Goto Section: 87.185 | 87.189 | Table of Contents

FCC 87.187
Revised as of October 2, 2015
Goto Year:2014 | 2016
  § 87.187   Frequencies.

   (a) Frequencies used for air-ground Communications are listed in subpart E.
   Aircraft  stations  may  use  frequencies  assigned  to  Government or
   non-Government aeronautical stations or radionavigation land stations if the
   communications are within the aeronautical or radionavigation land station
   scope of service.

   (b) 410 kHz is the international direction-finding frequency for use outside
   the continental United States.

   (c) 457 kHz is an authorized working frequency for flights over the high
   seas.

   (d) 500 kHz an international calling and distress frequency for aircraft on
   flights over the high seas. Except for distress, urgency or safety messages
   an aircraft station must not transmit on 500 kHz during the silence periods
   for  three  minutes  twice  each  hour beginning at x h. 15 and x h.45
   Coordinated Universal Time (u.t.c.).

   (e)  The  frequency  2182 khz is an international distress and calling
   frequency for use by ship, aircraft and survival craft stations. Aircraft
   stations must use J3E emission when operating on 2182 kHz and communicating
   with domestic public and private coast stations. The emission H3E may be
   used when communicating with foreign coast and ship stations.

   (f) The frequencies 3023 kHz, 5680 kHz, 122.900 MHz and 123.100 MHz are
   authorized for use by aircraft engaged in seach and rescue activities in
   accordance with subpart M. These frequencies may be used for air-air and
   air-ground communications.

   (g)  The  frequency  4125  kHz  may  be  used  for distress and safety
   communications between aircraft and ship and coast maritime mobile stations.

   (h) The frequency 8364.0 kHz is authorized for use of survival craft for
   search  and rescue communications with stations in the maritime mobile
   service.

   (i) The frequencies in the band 121.975-122.675 MHz are authorized for use
   by private aircraft of air traffic control operations.

   (1) The frequencies 122.00 and 122.050 MHz are authorized for use by air
   carrier and private aircraft stations for enroute flight advisory service
   (EFAS) provided by the FAA;

   (2) The frequency 122.100 MHz is authorized for use by air carrier aircraft
   stations for air traffic control operations at locations in Alaska where
   other frequencies are not available for air traffic control.

   (j) The frequency 122.750 MHz is authoried for use by private fixed wing
   aircraft for air-air communications. The frequency 123.025 MHz is authorized
   for use by helicopters for air-air Communications.

   (k) The frequencies 121.500 MHz and 243.000 MHz are emergency and distress
   frequences available for use by survival craft stations, emergency locator
   transmitters and equipment used for survival pruposes. Use of 121.500 MHz
   and  243.00  MHz  shall  be  limited  to  transmission  of signals and
   communications for survival purposes. Type A2A, A3E or A3N emission may be
   employed, except in the case of emergency locator transmitters where A3E,
   A3X and NON are permitted.

   (l) The frequencies 156.300, 156.375, 156,400, 156,425, 156.450, 156.625,
   156.800  156.900  and  157.425 MHz may be used by aircraft stations to
   communicate with ship stations in accordance with part 80 and the following
   conditions:

   (1) The altitude of aircraft stations must not exceed 300 meters (1,000
   feet), except for reconnaissance aircraft participating in icebreaking
   operations where an altitude of 450 meters (1,500 feet) is allowed;

   (2) Aircraft station transmitter power must not exceed five watts;

   (3) The frequency 156.300 MHz may be used for safety purposes only. The
   frequency 156.800 MHz may be used for distress, safety and calling purposes
   only.

   (4)  Except  in  the Great Lakes and along the St. Lawrence Seaway the
   frequency  157.425 MHz is available for communications with commerical
   fishing vessels.

   (5) The frequency 156.375 MHz cannot be used in the New Orleans, LA, VTS
   protection area. No harmful interference shall be caused to the VTS.

   (m) The frequency 406.0-406.1 MHz is an emergency and distress frequency
   available for use by emergency locator transmitters. Use of this frequency
   must be limited to transmission of distress and safety communications.

   (n) The frequency band 960-1215 MHz is for the use of airborne electronic
   aids to air navigation and directly associated land stations.

   (o) The frequency band 1300-1350 MHz is for surveillance radar stations and
   associated airborne transponders.

   (p) The 1435-1525 MHz and 2360-2395 MHz bands are available on a primary
   basis, and the 2345-2360 MHz band is available on a secondary basis (the
   latter band only until January 1, 2020), for telemetry and telecommand
   associated with the flight testing of aircraft, missiles, or related major
   components. This includes launching into space, reentry into the Earth's
   atmosphere and incidental orbiting prior to reentry. In the 1435-1525 MHz
   band, the following frequencies are shared on a co-equal basis with flight
   telemetering mobile stations: 1444.5, 1453.5, 1501.5, 1515.5, and 1524.5
   MHz. In the 2360-2395 MHz band, the following frequencies may be assigned
   for  telemetry and associated telecommand operations of expendable and
   re-usable launch vehicles, whether or not such operations involve flight
   testing: 2364.5, 2370.5 and 2382.5 MHz. See § 87.303(d).

