126.7 FSS

[Beefitarian]

I thought I read somewhere they were thinking of changing things and not using that frequency any more. I presume because of overlap or something but now can't find where it is.

So does everyone but me know all about this and what do you think about it.

In a way it shouldn't be a big deal because the frequencies will be in the Canada flight supplement. I just think it was nice to be able to contact them in an easy way if you wanted to because you needed to do a position report or ask them something quick.

[RenegadeAV8R]

I thought I read somewhere they were thinking of changing things and not using that frequency any more. I presume because of overlap or something but now can't find where it is.

So does everyone but me know all about this and what do you think about it.

You are not alone; pilots still try to reach FSS on 126.7, often.

You can refer to this Navcanada document to find the nearest FSS frequency : RCO REDESIGN - http://www.navcanada.ca/ContentDefiniti ... nch_en.pdf

[linecrew]

There was an AIC put out in 2005 about this as well... AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION CIRCULAR 23/05

[Beefitarian]

0-5 oh man. I had no idea I was that out of touch.

[kiloindiapapa]

Can any one explain this. I flew from Meadow Lake to Red Deer and tried the new frequencies and nothing. Then I tried the 126.7 and again nothing.

[tkdowell]

Can any one explain this. I flew from Meadow Lake to Red Deer and tried the new frequencies and nothing. Then I tried the 126.7 and again nothing.

I don't know about the rest of the country, but around CYBW there is quite a bit of training that occurs near the "Cremona" area, which sits outside of the designated practice area (due to terrain, be it right or wrong). As a result, 126.7 is used to communicate aircraft position (no air-to-air has been designated, due to itinerate traffic I imagine). For two reasons this can be problematic -> if someone comes on and contacts Edmonton Radio on 126.7, for the ensuing five minute conversation the training A/C and itinerant A/C cannot communicate. Second, if flight training A/C and itinerant A/C are working out a situation, someone trying to get ahold of Edmonton Radio on 126.7 will have a difficult time. For this reason NavCanada stated that 126.7 would be used only to broadcast SIGMET/AIRMET/PIREP(UUA), etc., and the RCO shold be used for everything else (weather, FP revision, etc.). They also switched from 122.5 to 123.375, presumabley because CYQF is 122.5 as well and they didn't want to flood it with all this new traffic. Remember though line-of-site / not reading publications leaves some lingering issues.

[kiloindiapapa]

Yes, thankyou , but can someone explain why I did not recieve any call back. Do I still call Edmonton Radio on the RCO. Is the procedure the same, dial it in the radio and call?

[DanWEC]

According to the RCO redesign chart, 126.7 is still available in most of Ontario, however I can state that I often have problems raising them. I was just north of Wiarton last week and tried for a few minutes on 126.7. Quick check of the CFS showed the 123.375 frequency, which worked, however not all locations have a published frequency like that. I've printed out the redesign chart and carry it with me, though it seems like a fairly unofficial (and was tough to initially find!) document to rely on for such an important frequency.

[tkdowell]

Yes, thankyou , but can someone explain why I did not recieve any call back. Do I still call Edmonton Radio on the RCO. Is the procedure the same, dial it in the radio and call?

I cannot explain why (maybe volume ). When I do it I dial up and say "Edmonton Radio, this is -----, with you on [frequency]" so they get back to me in a timely manner. Basically I'm told that they have six different lines running to a person, and when you make a call, they take a turn going from frequency to frequency until they get a reply.

[kiloindiapapa]

Hmmmm the wife was playing with a few dials on the radio that flight......naw i could hear other traffic. I really find it difficult to contanct Edmonton radio on that route, even when we used 126.7. Could be a bad area if altiude is too low. So it still is an Edmonton Radio....this is...call. Cool

[KT111]

According to the RCO redesign chart, 126.7 is still available in most of Ontario, however I can state that I often have problems raising them. I was just north of Wiarton last week and tried for a few minutes on 126.7. Quick check of the CFS showed the 123.375 frequency, which worked, however not all locations have a published frequency like that. I've printed out the redesign chart and carry it with me, though it seems like a fairly unofficial (and was tough to initially find!) document to rely on for such an important frequency.

Check the CFS for the airports you're flying into under COMMS. If it's an FSS it will likely have an RCO and list the frequencies for services. It's been a year or more since 126.7 in CYFB has been broadcast only. FISE services (Arctic Radio) is now on 123.275.

[QKDH8]

Just before I start, remember services available on an RCO can be either (RAAS), (FISE), or (Bcst)
(FISE) means Flight Information Services Enroute. For example, a weather briefing, filing a flight plan etc.
(RAAS) means Remote Aerodrome Advisory Service. For example an FSS Mandatory Frequency advisory service, from a different airport.
(Bcst) means that FIC RCO has the ability to broadcast on 126.7 (but not receive). This is to transmit SIGMETs and AIRMETSs to A/C who will monitor 126.7 whilst flying VFR or IFR in U/C airspace.
To find out which service is provided on which frequency, consult your CFS, and see which frequency is listed for that service.

