Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Find an Aviation Frequency
• Method 2 of 3: Aeronautical Breakout Charts
• Method 3 of 3: Pilot Jargon
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Air Traffic Control (ATC) is responsible for providing important information to pilots around busy airports. They communicate with the pilots on dedicated radio frequencies to keep the airport running smoothly and safely. Their connections are also available to the public. Whether you're a student pilot, a retired pilot, or just want to know what's going on in friendly skies, you can listen to air traffic controllers at work anytime.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Find an Aviation Frequency

1. 1 Find live frequencies. Get a radio scanner that is capable of receiving frequencies between 118.0 and 136.975 MHz. You can also listen to air traffic control facilities around the world on sites including liveatc.net, globalair.com, airnav.com, and radioreference.com
2. 2 Memorize some of the fundamental frequencies.
   • 121.5 - emergency frequency. If there is an emergency, pilots will transfer to it. In addition, an emergency beacon can be heard on this frequency if the plane crashes.
   • 122.750 MHz is the frequency for general aviation and air services.
   • 123.025 MHz is the frequency for helicopters to transmit air communications to each other.
   • 123.450 MHz is the "unofficial" frequency for air traffic between aircraft.
   • Look for 122.0-123.65 for Unicom (uncontrolled by airports) and air travel between aircraft.
   • Search 128.825-132.000 MHz for ARINC frequencies (airline, corporate and general aviation calling for fuel, parking, and other inquiries).

Method 2 of 3: Aeronautical Breakout Charts

1. 1 Find an aviation breakout chart. You most likely want to search for schedules in your area near the airport. Older versions of these cards tend to work just fine. Sectional charts for various locations are now available at www.skyvector.com
2. 2 Find the nearest airport on the graph. Airports are indicated by blue or purple circles, with lines inside representing the runways.Next to the circles there is a block of text with the name of the airport and information about that airport. The dispatch frequency is designated CT - 000.0, where the following digits indicate the frequency used by ATC. For example, the frequency for the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is CT - 118.5.
3. 3 If the airport is not monitored (no tower) or the tower is part-time, the C in the circle after the set of frequencies will be used to denote the General Frequency Advisory Traffic (OCTC). A star will appear after the tower frequency to indicate that the airport has a tower part of the time. In this type of airport, pilots communicate directly with each other and tell each other their positions and intentions.
4. 4 All controlled airports will be marked with blue circles, while uncontrolled airports will be purple. Airports with runways over 8,000 feet are not closed in circles and simply have a diagram depicting the location of the runway, circled in blue (controlled) or magenta (uncontrolled).
5. 5 Some airports have AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System), ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System), or ATIS (Automated Information Terminal) frequencies listed on the graph. These are automated or repeatable transmissions that provide pilots with weather forecasts and airport information as they prepare to take off or land.
6. 6 If you have access to the airport / facility directory, you may find more frequencies than those available on the graph. At large airports, pilots obtain their flight plans from the "clearance delivery" frequency, communicate on the takeoff field from the "ground" frequency, and receive takeoff and landing clearances from the frequency "tower". Once the pilots are in the air, they will speak at the "take-off / landing" frequency, and once en route they may even speak to the "center" frequency. If you are lucky or live close enough to the airport, you might be able to get some of these frequencies.

Method 3 of 3: Pilot Jargon

1. 1 If the controller gives the pilot a command, he or she will be prefixed with the aircraft's identification number. For commercial flights this will only be the flight number, for example United 2311. Smaller aircraft are identified by the number on their tail.
2. 2 After the flight number, the controller will give the command, for example, "enter into the wind.“This directs the pilot to enter the vehicle at a specific location. The pilot will repeat the instructions so that the controller can verify that the first one has understood everything correctly.
3. 3 Sometimes, the controllers will change the pilot to a different frequency. For example, the controller says, “Nov-12345, contact at 124.32, have a nice day. Once again the pilot will repeat the instruction.
4. 4 Operations at uncontrolled airports are much less formal. Most of the time, pilots will broadcast blind transmissions to anyone on frequencies, announcing their position or intentions. Words such as "upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, and final" denote specific positions in the pattern of travel.
5. 5 Learn the phonetic alphabet. Pilots and controllers use it to communicate in emails, as they can often get confused. You might also hear someone using Nines talking to Nines, Fives talking to Fives, or Threes talking to Threes.

Tips

• Reading Sectional Legends can go a long way in finding frequencies that are of interest.
• Don't be surprised if you can only hear one side of the conversation. You are most likely only able to hear the plane and not the controlling authority. If you are near the airport, you can hear ATC and pilots.
• In the TuneIn radio app for Roku box and Ipod, you can tune in frequencies for major (SFO, DCA, MVD, JFK, etc.) and local airports.

Warnings

• Some "scanners" are actually "transceivers" that allow two-way communication. NEVER communicate on aeronautical frequencies. The penalties are severe!
• In the unlikely event that you hear an emergency on a local frequency, such as a plane crash, call 911 immediately.

What do you need

• Scanner capable of receiving frequencies between 118.0 and 136.975 MHz
• A flight guide to directories or airports in your area to find the local frequency used by ATC.