scanSydney

Interesting catch today, heard two aircraft flying together talking between themselves on Ch24 UHF CB. They where both using a CTCSS tone (141.3) which would be a good idea as at altitude (i heard them say at one stage they where at 4800ft) you would hear a lot of other traffic on the channel.

Regards

Kev

That is an interesting one! I wonder if they had the CBs patched into the radio intercom system as a "company chat channel" or something similar?

citabria wrote:That is an interesting one! I wonder if they had the CBs patched into the radio intercom system as a "company chat channel" or something similar?

A pilot may know this (Matt) doesn't the use of 'other' communication devices onboard an aircraft have to be approved by CAA?

R

Are you sure they were planes ?

Hot air ballon companies have been known to use UHF CB on occasion

rustynswrail wrote:

citabria wrote:That is an interesting one! I wonder if they had the CBs patched into the radio intercom system as a "company chat channel" or something similar?

A pilot may know this (Matt) doesn't the use of 'other' communication devices onboard an aircraft have to be approved by CAA?

R

At first glance you might assume that CASA would be their usual, stifling, pointlessly over-regulating selves on this one, but I believe it's not the case - I've flown aircraft fitted with NSWGRN and NWPS radios, and the aircrafts airworthiness documentation didn't have the radios listed in the paperwork at all.

The certainly wasn't any on this in the CPL Air Law examination either...

Next time I'm out there I'll have a chat to one of the avionics LAMEs to find out what the story is!

Radio_Australia wrote:Are you sure they were planes ?

Hot air ballon companies have been known to use UHF CB on occasion

Yes, they where defiantly aircraft, as a holder of a Private Pilots Licence and also a retired Licensed Aircraft Maintenace Engineer I’m Very confident by the nature of the conversation that they where fixed wing light aircraft.

Also the ballon company that operates locally in the Hawkesbury area heRe use channel 11 on UHF CB yo talk to ground crew to organise landing.

Regards

Kev

Kev - in all your years of experience and training, can you recall an STC (or a CASA authorised mod document) being required for a non airband radio being installed in a civil aircraft?

citabria wrote:Kev - in all your years of experience and training, can you recall an STC (or a CASA authorised mod document) being required for a non airband radio being installed in a civil aircraft?

Any modification to a "VH" registered aircraft requires the modification design to be carried out by a suitable qualified professional aircraft engineer, and the installation to be certified by a Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME) and its a very expensive exersise just to install a CB!. The Military operate along similar lines but with there own overriding regulations. My experience is mainly Commercial Aviation and Military, recreational privately owned VH registered aircraft have the same constrains but what happens in the real world "mileage may vary".

Ultra light and sports (experimental) aircraft are a lot more flexible, with the certifying agent mostly being the builder/owner, and these guys could have been flying under this category.

I've seen UHF CB's fitted to many Aircraft out west in rural community's, if it was done by the regs have no idea.

Regards

Kev

Kev

FYI
I know paragliders use UHF radio going by my family friend the Icoms seams to be the most popular brand.

http://www.hgfa.asn.au/resources/HGFA_U ... hannel.pdf