There is a complete list of RCO frequencies published in the CFS. Look up the name of the FIC in the CFS, and you'll find all of the RCOs / DRCOs that they use, and what services are available on each frequency. For example, just after the London (CYXU) Airport entry in the Airport / Facilities portion of the CFS, there is an entry for London FIC:

LONDON FIC – RCO
Ameson 126.7 (FISE) DRCO (N49 47 W84 36)
Attawapiskat 126.7 (FISE) DRCO (N52 56 W82 25)
Buttonville 123.15 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N43 52 W79 22)
Campbellford 126.7 (FISE) DRCO (N44 20 W77 42)
Earlton 123.375 (FISE) (N47 42 W79 51)
Foymount 122.375 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N45 26 W77 18)
Geraldton 126.7 (FISE) (N49 46 W86 59)
Gore Bay-Manitoulin 126.7 (FISE) (U) (N45 53 W82 34)
Kapuskasing 123.275 (FISE)
Kingston 123.55 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N44 14 W76 36)
London 123.55 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N43 02 W81 09)
Moosonee 123.475 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N51 17 W80 36)
Muskoka 123.475 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N44 58 W79 18)
North Bay 126.7 (FISE) (N46 22 W79 25)
St. Catharines 126.7 (FISE) (N43 11 W79 10)
Sarnia 126.7 (FISE) (N43 00 W82 18)
Sault 123.475 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N46 29 W84 31)
Sudbury 123.475 (FISE) 126.7(bcst) (N46 38 W80 48)
Timmins 123.55 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N48 34 W81 23)
Toronto 123.275 (FISE) (N43 42 W79 37)
Wawa 122.375 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N47 58 W84 47)
Wiarton 123.375 (FISE) 126.7 (bcst) (N44 45 W81 06)
Windsor 123.375 (FISE) 126.7(bcst) (N42 17 W82 57)

From this we can see that almost all FIC RCO locations have the ability to broadcast on 126.7 (but not receive). There are also a number of stations still using 126.7 for FISE, (I.e. North Bay, St. Catharines etc.) that will be eventually be transitioned to having a discreet frequency by the end of the RCO redesign program.

To contact an FIC for FISE, consult the list, find out which one you're closest to, and call on the frequency at that location that provides FISE. For example, flying near Wiarton, you would use 123.375 for FISE. Near North Bay it is still 126.7 for FISE, but keep your CFS updated because that is likley to change soon.

The same thing is available in the CFS for all FICs, FSSs, and IFR Center peripheral (PAL) frequencies, including a telephone number in case of emergency. For example this is the entry for Timmins FSS.

TIMMINS FSS – RCO
Moosonee 122.5 (RAAS) 12-02Z‡ (N51 17 W80 38)
Muskoka 122.3 (RAAS) (N44 58 W79 18)

This means Timmins FSS uses an RCO to provide RAAS to Mooseonee and Muskoka.

If you look up a specific airport, Muskoka in this next example, you should see something like this in the COMM section:

Timmins rdo 122.3 (RAAS) London 123.475 (FISE) 126.7(bcst)

In this case Timmins radio is providing RAAS (That's who you'll talk to for airport advisory)
London Radio is available for providing FISE (That's who you can talk to to file a flight plan, get a wx update)
and 126.7 is available for FIC to Bcst information out to pilots who may or may not be listening.

In response to a question regarding the phraseology to be used, the AIM recommends initiating a conversation with an FIC on a RCO by stating the name of the RCO that you are using, followed by the term RCO in non-phonetics. For example London Radio, Gold Sierra India Mike, on the Muskoka R-C-O. This is because the same specialist at the FIC will be responsible for providing service on all these different RCO frequencies. I understand there is some method at the FIC to determine which RCO is being used to call in, but it never hurts for them to hear right off the bat where the call is coming in from. This is just for the initial call.

The reference is AIM 5.8.3, which I've copied below for easy reference:

An RCO is a facility remotely established from an FSS or flight information centre (FIC) to provide communications between aircraft and this FSS or FIC. They are intended only for FISE and RAAS communications. There is only one procedure to be used to establish communications on any RCO.
On initial contact, the pilot should state the identification of the ATS unit (FSS or FIC) controlling the RCO, the aircraft identification, and the name of the location of the RCO followed by the individual letters R-C-O in a non-phonetic form.
Example:
HALIFAX RADIO, CHEROKEE GOLF ALFA BRAVO CHARLIE ON THE FREDERICTON R-C-O
The name of the RCO assists the flight service specialist in identifying the RCO on which the call is made, as the same person can monitor many frequencies. The specialist will respond with the aircraft identification followed by the identification of the unit controlling the RCO.

Hope this helps.

[whistlerboy02]

Not a fan of the change either. It was always nice to know if things went bad you could flick over to 126.7 and having a reasonable chance of getting someone to listen. Or you could eavesdrop on another persons weather and get a bit of a picture. Lots of guys still fly around VFR talking to nobody and in an emergency they arent going to crack the cfs and start browsing the "L's" looking for a London freq. the GPS will help, but 126.7 was so neat and tidy from the pilots perspective, even with its shortcommings.

[Beefitarian]

We still have 121.5 for emergancies don't we?

I agree though, 126.7 was nice for if I didn't prepare enough and wasn't carrying a CFS.
(every flight because I was too cheap to buy one for two flights before the thing went time x )

[fingersmac]

The problem is people cruising along in the flight levels calling up FSS on 126.7 and tying up the frequency over large geographical areas, like all of Northern Ontario! Maybe a quick glance at a LO or HI or CFS while humming along on the autopilot for a more appropriate frequency.