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Brenda Ann · September 9th 08, 08:39 AM posted to rec.radio.shortwave

"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Went up in a small helicopter over the weekend.
Didn't seem to hear the pilot on the radio at all.

I'm wondering what type of radio license an airline pilot would have
to have. Are they actually licensed for airline use or do they just
get to use the radio as part of their flight ( pilot ) license? Is it
required that they pass a radio exam to get their pilot's license??

I assume that you are referring to the US, which you did not say. At one
time all operators of ships, airplanes, etc had to have a third class
radio operators license, which was obtained by filling out a form, and
possbily (I no longer remember) paying a fee.

The license was issued basicly so that international requirements for
having licensed operators would be satisifed, if there were any and if
someone really messed up their license could be revoked. For a long
time the requirment (at least in the US) has been dropped.

Short range aircraft and those that do not fly in controlled zones are
not required to have any radio. Quite likely the helicopter in question
had a VHF radio, but no HF radio as it is not used for long range
flight.

If the helicopter took off from an uncontrolled field (or a farm, for
example) and stayed out of a controlled zone, there was no one that
he needed to contact.

For example, if he picked you up on a helipad in Manhatten and flew
around the island, he had to get permission and was tracked. He probably
did not need an HF radio, but needed a radar transponder.

If he picked you up in a corn field in the middle of Iowa, flew around a
few hundred feet up and put you down, there was no need.

He may of also gotten permission from the local air traffic controller
before you got in the helicopter or on the way there.

I believe that aircraft (in the US, at least) are all required to have a VHF
air band radio, just as all marine craft are required to have a VHF Marine
band radio (this, AFAIK, includes boats on waterways that carry commercial
traffic, but not necessarily on small waterways or such. Large lakes and
reservoirs may or may not have this requirement, but I know anything that
sails on the ocean or major river (Columbia, Mississippi, etc.) it is
required.

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