Microlighters

Has this ever happened to you. Early morning pre-flight, startup and radio check. No responce on the radio check. Now the question arises. Is my radio working? or is there no one flying? You change frequency to Special Rules East, listen, and because you hear nothing, you call. No responce! You now seriously think your radio has packed up. This particular morning you did not bring your backup radio, so you can't even use that for a radio check. And opening the squelch and hearing the noise is also not good enough for me. Now what do you do? Take-off and assume that your radio is working or cancel the flight. I fly from Microland, which has a reasonably busy airspace and it happened to me, again, this morning.

Isn't there some way that one can do a radio check when no else is available? I don't always have my backup radio with me! Like a store and forward transceiver on a special radio check frequency, strategically located on the top of a mountain? I know this will cost money and will need to be maintained. Maybe the Aero Club and the sub bodies (like MISASA) could provide such a service if the Genaral Aviation community sees the need.

Brilliant idea, perhaps chat to guys at ICASA about feasibility/legality

In cases like that, I tune into Oliver Tambo ATIS.
Sure, you cannot transmit, but you will have a better idea of the status of your radio.

Would be nice if it could "ping" back what you xmitted

bobthebuilder wrote:In cases like that, I tune into Oliver Tambo ATIS.
Sure, you cannot transmit, but you will have a better idea of the status of your radio.

I am unfortunately out of range of OR Tambo ATIS. But, that is a good idea for a receiver check, where possible.

Loco wrote:Would be nice if it could "ping" back what you xmitted

Yip Loco. It is called a store and forward transceiver. When it receives a transmission it records 5 seconds of it and when the transmission stops or the 5 seconds is up, it transmits the recording back on the same frequency. So, you push PTT and say " Alpha Mike Hotel radio check" and when you release the PTT you will hear youself saying "Alpha Mike Hotel radio check".

I am unfortunately out of range of OR Tambo ATIS

I was able to receive the ORT ATIS transmission from Microland very clearly.

Maybe as a suggestion, is to tune into 122.6
You know that funny guy that explains/broadcasts the weather/qnh etc ??

But I'm aware that a radio check is not just about receiving inbound calls but successfully making outbound calls/broadcasts aswell.

So no real solution from me,sorry

You know that funny guy that explains/broadcasts the weather/qnh etc ??

Yes ... ATIS.

bobthebuilder wrote:

I am unfortunately out of range of OR Tambo ATIS

I was able to receive the ORT ATIS transmission from Microland very clearly.

The only problem with that guy is, he doesn't give you a chance to talk and he is rude when you thank him.

I definitly need to do a TX and an RX check to be sure. I have had it with some radio checks that the pilot can hear me but I can not hear him (nê Jaco & Stef). Usually the batteries in the intercom unit are too flat or the radio's battery is not fully charged. TX has a much higher demand than RX.

A store and forward transceiver will work.

Deleted

too involved and complicated; we are flying trikes!

Yes

Eeee-NATIS

I normally check ATIS like Byron does if there is no other aircraft around....other solution is to radio check using a spare hand held? Just by pressing the PTT on both you can see if there is a broadcast between the two?

One sided conversation but it works!

No simple solution to be 100% sure under the circumstances you mention, however, once airborne you should hear ATIS and you will at least be comforted by the fact that you will hear any other aircraft, unless he is doing exactly as you are