[FedCom] FAA

[Steve Baker]

What does NARACS mean?

Are the Zones used for different parts of the US?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Parris" <CParris2 at compuserve.com>
To: "Discussion of Federal Government Communications" 
<fedcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: [FedCom] FAA


> Here is a good list of FAA freqs and channel assignments.  Currently
still
> analog with DES-XL encryption.

Nice list, Signal500. Thanks for the post. While I am pretty sure the
frequency assignments are all correct, how much they are being used is
still a question...

>I monitored these in Dallas for years and never heard a peep.  Has anyone
> actually heard conversations on any of these?  If so, is it just
> maintenance
> type of folks or more?

These frequencies, part of the NARACS system, used to be the primary means
of communications for FAA ground operations, both maintenance and
administration. I used to hear mostly maintenance on airport and remote
communications and navigation systems. Occasionally I heard some emergency
drills or preparations at the Houston Center ARTCC. However, budget cuts
and cell phones kind of left the NARACS VHF land mobile in a state of
limbo. Some areas simply stopped using or maintaining the equipment, due to
no money. However you could occasionally hear some frequencies still being
used. We haven't heard a peep out of the FAA's VHF frequencies up in the
Portland, Oregon area for many years, but within the last couple of years
we have caught some brief simplex comms on 166.175 MHz, seemingly related
to some navigational equipment installation.

I have received some info from an FAA employee who told me that the NARACS
system still exists, but has not been used or maintained as it used to be.
However, there are programs in place to update and improve the NARACS
radios. In some locations that I have heard these frequencies active, the
FAA is now using P-25 radios, so that's why I wondered about the reference
Signal500 made to the "currently using analog with DES-XL encryption" is
still valid.

Keep these frequencies in your lists, if you live near a major airport or
air traffic control center and see what might pop up.

Also note that some of these frequencies have been allocated to the TSA for
their use. I don't know if these frequencies were given to the TSA
exclusively or on a shared basis with the FAA, but seeing as how the FAA
hasn't been heard on them for a while, it may not be an issue...

>How do you find out what Zone you are in?
The "zone" heading refers to the zone in the radio, like banks.

- Chris

 --
Chris Parris
Fed Files Columnist
Monitoring Times Magazine
chrisparris at monitoringtimes.com
http://www.monitoringtimes.com




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