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* The listed bases may have season long or partial season airtankers, or may only be used for loading retardant for an active incident nearby.  
 
* The listed bases may have season long or partial season airtankers, or may only be used for loading retardant for an active incident nearby.  
 
* Many airtankers do not stay in one place for an entire season. They might start in the southwestern U.S. in late April or May,  When the monsoon arrives in early July they are then moved to areas where the fire danger has begun to build.  The contracts are drawn up in late winter and early spring and move the aircraft to match the average or typical peak fire season of each geographical area.  This schedule is subject to change as the winter prediction of the peak fire seasons varies.   
 
* Many airtankers do not stay in one place for an entire season. They might start in the southwestern U.S. in late April or May,  When the monsoon arrives in early July they are then moved to areas where the fire danger has begun to build.  The contracts are drawn up in late winter and early spring and move the aircraft to match the average or typical peak fire season of each geographical area.  This schedule is subject to change as the winter prediction of the peak fire seasons varies.   
* Bases with the notation "SEAT" are only capable of loading "Single Engine Air Tankers," which are similar in appearance to crop dusters.    
+
* Bases with the notation "SEAT" are only capable of loading "Single Engine Air Tankers," which are similar in appearance to crop dusters.  
  
 +
'''NOTE:  this is work in progress.  It will take a week or more to enter all the available data into this wiki article.  When it is completed note will be removed.   
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|+| ''Alaska Geographical Area Coordination Center''
 
|+| ''Alaska Geographical Area Coordination Center''

Revision as of 00:20, 23 April 2014

National Incident Radio Support Cache

This cache is maintained and used primarily for wildland fire, however, it may show up on any large incident such as floods, hurricanes, law enforcement (it was used for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 2004), and tornadoes. The cache is located and maintained by the National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD) of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho. The use of these frequencies is coordinated by the NIICD Communications Duty Officer to avoid interference with nearby incidents.

  • All frequencies listed are narrowband FM (FMN) and carrier squelch (CSQ, no PL tone) unless noted. It is possible that P25 digital mode may be used in some areas. According to this PDF document on the US Forest Service web site, in January 2010 all aviation FM radios are required to be P25 capable.
  • Pre-assigned national frequencies are listed in Interagency Standards for Fire & Aviation Operations 2013 Chapter 15 Communications.
  • Other frequencies temporarily assigned to specific incidents may also be used.
  • Frequencies listed are be subject to change at any time and are not verified to be 100% accurate, complete or current in all areas.

Tactical

These frequencies are authorized for use in handhelds and mobiles only. Installation in base stations is not authorized.

National Interagency Fire Tactical Frequencies
Frequency Type Description Notes
168.0500 M TAC 1
168.2000 M TAC 2
168.6000 M TAC 3
166.7250 M TAC 5
166.7750 M TAC 6
168.2500 M TAC 7
  • According to this pdf document on the NIFC web site 164.1375 (formerly TAC 4) is no longer available for use as of April 2011.

Command

These frequencies can be used direct (simplex), but are most commonly used with repeaters. These repeaters fit in a small fiberglass case and are placed on the ground in a high place that provides coverage to all or most of the incident. Portable antennas and solar power are normally employed.

Command
Frequency Input Type Description
168.7000 170.9750 R CMD 1
168.1000 170.4500 R CMD 2
168.0750 170.4250 R CMD 3
166.6125 168.4000 R CMD 4
167.1000 169.7500 R CMD 5
168.4750 173.8125 R CMD 6
162.9625 171.7875 R CMD 7
169.5375 164.7125 R CMD 8
170.0125 165.2500 R CMD 9
170.4125 165.9625 R CMD 10
170.6875 166.5750 R CMD 11
173.0375 167.3250 R CMD 12
  • During wildland fires in Texas in 2011, the Civil Air Patrol flew HIGHBIRD aircraft with airborne command repeaters over the incident area.
  • Command Channels 8-12 are listed in the 2013 California FIRESCOPE communications plan. There is a single verified report of one of these frequency pairs being used on an incident outside of California. This would indicate these commands are available for use outside of California.
  • Command Channels 8-12 are in the Federal Interoperability Channel Plan as NC1 and IR1-IR4. See the NTIA Federal Incident Response Channel Plan for more information.

