Yes; I have just been UK – Croatia – Sicily – France – UK, mostly IFR, and didn’t see a single 8.33 frequency. Got lots of 120.005 type of thing which is fine with a 25kHz radio.
French uncontrolled fields are getting dedicated 8,33 channels very quickly. Not always the old frequency + 0,005 but sometimes completely new ones.
Check the latest VAC chart and Notams to be sure.
This is a safety bonus from the 8,33 mandate. 123,5 is useless on any sunny weekend.
This is a safety bonus from the 8,33 mandate. 123,5 is useless on any sunny weekend.
Can you explain?
He probably means that if each field gets its own frequency / channel, instead of all of them using 123.5, the CTAF confusion as to who is reporting their position at which field is removed.
Time will tell. I can‘t see many 123.5 airfields move to discrete frequencies.
I don’t have a list of changes but in a quick look I found Redon LFER, Abbeville LFOI, Etrepagny LFFY, Nangis LFAI.
Of course, plenty are still with 123,5.
I confirm a major change in ongoing in A/A frequencies, for the better. I didn’t expect such a good move.
But I expect plenty of pilot mistakes in the next months too.
That’s one of these changes that would have been good to do on a flag day coinciding when the new paper maps come out… One of the nice things about the Cartabossy is that it has all these frequencies right on the map, a great resource for “I want/need to land at that airfield right there”. That kinda destroys it.
@Peter around where I am based I do see several 8.33 frequencies, that are unreachable on a 25 kHz radio.
However the majority are still 25ers. And I’m happy for having understood that in the thread here 👍
For example my Homebase still has the old frequency and I am typically now starting on my second com so that I can prepare all airborne frequencies on my first com.
Does France have a frequency tax like the (really dumb) one in the UK?