"Bruce in Alaska" wrote in message
...
In article Ksxuh.39$SE6.30@trnddc03,
"Norm Mann" wrote:

"ToMasz" wrote in message
oups.com...
I want to install a stationary external airband antenna hooked up to a
handheld radio to talk to airplanes.
It would possibly be a whip antenna but I don't know what type and
where to buy it the US.
Any recomendations?

Yes, DON'T!
You didn't say where or what you are, but unlicensed operation of a
aircraft
radio will probably make you a hazard to navigation in any country.
While pilots that fly within the continental US borders are no longer
required to get a radio *operators* license, a radio *station* license is
(AFAIK) required for the equipment. In this case, the "station" is
usually
an airplane, based at an airport, or an FBO or unicom on the airport
property itself.
That being said, just getting a simple dipole outside in the clear and as
high as you can get it, will do wonders for your reception. Unless you
can
legally transmit, keep your hand away from the PTT switch. You could
damage
the transmitter if the antenna is not cut to the correct frequency, but
for
just listening, it should be much better than the antenna that came with
the
radio.


Well not exactly, Norm.... the FCC granted a "Blanket License" for all
"domestic non commercial aircraft" registered in the USA. As long as
you never leave US Airspace your airccraft Station is covered by, said
Blanket License.
However, if you plan on flying your aircraft out of US Airspace, then you
are REQUIRED to hold both a Radio Station License, and a Resricted
RadioTelephone Operators Permit, by International Convention to which the
US is signitory. It is the same for Maritime Radios as well.

Isn't that essentially what I said? The only thing I wasn't sure of was if
the same applied to Alaskan and Hawaiian airspace. You did expand upon it
and added info, but what I really wanted the OP (wherever he lived) to know
is that to legally "talk" to airplanes, you need to have more than just a
radio.
BTW, that should probably read "at least a Restricted Radio Telephone
Operators Permit" since I already had a first class phone license when I
went through primary flight training and the FCC won't issue a lower class
license to someone with a higher class license of the same type.

-NM