   Note  to paragraph (p): Aeronautical telemetry operations must protect
   Miscellaneous Wireless Communications Services operating in the 2345-2360
   MHz band.

   (q) The frequencies in the band 1545.000-1559.000 MHz and 1646.500-1660.500
   MHz are authorized for use by the Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite (R) Service.
   The  use  of  the  bands  1544.000-1545.000  MHz  (space-to-Earth) and
   1645.500-1646.500 MHz (Earth-to-space) by the Mobile-Satellite Service is
   limited  to  distress  and  safety  operations. In the frequency bands
   1549.500-1558.500  MHz  and  1651.000-1660.000  MHz,  the Aeronautical
   Mobile-Satellite  (R)  requirements that cannot be accommodated in the
   1545.000-1549.500 MHz, 1558.500-1559.000 MHz, 1646.500-1651.000 MHz, and
   1660.000-1660.500  MHz bands shall have priority access with real-time
   preemptive capability for communications in the Mobile-Satellite Service.
   Systems not interoperable with the Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite (R) Service
   shall operate on a secondary basis. Account shall be taken of the priority
   of safety-related communications in the Mobile-Satellite Service.

   (r) The frequency band 1559-1626.5 MHz is available for airborne electronic
   aids to air navigation and any associated land station.

   (s) The frequency band 4200-4400 MHz is reserved exclusively for radio
   altimeters.

   (t) The frequency band 5350-5470 MHz in the aeronautical radionavigation
   service is limited to airborne radars and associated airborne beacons.

   (u)  The frequency band 8750-8850 MHz is available for use by airborne
   doppler radars in the aeronautical radionavigation service only on the
   condition that they must accept any interference which may be experienced
   from stations in the radiolocation service in the band 8500-10,000 MHz.

   (v) The frequency band 9300-9500 MHz is limited to airborne radars and
   associated airborne beacons.

   (w) The frequency band 13250-13400 MHz available for airborne doppler radar
   use.

   (x) The frequency bands 24450-24650 MHz and 32300-33400 MHz are available
   for airborne radionavigation devices.

   (y) Brief keyed RF signals (keying the transmitter by momentarily depressing
   the microphone “push-to-talk” button) may be transmitted from aircraft for
   the  control  of automated unicoms on the unicom frequencies listed in
   paragraph (y)(3) of this section, or for the control of airport lights on
   the following frequencies:

   (1) Any air traffic control frequency listed in § 87.421.

   (2) FAA Flight Service Station frequencies 121.975-122.675 MHz.

   (3) The unicom frequencies 122.700, 122.725, 122.800, 122.950, 122.975,
   123.000, 123.050 and 123.075 MHz.

   (4) Aviation support station frequencies listed in § 87.323(b): 121.950,
   123.300 and 123.500 MHz if the frequency is assigned to a station at the
   airport and no harmful interference is caused to voice communications. If no
   such station is located at the concerned airport, aircraft may use one of
   the aviation support station frequencies for the control of airport lights.

   (5) The frequency 122.9 MHz when it is used as the common traffic advisory
   frequency at the concerned airport.

   (z) Frequencies for public correspondence between ships and public coast
   stations in the maritime mobile service (except frequencies in the 156-174
   MHz band) and coast earth stations in the maritime mobile-satellite service
   are available for public correspondence between aircraft and public coast
   stations and coast earth stations, respectively. The transmission of public
   correspondence  from  aircraft must not cause interference to maritime
   communications.

   (aa) Frequencies in the 454.675-459.975 MHz band are available in the Public
   Mobile Radio Service (part 22) for use on board aircraft for communications
   with land mobile stations which are interconnected to the nationwide public
   telephone system.

   (bb)  The  frequencies  121.950  MHz, 122.850 MHz and 127.0501 MHz are
   authorized for air-to-air use for aircraft up to and including 3 km (10,000
   ft) mean sea level in the vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
   within the area bounded by the following coordinates (all coordinates are
   referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)):

   1Until further notice this frequency is available for air-to-air use as
   described in the Grand Canyon vicinity. Availability is a result of the
   FAA's assignment of this frequency. If the FAA reassigns this frequency the
   Commission may require air-to-air use to cease.

   36-27-59.9 N. Lat; 112-47-2.7 W. Long.

   36-27-59.9 N. Lat; 112-48-2.7 W. Long.

   35-50-00.0 N. Lat; 112-48-2.7 W. Long.

   35-43-00.0 N. Lat; 112-47-2.7 W. Long.

   (cc)  The  frequency 120.650 MHz1 is authorized for air-to-air use for
   aircraft up to and including 3 km (10,000 ft) mean sea level within the area
   bounded by the following coordinates (all coordinates are referenced to
   North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)):

   35-59-44.9 N. Lat; 114-51-48.0 W. Long.

   36-09-29.9 N. Lat; 114-50-3.0 W. Long.

