ATC Communication Feeds

December 10, 2005 1:41 AM

Like to listen to the ATC radio chatter while on long flights? Well now you can do it in the comfort of your own home.
posted by taschenrechner (17 comments total)

Neat concept, but it's not working for me. When I try to stream, I'm getting a very low transfer rate and it never buffers enough to start playing. Is it just me?
posted by knave at 2:39 AM on December 10, 2005

No, I can't get anything either.
posted by Joeforking at 2:47 AM on December 10, 2005

This is great, two weeks ago my girlfriend started to work for Airways in New Zealand (the national ATC company here) and she was in Christchurch last week sitting in with the controllers.

She kept going on about how how cool listening into the Christchurch ATC chatter is.

But I bet it isn't as cool as listening into JFK approach - thanks, great link.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 4:03 AM on December 10, 2005

Great site!
posted by slater at 4:19 AM on December 10, 2005

I worked in an airport for a while and I can't imagine much that is more boring than ATC chatter. Different strokes, I guess.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:13 AM on December 10, 2005

Oh I'm so totally hooked. In a few hours my son flies off to the US. It'd be cool to be able to listen to his progress live.
posted by adamt at 6:16 AM on December 10, 2005

For visual aids, I suggest AirNav. For example, here's the main page for KJFK, and here's the runway map.

Currently, JFK is working the 22s -- landing 22L, departing 22R. This isn't an ideal configuration for JFK, since the arriving craft have to cross 22R to reach the ramp. However, aircraft are heavier at takeoff, thus, they need the longer 22R runway, esp given the nature of JFK's traffic -- mostly international in large, or "heavy" aircraft.

So, you'll note the common "taxiway FOO, hold short of 22R" tower clearances. These have a required readback from the pilot, that must explicitly state "hold short" and the runway being held short of. In this configuration, you'll hear that often.
posted by eriko at 7:09 AM on December 10, 2005

now you can do it in the comfort of your own home.

been doing that for years with my trusty scanner.
posted by quonsar at 7:29 AM on December 10, 2005

Calling Atlanta home, I normally fly Delta. But last year I was on a United/Ted flight between Las Vegas and SFO and saw that they offered ATC audio on one of the audio channels in the cabin. RIVETING. Do any other airlines do that, or is anyone aware of plans, or any fansites that cover this?

I have a portable scanner -- does anyone have experience using one of those on an aircraft? Does it freak them out? Does it get through security?
posted by intermod at 8:31 AM on December 10, 2005

i love united flights for exactly this reason! so cool to hear the controllers pass the flight from city to city, and on the ground to hear them shuffling planes around the airport. can anyone post a link to match the airline call signs they use with the real airlines? sometimes they're obvious, sometimes they're not.

thanks for this link!
posted by ab3 at 9:10 AM on December 10, 2005

Here's a few that I picked up when I worked at SEA:

Cactus = America West
Amtran = American Trans Air
Longhorn = Express One (cargo)

But yeah, for the most part, they're pretty obvious.
Delta = Delta
United = United
Southwest = Southwest
... you get the picture.
posted by drstein at 11:06 AM on December 10, 2005

I have a portable scanner -- does anyone have experience using one of those on an aircraft? Does it freak them out? Does it get through security?

A scanner is a radio receiver. Just as the DJs at a regular radio station can't hear you walking around your house, the ATC/pilots can't hear you listening either.

I can't believe that I'm explaining radio technology in the 21st century :)
posted by DrDoberman at 12:16 PM on December 10, 2005

A scanner is a radio receiver. Just as the DJs at a regular radio station can't hear you walking around your house, the ATC/pilots can't hear you listening either.

I think the question was not whether the people on the radio would freak out, but rather whether the cabin crew would. The answer is decidedly yes -- on every flight I've ever taken (even before 9/11), radio receivers have been prohibited.
posted by jjg at 1:11 PM on December 10, 2005

So, you'll note the common "taxiway FOO, hold short of 22R" tower clearances. These have a required readback from the pilot, that must explicitly state "hold short" and the runway being held short of. In this configuration, you'll hear that often.

Lessons learned, unfortunately, from the deadly Tenerife disaster.
posted by dhartung at 1:48 PM on December 10, 2005

Thanks for this. My Dad worked in the TWA tower at JFK for thirty years. He had a box at home that he used to listen to the chatter on, and I always found (and still find) it fascinating.
posted by notmydesk at 2:08 PM on December 10, 2005

radio receivers have been prohibited.

aren't they going to allow cellphone use soon? cellphones are 50% radio receivers.
posted by quonsar at 3:01 PM on December 10, 2005

My Dad worked in the TWA tower at JFK for thirty years

Great position at a great terminal for a great airline. RIP, and fuck you, Carl Ichan.
posted by eriko at 3:34 PM on December 10, 2005