Canyonblue17 From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 365 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 6932 times:
Several pilots landing at JFK this evening have complained that from about 10 miles out, all the way in to the threshold, they have been interrupted while trying to call approach and tower by "unauthorized transmissions," of some type of music. Tower said they are trying to track down the source.
Is this a common occurrence? What can be done to stop it?
BMI727 From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 14315 posts, RR: 26 Reply 1, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 6808 times:
Canyonblue17 From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 365 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 6743 times:
It's been going on for over an hour now. Several pilots said they have heard Mexican-style music.
Kleinsim From Qatar, joined Jan 2007, 154 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 6730 times:
Quoting BMI727 (Reply 1): I don't think so, but I remember a story about a baby monitor interfering with ATC frequencies in London a few years back, so it isn't unheard of.
Tower: BA 123, go around.
Reply: [Sound of crying baby.]
lol
I guess all you need is a radio with ATC frequencies on it and a transmission (rather than receiving feature). Then you can disturb air traffic with whatever tones you please.
757MDE From Colombia, joined Sep 2004, 1753 posts, RR: 7 Reply 6, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 6305 times:
I had this happen to me while taking flight lessons in a PA-28 at EOH, I could communicate with the tower but some radio station would also be heard while I was at it (and not, I hadn't tuned any station in the NDB). The problem lasted like 5 days.
I gladly accept donations to pay for flight hours! This thing draws man...
Wagz From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 504 posts, RR: 18 Reply 7, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 5985 times:
Quoting Kleinsim (Reply 3): I guess all you need is a radio with ATC frequencies on it and a transmission (rather than receiving feature). Then you can disturb air traffic with whatever tones you please.
Much easier said than done. You can buy any old radio that receives air band frequencies, but getting one that can transmit on said frequencies is much more difficult. Generally these devices are sold to pilots only as a form of back-up should your aicraft radio fail. You can find them in most catalogs or websites catering to GA pilots. Last time I looked they tended to cost a good chunk of change and required you have a radio operating license to even buy/operate it. I think FAA pilot licences include a license to operate radios in said manner.
Of course thats not to say that like anything else these radios don't find there way out in to the general public, but since they aren't a common item it isn't a much worse problem than it is. They are small hand-held units so I would think that they're transmitting range from the ground couldn't be that great, just like your typical air band scanner/receiver.
I think Big Foot is blurry, Its not the photographers fault. Theres a large out of focus monster roaming the countryside
Moose135 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2009 posts, RR: 12 Reply 8, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 5916 times:
There are a number of "pirate" radio stations that pop up in the boroughs from time to time. They are unlicensed and unregulated, so there is no way to control what they are doing. Usually they are low power broadcasts, often jumping on the same frequency as another radio station in the area, and receivable within a mile or two of the transmitter. What usually happens is the FCC finds out about them and shut them down after a couple of days. It's possible that is the case here, only it is going out on an aviation frequency for some reason.
Delta2058 From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 17 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 5847 times:
There is no regulation for airband radios (in the US). I have recently purchased two handheld units that can transmit and receive on all airband as well as other civil frequencies. I purchased on the internet and was never asked for any documentation nor was I asked to sign any affadavit for legal usage. Each unit was under $300 and are the max power for a handheld, around 5 watts (but could easily be illegally modifed to higher power).
I do happen to be licensed for appropriate usage, but they never checked. The purchase was actually done under a different family members name (who is unlicensed)!
Someone with nefarious intent could definately interfere with tower communications if they chose, at least until their location was triangulated. But again, these are mobile units.
I suspect the JFK incident is a pirate "entertainment" station that is splattering all over the spectrum and is not intentionally interfering with the tower. But the current system is open to abuse.
HarrisonRuess From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 5817 times:
Quoting Wagz (Reply 7): I think FAA pilot licences include a license to operate radios in said manner.
In Canada the Radio operators licence is separate from the pilot's licence (can't comment on the US/FAA).
Transport Canada issues the pilot licences, and Industry Canada deals with radio operator licences.
From the end user perspective, it doesn't really make much difference - you have to pay some $ and write the test, but on the government end different people deal with them.
As to the interference, On top of what the others have suggested I've heard stories of some kinds of MP3 players accidentily transmitting if they aren't wired up correctly thru the plane's intercom (quite a few GA do this). Although if the interference went on for a long time this probably wouldn't be the case.
Canyonblue17 From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 365 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 5645 times:
Does anyone know how this situation at JFK was resolved? I stopped listening to ATC at around midnight and it was still going on.
NIKV69 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 5510 times:
Quoting Wagz (Reply 7): Generally these devices are sold to pilots only as a form of back-up should your aicraft radio fail. You can find them in most catalogs or websites catering to GA pilots. Last time I looked they tended to cost a good chunk of change and required you have a radio operating license to even buy/operate it. I think FAA pilot licences include a license to operate radios in said manner.
I bought a pilot radio (transceiver) and didn't need any operating license but never got mexican music with it?
Doug_or From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3158 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 5271 times:
Quoting NIKV69 (Reply 12): but never got mexican music with it?
Sounds like you got ripper off. Take it back for a refund!
FLY2HMO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 4887 times:
Quoting Wagz (Reply 7): Last time I looked they tended to cost a good chunk of change and required you have a radio operating license to even buy/operate it.
There are no restrictions for buying them or using them in the US. Of course, if you get caught doing something stupid with them, expect to spend several months in the slammer.
Fn1001 From Moldova, joined Sep 2008, 213 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 4800 times:
A decade ago I was taxi driver and we had about 140 cars on the same radio dispatcher. One of my colleagues pushed by mistake the talk-button and somehow it remained fixed broadcasting all discussions between that driver and his passengers. We also could hear his music in the background. This lasted for about 15 minutes, time in which the whole channel was blocked. Finally somebody recognized the drivers voice and called him on his cellphone. After this incident there was a rule that if the radio channel is blocked or there are interferences disturbing the business, all drivers and the dispatcher must change to another frequency. On the first frequency there was broadcasted every few seconds a message informing that the channel has changed.
Contrails15 From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 1181 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 3626 times:
i was doing a flt today and we were waiting forever to push out the flt. Captain said they were having problems with inbound aircraft. Maybe that was it. Anyway, not surprising, there are a ton of Spanish stations in NY now. all though I'm sure that has nothing to do with the problem.
Goldenshield From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5418 posts, RR: 13 Reply 17, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 3565 times:
Quoting Wagz (Reply 7): I think FAA pilot licences include a license to operate radios in said manner.
Only in US registered aircraft, and only in the US and Canada, as the aircraft is registered with the FCC already (The N number.) Everywhere else requires a Airman's Radio license, which is a separate document. Both the N number and the Radio Operator's license can be obtained from the FCC.
Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.
CanyonBlue17 From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 365 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1949 times:
By the way, the most popular music request by pilots calling in the problem to ATC was Steely Dan.
Swa4life From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 369 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (3 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1949 times:
I'm actually surprised things like this don't happen more often. Nothing is really required in order to be able to purchase an airband radio from second hand retailers or even directly from icom. All it would take is for a couple if knuckle heads to jam and key up over transmissions on the east coast ATC freqs to cause MAJOR PROBLEMS..
As far as I'm aware there is no way to encrypt AM Airband.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 365 posts, 
From Qatar, joined Jan 2007, 154 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Colombia, joined Sep 2004, 1753 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Moldova, joined Sep 2008, 213 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
