Opening a flight plan in the air.

FUSE · August 2, 2007

Good Morning All,

OK, time to show my greeness in this field. I have always flown inside the ADIZ here at DC so doing flight plans are a bit different. Today I will be renting a helicopter outside the ADIZ and for the first time will be filing a flight plan and opening it in the air. I know I file it the same way but to open it using a local FSS I have a couple questions.

First, I see two frequencies I should use from KFDK. LEESBURG 122.1R and 109.0T (RCO) What does the R and T and RCO mean? Does it matter which one I use?

Second, what should I say when I first make contact on the radio? Do I say - Leesburg FSS, helicopter 1234 Papa Bravo, wait for a response then continue on with opening the flight plan?

RotorWeed · August 2, 2007

Good Morning All,

OK, time to show my greeness in this field. I have always flown inside the ADIZ here at DC so doing flight plans are a bit different. Today I will be renting a helicopter outside the ADIZ and for the first time will be filing a flight plan and opening it in the air. I know I file it the same way but to open it using a local FSS I have a couple questions.

First, I see two frequencies I should use from KFDK. LEESBURG 122.1R and 109.0T (RCO) What does the R and T and RCO mean? Does it matter which one I use?

Second, what should I say when I first make contact on the radio? Do I say - Leesburg FSS, helicopter 1234 Papa Bravo, wait for a response then continue on with opening the flight plan?

RCO= Remote Communications Outlet

R=recieve

T=Transmit

Which RCO are you going to use?

RW

FUSE · August 2, 2007

RCO= Remote Communications Outlet
R=recieve
T=Transmit

Which RCO are you going to use?

RW

Hi RW,

Well to be honest I'm not really sure. I believe I am supposed to use the local FSS to open the flight plan. In my Flight Guide book it says the below for KFDK.

FSS: LEESBURG

122.1R 109.0T (RCO)

So looking at that I'm not sure how to do that. The type of radio I am used to using will only allow me to monitor one frequency at a time. So will I have to keep switching frequencies when communicating with that FSS?

500pilot · August 2, 2007

They will receive on 122.1 and transmit back to you on 109.0. So make your call to them on 122.1 and listen on the VOR req 109.0 for thier reply.

Gomer Pylot · August 2, 2007

The 109.0 appears to be a VOR frequency. For that, you would transmit to the FSS on 122.1, and receive their transmissions by listening to the VOR. The R means the FSS receives on that frequency, and transmits on the T frequency. It's fairly common for FSS facilities to be able to transmit on VOR frequencies. Makes you wonder how they will handle things when the VORs go away and all we have is GPS. I wouldn't bet the farm that the FAA has done all the planning that should be done on this.

RotorWeed · August 2, 2007

Do you by chance have two radios in the ship?

RW

FUSE · August 2, 2007

Do you by chance have two radios in the ship?

RW

Not sure, this will be the first time flying this particular ship... I doubt it though, and some of the ships here also don't have VOR.

What do folks do if they don't have VOR yet the FSS uses the VOR Frequency to transmit. Should I just tell them that I can't listen on frequency 109.0?

HelliBoy · August 2, 2007

If you've only got a single channell radio contact them on one of the other freqs. in the area, you might have to climb a little bit but there are several within 25nm. 122.0 or 122.6 should work. When calling FSS make sure you tell them what freq. you're recieving them on- they dont have any idea otherwise. "Leesburg FSS, helicopter 1234 Papa Bravo, recieving on 122.0"

If you cant get them on one of these you may have to switch back and forth between freqs. to transmit and recieve.

RotorWeed · August 2, 2007

If you've only got a single channell radio contact them on one of the other freqs. in the area, you might have to climb a little bit but there are several within 25nm. 122.0 or 122.6 should work. When calling FSS make sure you tell them what freq. you're recieving them on- they dont have any idea otherwise. "Leesburg FSS, helicopter 1234 Papa Bravo, recieving on 122.0"
If you cant get them on one of these you may have to switch back and forth between freqs. to transmit and recieve.

Ok, now I’m going to show my ignorance on this topic. Why would you call Leesburg Radio on 122.0? I’ve always used 122.0 to call flight watch.

I would probably ask the briefer what freq to use when I call in my flight plan.

Also, why can’t you use the local RCO on 122.45? I’m curious.

RW

FUSE · August 2, 2007

If you've only got a single channell radio contact them on one of the other freqs. in the area, you might have to climb a little bit but there are several within 25nm. 122.0 or 122.6 should work. When calling FSS make sure you tell them what freq. you're recieving them on- they dont have any idea otherwise. "Leesburg FSS, helicopter 1234 Papa Bravo, recieving on 122.0"
If you cant get them on one of these you may have to switch back and forth between freqs. to transmit and recieve.

Perfect, thank you. In waiting for replies to this thread I was searching through some other threads and found this one.

http://helicopterforum.verticalreference.com/helicopterfor...l=VFR+Frequency

delorean put some great examples of how to initiate communication with different services/towers/traffic ect....

I think I'm set now, ready for my first Solo flight that isn't training related. This will be interesting, as I'm flying with my friend that has been flying for years for the Army. So in reality he will be able to help me if needed with some radio communication but it would be nice for us to just enjoy the flight without him having to become a teacher...

FUSE · August 2, 2007

Ok, now I’m going to show my ignorance on this topic. Why would you call Leesburg Radio on 122.0? I’ve always used 122.0 to call flight watch.

I would probably ask the briefer what freq to use when I call in my flight plan.
Also, why can’t you use the local RCO on 122.45? I’m curious.

RW

Hey RW, 122.0 was just a typo should have been 122.1, the local RCO for Frederick is 122.1 for them receiving. But I now know that I can just use another one in the area, which Gaithersburg is just a couple miles away on 122.6

FredR · August 2, 2007

Fuse,

If you check your sectional legend you will see under the Radio Aids to Navigation and Communication Boxes section that 122.2 is normally available at all FSS stations as well so you might give this frequency a try. Good luck with your solo flight.

Fred

permison · August 2, 2007

Fuse,
If you check your sectional legend you will see under the Radio Aids to Navigation and Communication Boxes section that 122.2 is normally available at all FSS stations as well so you might give this frequency a try. Good luck with your solo flight.
Fred

Fuse,

First off tell Rachael I said hi. Second, when you call leesburg use 122.2 the call sign should be Leesburg radio. I do it pretty often there. Just tell them you want to open your flight plan. They will know what to do. You need to be above 3K usually to get a good signal from them over FDK. So if they don't answer just climb a bit and try again. Good luck on your solo today.

Permison