Common Aviation Frequencies
From Freq Of Nature
Contents |
Aviation Radio Frequency Bands
| Frequency | Band Name |
|---|---|
| 190 - 435 KHz | Non-directional Beacons |
| 510 - 535 KHz | Non-directional Beacons |
| 2100 - 28000 KHz | HF Communications |
| 75 MHz | NAVAID (Marker Beacons) |
| 108 - 112 MHz | VOR; ILS Localizer |
| 112 - 118 MHz | VOR; SCAT-I Radionavigation data link |
| 118 - 137 MHz | VHF Air / Ground Communications |
| 138 - 150.8 MHz | Fixed, Mobile |
| 162 - 174 MHz | Fixed, Mobile |
| 225 - 328.6 MHz | UHF Air / Ground Communications (U.S. Military) |
| 328.6 - 335.4 MHz | ILS Glide Slope |
| 335.4 - 400 MHz | UHF Air / Ground Communications (U.S. Military) |
| 406.1 - 420 MHz | Fixed, Mobil |
| 932 - 935 MHz | RMM, LLWAS, LDRCL, etc. |
| 941 - 944 MHz | RMM, LLWAS, LDRCL, etc. |
| 960 - 1215 MHz | NAVAID (TACAN / DME, etc.) |
| 1030 & 1090 MHz | Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon; Mode S; TCAS |
| 1215 - 1400 MHz | Air Route Surveillance Radar; GPS and GLONASS L1 |
| 1545 - 1559 MHz | Satellite-Based Comm (To Aircraft) |
| 1559 - 1610 MHz | Satellite Navigation; GPS and GLONASS L1 |
| 1646.5 - 1660.5 MHz | Satellite-Based Comm (From Aircraft) |
| 1710 - 1850 MHz | LDRCL; fixed links |
| 2700 - 3000 MHz | Airport Surveillance and Weather Radar |
| 5000 - 5250 MHz | Microwave Landing System |
| 5600 - 5650 MHz | TDWR |
| 7125 - 8500 MHz | RCL |
| 9000 - 9200 MHz | Military Precision Approach Radar |
| 14.4 - 15.35 GHz | Microwave Link |
| 15.7 - 16.2 GHz | Radar (ASDE-3) |
| 21.2 - 23.6 GHz | Microwave Link |
HF = High Frequency NAVAID = Navigational Aid VOR = Very High Frequency(VHF) Omni-directional Radio ILS = Instrument Landing System SCAT-I = Special Category 1 VHF = Very High Frequency UHF = Ultra High Frequency RMM = Remote Maintenance Monitoring LLWAS = Low-Level Windshear Alert System LDRCL = Low Density Radio Communications Link TACAN = Tactical Air Navigation Aid DME = Distance Measuring Equipment TCAS = Tactical Alert and Collision Avoidance System GPS = Global Positioning System GLONASS L1 = Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (Russian) L-band 2 1226.7 MHz TDWR = Terminal Doppler Weather Radar RCL = Remote/Radio Communications Link ASDE-3 = Airport Surface Detection Equipment
Aeronautical VHF Radio Frequency Assignment Plan
VHF Navigation (50 kHz step size)
| 108.000 - 117.950 | NavAids - VOR & localizer |
| 108.000 | Radio Navigation Land Test |
| 108.050 | Radio Navigation Land Test |
| 108.100 - 111.950 | ILS localizers |
| 108.100 | Radio Navigation Land Test |
| 108.150 | Radio Navigation Land Test |
VHF Communication (25 kHz step size)
| 118.000 - 121.400 | Air Traffic Control |
| 118.325 | AWOS/ASOS |
| 118.375 | AWOS/ASOS |
| 118.525 | AWOS/ASOS |
| 119.025 | AWOS/ASOS |
| 119.275 | AWOS/ASOS |
| 119.675 | ATIS |
| 120.625 | ATIS |
| 121.425 - 121.475 | Band Protection for 121.5 |
| 121.500 | Emergency Search and Rescue and ELT |
| 121.525 - 121.575 | Band Protection for 121.5 |
| 121.600 - 121.925 | Airport Utility and ELT Test |
| 121.775 | Search and Rescue ELT Location Training |
| 121.950 | Aviation Instruction and Support |
| 121.975 | FSS Aircraft Advisory (Private aircraft) |
| 122.000 - 122.050 | Enroute Flight Advisory Service (EFAS) |
| 122.025 | FSS Aircraft Advisory (Private aircraft) |
| 122.050 | FSS Aircraft Advisory |
| 122.075 - 122.675 | FSS Aircraft Advisory (Private aircraft) |
| 122.075 | FSS Aircraft Advisory (Private aircraft) |
| 122.100 | FSS Aircraft Advisory, Control towers |
| 122.700 | UNICOM - Uncontrolled Airport and Utility |
