On my recent rather slow activation of GW/SW-003 Fan Brycheiniog in the western Brecon Beacons I heard a rather distant call on VHF from G0TPZ/Aeronautical Mobile. I answered quickly (wouldn’t you?) and asked for a signal report so that I could confirm the contact before asking the obvious ‘what does Aeronautical Mobile’ actually mean? Ken told me that he was in a microlite about 2300ft agl (above ground level) over Penkridge, Cannock Chase. He seemed rather surprised that I’d heard him as he was using only a few milliwatts but even I could guess that there was nothing likely to be in the way. We talked briefly but knew it wouldn’t last long as he was descending and his signal was dropping on every over. Well I’ve had a couple of MM but never an AM and I gather this only became legal this year.
His entry on QRZ includes: 1/5/24New licensing rule changes mean that I can play radio flying my microlight, so after a couple of successful tests I can now say that when flying there will be a FT3D running APRS with G0TPZ-11, the APRS beacon will state what frequency that I’m monitoring , it will be normally 145.4125 FM & C4FM. So give me a call if you hear G0TPZ/AM (Aeronautical Mobile). Obviously my airband radio has top priority so I may not hear you so try a couple of times if you hear me.
Anyone else talked to him - or others like him?
73 Viki
I have heard a /AM station a while ago while activating GW/NW-042, but he went to someone else after calling CQ then everyone heard him so I could get through the pileup.
It might’ve been the same guy, he was only running a few 100mW.
Yes, the maximum permitted is 500mW EIRP, and only on our Primary bands - i.e. most of HF, 6m (the lower half) and 2m (but not 70cm).
See Conditions 4.1 b, 8.4, Note f and the Schedule in your Licence T&C.
For many years the UK CAA (the aviation regulator) was absolutely set against /AM operation on the basis that it would be a distraction from flying the aeroplane, maintaining effective radio communications with ATC and the risk of interference with navigation aids. I was very surprised that this policy changed and OfCom offered it in the recent license conditions update.
I think operating /AM in the UK’s crowded airspace is foolhardy and not something I would ever want to do as pilot of a light aircraft.
It’s a bit like RSGB fighting to maintain the lawful right to use handheld microphones whilst driving (I’ve been reading some early 2000s RadCom’s recently…). Looking at this now, I do wonder what planet they were on…
The new rule would allow aircraft passengers to use a radio though (I presume), which need not impact a pilot’s primary focus. So in that sense, it seems a reasonable change in radio regulations, in much the same way that passengers in ships can operate /MM with the Captain’s permission.
Indeed. If the new regulations had been drafted to preclude Pilot flying (PF) from operating /AM then I would have had no problem with them and, indeed, would be entirely content, subject always to aircraft commander’s permission. In the case referenced here, the PF is the sole occupant and commander of the aircraft. Operating /AM together with all the other things the PF has to do is, in my opinion, a regulatory relaxation too far.
On a few occations I have been operating as LA6FTA/AM while flying a Cessna 172 on forest fire patrol over the sparsely populated areas of inland / south Norway. When we are 2 pilots and the other pilot is pilot flying and takes care of the traffic on aviation frequencies, and with the fire department, it has been fun calling on 145.550 as it seems that many radioamateurs in the area keep a radio on on that frequency in addition to repeater frequencies. With many deep valleys where people live, the range is limited in the valleys, but far better from an airplane. For many it is their first /AM QSO. Also fun with reports like: “I see you overhead XX river”, and I look down and see that river. I made an attachment for a short 2m/70cm antenna fixed on the wing strut of the cessna and pointing downwards. APRS tracking gives even more contacts. It has been great fun, but it is important to look for smoke from early forest fires all the time, which is the primary purpose of the flight.
LA6FTA Gudleik
Hi Viki,
I managed a qso with GM4AOR/AM from West Lomond GM/SS-154 in February.
A few minutes later he overflew my summit on the way back to the airfield.
Only one I’ve had so far.
Out of the three dozen AM contacts I’ve made from home, nearly all were with airliners. One was with a fire fighting helicopter and one with a Cessna 401B that I flew 50 years earlier. With me in the air, all contacts were VHF.
Hi
Aero mobile by amateurs has been legal in VK forever.
I’ve worked pilots in airliners overflying Australia when things were quiet in the cockpit. I’ve worked other private pilots on VHF over the years.
The father of an old friend carried out some of the first experiments, CW of course, with an Australian Army biplane in Egypt in WW1. The problem was to overcome the ignition interference in Rx. Tx was OK and saved having to drop written messages.
All pilots must be able to multitask. Flying the plane is always paramount. AR is fine when things are quiet.
I live in Los Angeles and have my pilot’s license. L.A. is one of the most congested airspaces in the world (and one of the reasons I don’t fly anymore). As such, you’d think there would be a lot of /AM stations to be heard, but perhaps because it is so congested (busy pilots, need to keep aware), it seems to be rare. I’ve only ever worked two /AM stations and IIRC, one of them was while traveling outside of the L.A. area.
Just Iike you I had my first Aeronautical Mobile SOTA QSO recently, on 18/08/2024.
I was on the mighty Butser Hill (G/SE-004), on our way to Portsmouth, with the necessary permission from the QUEEN ELIZABETH COUNTRY PARK I hasten to add. GE4BIN/AM (Nick, with Amy) was airborne over Somerset at an altitude of 4000 metres (so no photo)! The low TX power was mentioned by Nick and the recent regulation changes, plus his noise cancelling microphone worked a treat.
A welcome and pleasant surprise on a warm sunny afternoon.
Ofcom staff need a good slapping for allowing such an abomination of an RSL. As for the users using them…sheesh! Damn new fangled rules, get off my lawn.
I was one of the fewer than 100 respondents to Ofcom’s licence conditions changes consultation and I put forward my objection to allowing the use of amateur radio whilst in charge of an airborne airplane. Along with the comments I made regarding other changes it was ignored. Such is the nature of “consultation”- from the perspective of the regulating authority it’s just a nuisance that gets in the way of what is inevitably going to happen. Heaven forfend that anything terrible ever occurs, but if it does then I shall be quick to remind Ofcom.
I didn’t realise that there were fewer than 100 respondents. That’s a disgraceful display of apathy and it’s no wonder that the regulator felt it could ignore such a small response. I too argued in my submission against the use of amateur radio for the Pilot in Command/Pilot Flying but to no avail.
I remember looking at the all the proposed changes and specifically those affecting me and my radio interests. I thought most affecting me directly were positive in my opinion and there wasn’t anything that annoyed me enough to comment to Ofcom. Most other changes were good especially reaping all the multiple calls and recycling call signs. There wasn’t anything worth commenting on other than maybe “can you do all this by next week as it’s long overdue?”
I don’t fly GA or hang gliders/microlights so /AM is a “meh” to me. Whether it’s safe or not I’ll leave to those who do fly and have experience of what the issues can be.