   36-09-29.9 N. Lat; 114-02-57.9 W. Long.

   35-54-45.0 N. Lat; 113-48-47.8 W. Long.

   (dd) The frequencies 136.425, 136.450, and 136.475 MHz are designated for
   flight  information  services—broadcast (FIS-B) and may not be used by
   aircraft for transmission.

   (ee) The frequency 121.95 MHz is authorized for air-to-ground and air-to-air
   communications for aircraft up to 13000 feet above mean sea level (AMSL)
   within the area bounded by the following coordinates (all coordinates are
   referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)):

   32-35-00 N. Lat.; 117-12-00 W. Long.

   32-42-00 N. Lat.; 116-56-00 W. Long.

   32-41-00 N. Lat.; 116-41-00 W. Long.

   32-35-00 N. Lat.; 116-38-00 W. Long.

   32-31-00 N. Lat.; 117-11-00 W. Long.

   (ff) The frequency 978 MHz is authorized for Universal Access Transceiver
   data transmission.

   (gg)  (1)  The  frequency  120.650  MHz  is  authorized for air-to-air
   communications for aircraft over and within five nautical miles of the
   shoreline of the Hawaiian Island of Maui.

   (2) The frequency 121.950 MHz is authorized for air-to-air use for aircraft
   over and within five nautical miles of the shoreline of the Hawaiian Island
   of Molokai.

   (3) The frequency 122.850 MHz is authorized for air-to-air use for aircraft
   over and within five nautical miles of the shoreline of the Hawaiian Island
   of Oahu.

   (4) The frequency 122.850 MHz is authorized for aircraft over and within
   five nautical miles of the shoreline of the Hawaiian Island of Hawaii when
   aircraft are south and east of the 215 degree radial of very high frequency
   omni-directional radio range of Hilo International Airport.

   (5) The frequency 127.050 MHz is authorized for air-to-air use for aircraft
   over and within five nautical miles of the shoreline of the Hawaiian Island
   of Hawaii when aircraft are north and west of the 215 degree radial of very
   high frequency omni-directional radio range of Hilo International Airport.

   (6) The frequency 127.050 MHz is authorized for air-to-air use for aircraft
   over and within five nautical miles of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.

   (hh)  (1)  The  frequency  121.95  MHz  is  authorized  for air-to-air
   communications  for  aircraft within the area bounded by the following
   coordinates (all coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983
   (NAD83)):

   33-46-00 N. Lat.; 118-27-00 W. Long.

   33-47-00 N. Lat.; 118-12-00 W. Long.

   33-40-00 N. Lat.; 118-00-00 W. Long.

   33-35-00 N. Lat.; 118-08-00 W. Long.

   34-00-00 N. Lat.; 118-26-00 W. Long.

   (2) The frequency 122.775 MHz is authorized for air-to-air communications
   for aircraft within the area bounded by the following coordinates (all
   coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)):

   34-22-00 N. Lat.; 118-30-00 W. Long.

   34-35-00 N. Lat.; 118-15-00 W. Long.

   34-27-00 N. Lat.; 118-15-00 W. Long.

   34-16-00 N. Lat.; 118-35-00 W. Long.

   34-06-00 N. Lat.; 118-35-00 W. Long.

   34-05-00 N. Lat.; 118-50-00 W. Long.

   (3) The frequency 123.30 MHz is authorized for air-to-air communications for
   aircraft  within  the  area  bounded by the following coordinates (all
   coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)):

   34-08-00 N. Lat.; 118-00-00 W. Long.

   34-10-00 N. Lat.; 117-08-00 W. Long.

   34-00-00 N. Lat.; 117-08-00 W. Long.

   33-53-00 N. Lat.; 117-42-00 W. Long.

   33-58-00 N. Lat.; 118-00-00 W. Long.

   (4) The frequency 123.50 MHz is authorized for air-to-air communications for
   aircraft  within  the  area  bounded by the following coordinates (all
   coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)):

   33-53-00 N. Lat.; 117-37-00 W. Long.

   34-00-00 N. Lat.; 117-15-00 W. Long.

   34-00-00 N. Lat.; 117-07-00 W. Long.

   33-28-00 N. Lat.; 116-55-00 W. Long.

   33-27-00 N. Lat.; 117-12-00 W. Long.

   (5) The frequency 123.50 MHz is authorized for air-to-air communications for
   aircraft  within  the  area  bounded by the following coordinates (all
   coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)):

   33-50-00 N. Lat.; 117-48-00 W. Long.

   33-51-00 N. Lat.; 117-41-00 W. Long.

   33-38-00 N. Lat.; 117-30-00 W. Long.

   33-30-00 N. Lat.; 117-30-00 W. Long.

   33-30-00 N. Lat.; 117-49-00 W. Long.

   [ 53 FR 28940 , Aug. 1, 1988]

   Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting § 87.187, see the
   List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of
   the printed volume and at www.fdsys.gov.

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Goto Section: 87.185 | 87.189

Goto Year: 2014 | 2016
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