| 122.725 | UNICOM - Uncontrolled Airport and Utility (Private aircraft) |
| 122.750 | Air to air communications/operations (Private fixed wing aircraft) |
| 122.775 | Aviation Instruction and Support |
| 122.800 | UNICOM - Uncontrolled Airport |
| 122.825 | Domestic VHF |
| 122.850 | MULTICOM - Special Use and Aviation Support |
| 122.875 | UNICOM - Domestic VHF |
| 122.900 | MULTICOM Search and Rescue Training |
| 122.925 | MULICOM Special Use (Natural Resources) |
| 122.950 | UNICOM - Full Time Air Traffic Control Tower / FSS |
| 122.975 | UNICOM - Uncontrolled Airports |
| 123.000 | UNICOM - Uncontrolled Airports |
| 123.025 | Helicopter Air to air |
| 123.050 | UNICOM - Uncontrolled Airports |
| 123.075 | UNICOM - Uncontrolled Airports |
| 123.100 | Search and Rescue temporary control towers |
| 123.125 - 123.275 | Flight Test |
| 123.300 | Aviation Support |
| 123.325 - 123.475 | Flight Test |
| 123.500 | Aviation Support |
| 123.525 - 123.575 | Flight Test |
| 123.600 - 123.650 | FSS |
| 123.675 - 126.175 | Air Traffic Control |
| 126.200 | Air Traffic Control (Military Common) |
| 126.225 - 128.800 | Air Traffic Control |
| 128.825 - 132.000 | Domestic VHF Enroute and operations |
| 132.025 - 134.075 | Air Traffic Control |
| 134.100 | Air Traffic Control (Military Common) |
| 134.125 - 135.825 | Air Traffic Control |
| 135.850 | FAA Flight Inspections |
| 135.875 - 135.925 | Air Traffic Control |
| 135.950 | FAA Flight Inspections |
| 135.975 - 136.075 | Air Traffic Control |
| 136.100 | Reserved for future UNICOM or AWOS |
| 136.125 - 136.175 | Air Traffic Control |
| 136.200 | Reserved for future UNICOM or AWOS |
| 136.225 - 136.250 | Air Traffic Control |
| 136.275 | Reserved for future UNICOM or AWOS |
| 136.300 - 136.350 | Air Traffic Control |
| 136.375 | Reserved for future UNICOM or AWOS |
| 136.400 - 136.450 | Air Traffic Control |
| 136.475 | Reserved for future UNICOM or AWOS |
| 136.500 - 136.875 | Domestic VHF Enroute and operations |
| 136.900 - 136.975 | International & Domestic VHF Enroute and operations |
UNICOM
A nongovernment communication facility which may provide airport information at certain airports. Locations and frequencies of UNICOMs are shown on aeronautical charts and publications.
| 122.700 | Uncontrolled airport |
| 122.725 | Uncontrolled airport |
| 122.800 | Uncontrolled airport |
| 122.950 | Controlled airport |
| 122.975 | Uncontrolled airport or above 10,000 ft |
| 123.000 | Uncontrolled airport |
| 123.050 | Uncontrolled airport/heliport |
| 123.075 | Uncontrolled airport |
MULTICOM
A mobile service not open to public correspondence used to provide communications essential to conduct the activities being performed by or directed from private aircraft.
122.850 MHz
122.900 MHz - Temporary activities
- Seasonal
- Emergency nature or search and rescue
- Airports with no tower, FSS, or UNICOM
122.925 MHz - Federal and State natural resources
- Forestry management and fire suppression
- Fish and game management and protection
- Environmental monitoring and protection
Aviation Support
| 121.950 | |
| 123.300 | |
| 123.500 |
Flight Service Stations (FSS)
The FAA maintains Flight Service Stations that serve as information centers for private pilots flying in and out of airports in small cities and rural areas. The Flight Service Station provides the pilots with such information as weather reports, route information, terrain information and flight plan assistance. Additionally, these stations offer assistance to pilots during emergency situations, as well as initiating and coordinating search and rescue efforts for missing or overdue aircraft.