Logistics

  • This information was confirmed from official information as of 2009
  • The outputs can be used Simplex as well
  • Links for Aircraft are typically dedicated to Aircraft Ops
  • These frequencies may also be used for cross band repeaters and links.
  • The repeater input/output frequencies of Logistics 1 -7 are sometimes reversed for different repeater configurations and some of the inputs may be used for simplex.
Logistics
Frequency Input Type Description
406.4000 415.4000 R Logistics 1
406.5875 415.5875 R Logistics 2
407.7875 417.7875 R Logistics 3
410.2750 419.2750 R Logistics 4
410.7750 419.7750 R Logistics 5
408.8000 417.8000 R Logistics 6
408.5000 417.5000 R Logistics 7
406.4000 BM Repeater Link 1
406.5875 BM Repeater Link 2
408.7875 BM Repeater Link 3
410.2750 BM Repeater Link 4
410.7750 BM Repeater Link 5
408.8000 BM Repeater Link 6
408.5000 BM Repeater Link 7
411.4000 BM Repeater Link 8
408.9000 BM Repeater Link 9
411.5000 BM Aircraft Link 1
411.8000 BM Aircraft Link 2
412.6000 BM Aircraft Link 3
411.7500 BM Aircraft Link 4
411.9250 BM Aircraft Link 5
412.1500 BM Aircraft Link 6
412.2000 BM Aircraft Link 7
411.2500 BM Aircraft Link 8
410.2375 BM Aircraft Link 9
410.2375 419.2375 RM Aircraft Link 10
410.4375 BM Aircraft Link 11
410.4375 419.4375 RM Aircraft Link 12
410.6375 BM Aircraft Link 13
410.6375 419.6375 RM Aircraft Link 14
411.3000 BM Camp Net 1
411.4250 BM Camp Net 2
411.5250 BM Camp Net 3
411.5750 BM Camp Net 4
414.6500 BM Camp Net 5
417.9000 BM Camp Net 6
  • Aircraft links provide communications for the Incident Command Post (ICP) and/or Heliports - Helispots to/from distant VHF AM ("Victor") frequency remote bases. The aircraft transmit on Victor frequencies and the ICP and heliports/helispots reply on UHF frequencies, which in turn, via the link and the remote base, transmit back to the aircraft on VHF AM. This situation exists when the size of the incident is large and/or the topography is mountainous sufficient to prevent VHF AM air to ground communications over the entire incident. VHF AM radios transmit at very low power, but the distance it covers is short.
  • In some situations repeaters are placed in high locations when the ICP and supply sources or receiving/distribution centers are in separate and distant locations.

