"Somebody check your mike on the radio, please..."

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
If I hear this ONE more time on Unicom, I'm going to scream!

Is it *really* possible that one can be a certificated pilot, and *NOT*
know that it's impossible to receive AND transmit at the same time?


I've actually wondered about stuck mics. With the thousands of ancient GA
aircrafts flying in this country, I would think a mecahnical failure on the
PTT switch would not be very unlikely. If somebody's mic gets stuck on a
class B frequency (either the pilots fault or the mic breaking), would'nt
that be a big problem? How would they even track it?

"Jacob" wrote in message
. com...
I've actually wondered about stuck mics. With the thousands of ancient GA
aircrafts flying in this country, I would think a mecahnical failure on
the PTT switch would not be very unlikely.

It does happen, yes.

If somebody's mic gets stuck on a class B frequency (either the pilots
fault or the mic breaking), would'nt that be a big problem? How would they
even track it?

It could be a problem. For the airplane with the stuck mic, it is
definitely a problem, since it effectively disables communication for that
airplane. For other users of the frequency, it just depends on how close
they are to each other and to the airplane with the stuck mic, and of course
the relative power of their transmitters. Many of the other users may still
be able to communicate with each other, at least in limited fashion, while
some may not.

I believe this would be a bigger problem at an uncontrolled airport, where
the users of the frequency are all very close to each other. In Class B
airspace, I can easily imagine situations in which the aircraft with the
stuck mic is far enough away from other aircraft that other transmissions
can get through to those other aircraft.

But yes, even in Class B airspace a stuck mic can be a big problem. I don't
know what you mean by "track it"; ATC would probably notice that they were
constantly receiving, and so would understand there's a stuck mic out there
somewhere. As for identifying the aircraft with the stuck mic, that might
be harder.

Theoretically, one could use direction finding equipment, but I doubt that's
practical in most cases; I think the DF information obtained through the FSS
would have to be correlated with radar data somehow, and I don't know how
well -- if at all -- those systems are linked. It could come down to
old-fashioned process of elimination; figuring out which aircraft can still
communicate, and eventually whittling the number of aircraft that can't
communicate down to one.

Pete

Peter Duniho wrote:

Theoretically, one could use direction finding equipment, but I doubt that's
practical in most cases; I think the DF information obtained through the FSS
would have to be correlated with radar data somehow, and I don't know how
well -- if at all -- those systems are linked. It could come down to
old-fashioned process of elimination; figuring out which aircraft can still
communicate, and eventually whittling the number of aircraft that can't
communicate down to one.

When the local FBO does it, I call them on the phone...

So nobody has ever froze and held the button down during a landing?

Peter Duniho wrote:

But yes, even in Class B airspace a stuck mic can be a big problem. I don't
know what you mean by "track it"; ATC would probably notice that they were
constantly receiving, and so would understand there's a stuck mic out there
somewhere. As for identifying the aircraft with the stuck mic, that might
be harder.

I was departing Teterboro (New Jersey, USA - an extremely busy general
aviation airport serving New York City) one busy afternoon when there
happened to be a stuck mike on the tower frequency.

Fortunately this fact was announced on the ground control frequency so all
departing traffic were able to receive the takeoff clearance on that
frequency.


--
Peter
























----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Jacob wrote:

How would they even track it?


With a directional antenna, it wouldn't be hard to track it. I'm not
sure what good it would do, unless the plane is on the ground and you
can have someone walk up and knock on the window.

--
Chris W
KE5GIX

Gift Giving Made Easy
Get the gifts you want &
give the gifts they want
One stop wish list for any gift,
from anywhere, for any occasion!
http://thewishzone.com

I've actually wondered about stuck mics. With the thousands of ancient GA
aircrafts flying in this country, I would think a mecahnical failure on
the PTT switch would not be very unlikely. If somebody's mic gets stuck on
a class B frequency (either the pilots fault or the mic breaking),
would'nt that be a big problem? How would they even track it?

Usually, if you're close enough, you will start to hear conversation from
inside the plane -- often quite hilarious.

I remember one stuck-mike over Grinnell, IA. The guy was flying with two
other aircraft, and didn't know his mike was hot. He proceeded to
absolutely shred his "buddies" landing technique to his co-pilot, from high
above in the pattern, live on 122.8.

I'm sure he and his "buddies" weren't so close, after that.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

In a previous article, "Jay Honeck" said:
I remember one stuck-mike over Grinnell, IA. The guy was flying with two
other aircraft, and didn't know his mike was hot. He proceeded to
absolutely shred his "buddies" landing technique to his co-pilot, from high
above in the pattern, live on 122.8.

I remember a stuck mike on Ottawa Terminal where an obvious instructor
type was telling his student "this is unusual, normally this frequency
isn't this quiet". And yet they didn't figure it out for the 10 minutes I
was on the frequency.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
....if Paul's really talking about truly average people, then they'd probably
die in either case, because common sense isn't.
-- Derick Siddoway

Jacob wrote:

If somebody's mic gets stuck on a
class B frequency (either the pilots fault or the mic breaking), would'nt
that be a big problem? How would they even track it?

Class-B airports have several frequencies. For example, Boston has two approach
frequencies (four if you count the high frequency stuff that standard COMs don't
use). New York has nine. You're supposed to use one frequency if you're
approaching from one arc and another if in a different area, but a pilot who
finds one frequency blocked is likely to try another. In addition, most traffic
entering a class-B is likely to be on an IFR flight plan and already talking to
ATC. Any of these aircraft can be instructed to use an alternate approach
frequency instead of the blocked one. The controller would also cut a new ATIS
tape and provide the alternate approach frequency on that tape.

Aircraft landing at the class-B are told to contact the tower on a frequency
assigned by approach. If the tower frequency becomes blocked, approach can
simply assign a different frequency and the tower controller can then swicth over.

Of course, the guy with the stuck mic is likely to have some problems. He's
probably just lost communications in the middle of a class-B. It's also going to
be pretty obvious to the controller which plane has the problem when they call
him and nothing happens.

George Patterson
If a tank is out of ammunition, what you have is a sixty ton portable
radio.

MOST traffic?

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:r6Tff.1004$Lw6.943@trndny02...

In addition, most traffic
entering a class-B is likely to be ..... already talking to
ATC.

George Patterson
If a tank is out of ammunition, what you have is a sixty ton
portable
radio.

Michael Ware wrote:
MOST traffic?

Yes, most will be IFR.

George Patterson
If a tank is out of ammunition, what you have is a sixty ton portable
radio.