SJC
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Posts: 443
Wild listening out of ORD last Wednesday evening. I was on UA 959 departing late due to weather earlier in the day. ATC was a young lady doing a bang-up job getting planes into and out of the air. I heard multiple "good jobs!" from the pilots as they'd leave her channel. It was like a ballet the way she got us going.
It was interesting to me that she cleared us for takeoff and then once we left the ground, she was gone. Her relief had taken over and he was there like he'd always been there. She was outstanding, tho, and great fun to listen to.
It was interesting to me that she cleared us for takeoff and then once we left the ground, she was gone. Her relief had taken over and he was there like he'd always been there. She was outstanding, tho, and great fun to listen to.
Aug 13, 2007, 11:39 pm
#195
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Eco-Conscious Travel, United and Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
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That's no longer the case under the current contract. There is no longer a maximum time controllers can remain on position. (The contract says something to the effect of under usual circumstances they'll get a break every two hours, but that's not what happens in practice and it's no longer something a grievance can be filed over.) Controllers do not also say "I have the picture" ... you indicate that you have the "sector".
ssh: As far as the ground controller being relieved, it instead sounds as though you were handed off to the TRACON. The TRACON takes over almost as soon as you are airborne.
ssh: As far as the ground controller being relieved, it instead sounds as though you were handed off to the TRACON. The TRACON takes over almost as soon as you are airborne.
Last edited by l etoile; Aug 13, 2007 at 11:48 pm