| 122.000 | Standard FSS |
| 122.050 | EFAS "Flight Watch" |
| 122.100 | Receive only (w/VOR) |
| 122.200 | Standard FSS |
| 123.600 | AAS Airport Advisory Service |
| 123.650 | AAS Airport Advisory Service |
Flight Test Stations
| 123.125 | Itinerant (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.150 | Itinerant (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.175 | Itinerant |
| 123.200 | Fixed |
| 123.225 | Fixed |
| 123.250 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.275 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.325 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.350 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.375 | Fixed |
| 123.400 | Itinerant |
| 123.425 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.450 | Fixed |
| 123.475 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.525 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.550 | Fixed (Aircraft manufacturers) |
| 123.575 | Itinerant (Aircraft manufacturers) |
ARINC Domestic Air/Ground Voice Service
ARINC operates a system of over 100 ground radio stations within the 48 contiguous United States, which are interconnected using dedicated telephone lines to form 12 networks. In addition, ARINC maintains a VHF network between Seattle (SEA) and Anchorage (ANC) for use by aircraft flying this route. The networks are situated along major air routes to provide continuous coverage above 20,000 feet. Below 20,000 feet, coverage is available but not guaranteed to be continuous. On-ground coverage is provided at most major airports. The advantage of this service is that stations are networked to provide coverage over long distances, well beyond single station line-of-sight coverage. These networks are controlled from the ARINC San Francisco Communications Center. The ARINC domestic VHF networks are used primarily for handling AOC communications.
The service allows aircrews and ground parties to immediately communicate on matters, such as:
- Operational control and flight information
- Aircraft malfunctions and emergencies
- In-flight medical assistance
- Weather and destination airport information
- Aircraft diversions
For more information visit ARINC's website at www.arinc.com
International Operations
| Frequency | Description |
|---|---|
| 129.900 | North Atlantic/Maritime Canada (New York Radio) |
| 130.700 | Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico (New York Radio) |
| 131.950 | Pacific (San Francisco Radio) |
Domestic Operations
| Frequency | Description |
|---|---|
| 129.350 | CH-01 IH |
| 129.400 | CH-02 II |
| 129.450 | CH-03 IJ East |
| 130.200 | CH-04 IX East |
| 130.400 | CH-05 JD |
| 131.300 | CH-06 KB |
| 128.900 | CH-07 KK Secondary |
| 130.800 | CH-07 KK Primary |
| 131.650 | CH-08 KW |
| 129.850 | CH-09 KY Secondary |
| 131.800 | CH-09 KY Primary |
| 131.950 | CH-10 LA (San Francisco Radio) |
| 131.175 | CH-11 MZ |
| 129.400 | CH-12 YN East |
| 130.200 | CH-13 ZQ West |
| 129.450 | CH-14 ZR West |
| 129.850 | CH-16 IP |
| 128.900 | CH-17 JN |
| 130.700 | CH-19 MX (MexNet) |
Search and Rescue
500 KHz
2182 KHz
8364 KHz
121.500 MHz
123.100 MHZ
243.000 MHz
406.000 MHz
Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)
Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)
ELTs of various types were developed as a means of locating downed aircraft. These electronic, battery operated transmitters operate on one of three frequencies. These operating frequencies are 121.5 MHz, 243.0 MHz, and the newer 406 MHz. ELTs operating on 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz are analog devices. The newer 406 MHz ELT is a digital transmitter that can be encoded with the owner's contact information or aircraft data. The latest 406 MHz ELT models can also be encoded with the aircraft's position data which can help SAR forces locate the aircraft much more quickly after a crash. The 406 MHz ELTs also transmits a stronger signal when activated than the older 121.5 MHz ELTs
Each analog ELT emits a distinctive downward swept audio tone on 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz.
Other Frequencies
| 143.7500 | Civil Air Patrol |
| 143.9000 | Civil Air Patrol |
| 148.1500 | Civil Air Patrol |
| 156.3000 | Marine Radio Ch-06 Air to Ship / Safety |
| 156.4000 | Marine Radio Ch-08 Air to Ship |
| 156.4500 | Marine Radio Ch-09 Air to Ship / Boater Calling |
| 156.8000 | Marine Radio Ch-16 Air to Ship / Distress Calling |
| 156.9000 | Marine Radio Ch-18 Air to Ship |
| 156.3750 | Marine Radio Ch 67 Air to Ship |
| 156.4250 | Marine Radio Ch-68 Air to Ship |
| 156.6250 | Marine Radio Ch-72 Air to Ship |
| 157.4250 | Marine Radio Ch-88A Air to Ship |
| 243.0000 | Emergency Search and Rescue (ELT Operational Check, 5 Sec) |
| 328.6000 | ILS glide path |
| 134.5500 | Radio Navigation Land Test |
| 134.7000 | Radio Navigation Land Test |
| 406.2500 | Emergency and distress |
