Heard on the Air
On a recent flight instructor M and I overheard on 121.5, the emergency or “guard” frequency, the following:
Pilot voice repeatedly calling for a facility, three times.
Second voice, sternly: “You’re on guard.”
Pilot voice: “So are you!”
Second voice, officiously, “Yeah, but I’m supposed to be!”
Silence after that on the air. But in my plane we were laughing out loud.
The frequency 121.5 isn’t monitored anymore by COSPAS/SARSAT, the joint Russian/US search-and-rescue satellites, they use the newer PLB frequencies now. But all ATC facilities monitor 121.5, and pilots are encouraged to also monitor it if able. The SFRA (Special Flight Rules Area) NOTAM for the Washington DC area requires pilots to monitor if we have two radios.