Spectrum, ADIZ, and preparedness
So there was an article on slashdot.org about a Distress Signal Emitted By Flat-Screen TV which was picked up by a satellite, leading a search and rescue operation to his apartment in Corvallis, Oregon. What was so interesting about the slashdot article was in the comments there is a great discussion about the different frequencies used for civil aviation. Apparently the international distress frequency is at 121.5Mhz, but this frequency (including 243 MHz) is being changed to 406 MHz due to the spectrum becoming muddled. See this US Coast Guard Advisory and the official NOAA Press Release (pdf) for more information.
Another interesting tidbit is that there is an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) which envelops Washington DC which pilots have to gain clearance in order to breach the zone. Here is a cool aviation map of the ADIZ and here is another Washington D.C. ADIZ Map. This was done (as far as I can tell) as a response to September 11th and the Iraq War. Here is some useful information:
Effective at 6 AM EST on 10 February 2003 and until further notice, all pilots conducting flight operations within the DC ADIZ will file a flight plan with FSS and receive a discrete transponder code prior to flight.
Each pilot will establish two-way radio communications with ATC prior to entering DC ADIZ airspace and will maintain this capability while within DC ADIZ airspace. Failure to do so has dire consequences.
In addition, each pilot will obtain a briefing by FSS just prior to every flight in the DC ADIZ, including obtaining all applicable airspace restriction NOTAMs.
If pilots breach the zone without proper clearance, "Huntress" a plane from Griffis AFB, NY is called out to investigate. Here is an FAA Guide to Plane Interception Procedures, so that you will know what to do next time your plane is intercepted by America's Bravest. Additionally, there is an ADIZ surrounding the US on the Atlantic, Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and Mexican border. Curiously, there is no ADIZ bordering Canada. I always suspected there was some sort of holding-pen or area where incoming planes had to declare themselves before entering US airspace. It also seems that there is a full time AWACS fleet patrolling above the Capital in order to help detect any incoming aircraft. What surprises me, is that this sort of airspace monitoring was not done before the September 11th attacks, or if it did, there wasn't an existing ADIZ around Washington. Again, I am a lay person, so I am assuming there was, and I don't know about it.
UPDATE
Because everyone knows that I love maps, here is a great collection of Airport Diagrams
Comments
Post a comment
This is the permanent home of Spectrum, ADIZ, and preparedness. I wrote this post at 12:34 on October 19, 2004. This post is part of grubbykid.com, a weblog. If you liked this entry, why don't you read some other posts such as 11222 Voting Guide or Baseball has been very, very good to me? Or you could go to the site archives or return home. All are good choices.
Remember this post with del.icio.us
Some descriptive tags for this entry are: maps flight law military security.
Mommy... what's a tag?
Some descriptive tags for this entry are: flight, law, maps, military, security.
Mommy... what's a tag?
