Aviation radio frequencies are a range of radio frequencies that are allocated and used for communication and navigation in the aviation industry. In times of emergency, pilots can also seek assistance by broadcasting a distress call over aviation emergency frequency.
Aviation frequencies are assigned by national and international regulatory bodies and are used for various purposes such as air traffic control, aircraft navigation, weather information, and aircraft-to-aircraft communication.
In the aviation industry, there are different types of frequencies used for specific purposes, such as:
- Air Traffic Control (ATC) frequencies, which are used for communication between pilots and air traffic controllers.
- Navigation frequencies, which are used for navigation and landing guidance for aircraft.
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) frequency, which is used for aircraft tracking and surveillance.
- Emergency frequencies, which are designated for use by aircraft in emergency situations.
- Meteorological frequencies, which are used for the transmission of weather information to aircraft.
- Aircraft-to-Aircraft Communication (ACARS) frequencies, which are used for communication between aircraft in flight.
These frequencies are assigned by national and international regulatory bodies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in order to avoid interference and ensure safe and efficient communication and navigation for aircraft.
Today, I will tell something about the emergency aviation frequency. In an emergency situation, a pilot can get help by transmitting a distress call on the emergency frequency.
When making the distress call, the pilot should state the aircraft’s call sign, location, nature of the emergency, and any other relevant information. Let’s start!
What is aviation emergency frequency?
The aviation emergency frequency is a radio frequency designated for use by aircraft in emergency situations. The frequency is commonly referred to as “Guard” and it is 121.5 MHz for VHF and 243.0 MHz for UHF.
When an aircraft encounters an emergency, the pilot will typically make a distress call on this frequency, which is monitored by air traffic control (ATC) and other aircraft in the vicinity.
The emergency frequency is also used by search and rescue (SAR) teams to communicate with aircraft in distress.
It is important to note that the emergency frequency is used only when all other means of communication are not available, and pilots are trained to switch to other frequencies as soon as possible.
Additionally, 121.5 MHz is no longer an official emergency frequency for civilian aircraft, it is still being used by some aircraft and some countries.
Since 2009, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommends aircraft to use the frequency of 406.0 MHz for emergency situations, this frequency is being monitored by Cospas-Sarsat satellite system and can provide faster and more accurate location information.
Aviation frequency bands
There are several frequency bands allocated to use for aviation radios. Some of the most commonly used include:
- Very High Frequency (VHF) band: This band, which ranges from 108 to 137 MHz, is used for air traffic control communications and pilot-to-pilot communication.
- Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band: This band, which ranges from 225 to 400 MHz, is used for air traffic control communications, aircraft navigation, and military communications.
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) frequency: 978 MHz and 1090 MHz are used for aircraft tracking and surveillance.
- High Frequency (HF) band: This band, which ranges from 3 to 30 MHz, is used for long-range communications between aircraft and ground stations, as well as for emergency communications.
- Very Low Frequency (VLF) band: This band, which ranges from 3 to 30 kHz, is used for navigation.
- Low Frequency (LF) band: This band, which ranges from 30 to 300 kHz, is used for navigation and communication.
- Microwave frequency band: This band, which ranges from 1 to 100 GHz, is used for radar and satellite communications.
It’s worth noting that these are just some examples and the actual frequency band used can vary depending on the country or region.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is responsible for allocating frequency bands for different uses and coordinating their usage among countries.
Final Words
Knowing the emergency aviation frequency is important because it allows pilots to quickly and easily contact air traffic control or other emergency services in the event of an emergency situation.
This can include situations such as engine failure, in-flight fires, or medical emergencies. Being able to quickly establish communication with air traffic control or other emergency services can greatly increase the chances of a successful outcome in an emergency situation.
Additionally, emergency frequencies are monitored continuously, so pilots can expect a quick response from ATC or emergency services.
Hi, I am Jeff, a dedicated author in radiothoughts.com and sharing my own experience on the field of electronics and radio communication engineering. I am also checking facts for other published articles here.
I love to learn the latest technologies on radio communication and write here about that to help readers to be up-to-date. I have used a lot of radios, electronics, and communication devices. Now I can easily advice to beginners or learners regarding different radios.