Air VHF FM ("Foxtrot Mike") Frequencies

  • These are pre assigned frequencies for use during the initial attack phase of an incident. If the incident grows larger (extended attack) another air to ground channel, not assigned for initial attack or for another use in the area, will be assigned. Additionally a unique air-to-air (FM) or air-to-ground is frequency may be assigned. Possible frequencies are found by incident communications unit leaders using the pool of unused federal frequencies in the area of the incident. The assignment is made after approval by the Communications Duty Officer of the National Interagency Incident Communications Division (NIICD) at National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The frequencies might not be used on other incidents or even used in the same area in the same, or subsequent, years.
  • If an incident becomes more complex and a Type I or II incident management team is assigned, NIFC frequencies will be assigned for command and ground tactics. This is contingent of the delivery and installation of NIFC portable repeaters. Up to this point local initial attack and/or pre approved frequencies are used. Type III incident management teams exist to operate in their local area. Some jurisdictions have obtained assignments for locally managed extended attacks. The only place these frequencies are listed, contingent on them being known, is in the Radio Reference database.
  • When an incident evolves into an extended attack, the air tactics group supervisor (ATGS) makes the request for extended attack air-to-air tactics and air-to-ground frequencies be assigned When frequencies are approved it might occur while the shift is in progress. When this happens the change is announced on all the aviation frequencies in use and the command frequency, which during the initial attack phase is most often the forest net (USFS), district net (BLM), park net (NPS), refuge net (USFWS) or the fire/emergency net of any of those jurisdictions.
  • In most circumstances the unique extended attack air-to-air tactics (FM) and air-to-ground frequency change will be made effective the beginning of a shift. Shifts are 0600 to 1800 (day shift) and 1800 to 0600 (night shift). Almost all changes are effective at the beginning of day shift, as that is when most aviation activity occurs.
  • If this announcement is missed anyone monitoring a large incident that uses air support should search the federal VHF frequency band (162.000-174.000, 12.5 kHz steps) to find the VHF FM air-to-air tactics and/or air-to-ground frequencies if traffic is not received on the pre-assigned frequencies listed below.
  • National flight following is used by the majority of interagency dispatch centers, however, some of these now have their own local flight following frequency assigned for use in their areas only. These local flight following frequencies are employed when aircraft are working within a dispatch area. These frequencies will be listed in the state by state federal government listings as soon as they have been confirmed by listeners.
  • According to this document there will be two, and three in some cases, permanently assigned air-to-ground FM frequencies for each initial attack zone nationwide. This information has been taken from confirmed sources and is accurate as of February, 2013
  • These frequencies are not assigned for air to ground exclusively nationwide. Some of the frequencies may be used as National Forest, National Park, BLM District or National Wildlife Refuge primary nets or local tactical channels. Air to ground frequencies are assigned in a manner that interference with local nets is not possible due to distance and/or topography.
Frequency Type Name Source Information (1) States Used In Notes
168.6250 BM National Air Guard (PL 110.9 tx/CSQ rx) Nationwide
168.6500 BM National Flight Following (PL 110.9 tx/rx) Nationwide
166.6750 M National Air-to-Air Tactics 1 Nationwide May be used A-G also
169.1500 M National Air-to-Air Tactics 2 Nationwide May be used A-G also
169.2000 M National Air-to-Air Tactics 3 Nationwide May be used A-G also
170.0000 M National Air-to-Air Tactics 4 Nationwide May be used A-G also (2)
167.9500 M National Air-to-Air Tactics 5 Nationwide May be used A-G also
154.3100 M A/G 01 GBE GBW UT
166.6375 M A/G 02 RM SW GBW SA KS NV TX
151.1450 M A/G 03 NR GBW ID GBW shows w/100.0 Tone
151.2200 M A/G 04 All other sources do not show this frequency or an associated area where it is used (3)
166.7500 M A/G 05 RM NE
166.8000 M A/G 06 RM SW GBW KS NV
166.8500 M A/G 07 RM SW SA CO TX SA shows 167.850 - presumed to be an error
166.8750 M A/G 08 SW GBW CA CA NV
166.9125 M A/G 09 RM NW SA CO OR TX
166.9375 M A/G 10 NR RM SW GBE MT UT WY
151.3100 M A/G 11 NW OR NW shows w/156.7 Tone used
167.0750 M A/G 12 RM NW WA WY
167.4250 M A/G 13 NR RM GBE SA FL ID MT NC ND WY
167.5000 M A/G 14 RM GBW CA CA WY
167.5250 M A/G 15 RM SW GBE GBW SA AR CO FL ID NV PR SC VA WY
159.3450 M A/G 16 SW GBW SA AR AZ SW shows w/192.8 Tone used
167.9875 M A/G 17 NR SW GBE GBW AZ ID MT
168.0125 M A/G 18 NR RM SW GBE GBW MT NM UT
168.1250 M A/G 19 RM SW GBE GBW ID WY UT
168.1750 M A/G 20 SW GBW ID NM
168.1500 M A/G 21 GBE UT Changed in 2013 - 2012 listed as 166.6125
166.7250 M A/G 22 All other sources do not show this frequency or an associated area where it is used (3)
166.7625 M A/G 23 NR SW GBW ID MT NV
168.6375 M A/G 24 RM SW GBE GBW CA NW CA OR SD UT
168.7500 M A/G 25 RM SW GBE GBW NE NM SD UT
169.8750 M A/G 26 RM SW SD WY
166.8250 M A/G 27 RM SW AZ NM
170.0000 M A/G 28 RM SW NW SA EA AR CT FL IA IL IN KY LA MA MI MN MO NC NY RI SC VT WA WI This is also National Air Tactics 4
166.9000 M A/G 29 NR RM MT NE
171.1375 M A/G 30 GBE ID (4)
171.5250 M A/G 31 RM SW CO SD WY
166.9625 M A/G 32 NR RM SW AZ MT
171.5750 M A/G 33 RM SW AZ
167.1750 M A/G 34 SW GBW NW AZ WA
167.2250 M A/G 35 RM SW SA CO KY OK WY
172.2500 M A/G 36 RM CO
167.3000 M A/G 37 NW OR
167.3750 M A/G 38 NW SA LA OR
172.4000 M A/G 39 GBE ID
167.4500 M A/G 40 NW SA TX WA
167.4750 M A/G 41 GBW CA NW SA CA OR TX WA
167.5500 M A/G 42 GBW NW SA AR OR
167.6000 M A/G 43 GBE GBW SW CA ID NM NV
167.6250 M A/G 44 GBE CA NW RM SW SA AR FL OR UT
167.6500 M A/G 45 NR ID
167.7000 M A/G 46 NR SA MT TN
167.7250 M A/G 47 SW AZ
167.8875 M A/G 48 NR MT
168.0375 M A/G 49 RM GBW CO NV
168.2875 M A/G 50 AL |OR
168.3125 M A/G 51 RM GBE GBW NW NV OR UT WA
168.3875 M A/G 52 NR MT
168.4875 M A/G 53 NR SW GBW CA CA ND NM NV
168.5375 M A/G 54 NR GBE GBW ID MT
168.5625 M A/G 55 All other sources do not show this frequency or an associated area where it is used (3)
168.6625 M A/G 56 RM SW AZ NM
168.7250 M A/G 57 RM GBE GBW UT
169.0875 M A/G 58 RM SW CO
169.1125 M A/G 59 GBW SW CA CA
169.1250 M A/G 60 SW AZ NM 110.9 Tone used in southwest NM
169.2875 M A/G 61 NR SW NW AZ ND OR
169.3625 M A/G 62 RM SW GBE GBW NW ID NM OR WY
171.4250 M A/G 63 SW AZ
171.4750 M A/G 64 SW AZ NM 110.9 Tone used in southwest NM
172.3750 M A/G 65 SW AZ
166.6750 M A/G 66 NR RM NW SA EA WA & All States in the Eastern & Southern Areas - Exceptions AR OK TX. Primary AG for all EA States This is also National Air Tactics 1
159.2250 M A/G 67 SA OK
159.3900 M A/G 68 SA OK
159.4500 M A/G 69 SA OK
167.9500 M A/G 70 NR RM SA EA AR FL IA IL IN LA MN MI MO MS OH TN WI This is also National Air Tactics 5
168.6750 M A/G 71 SA FL
169.1500 M A/G 72 RM SA EA AR CT FL MA ME MO MS NH NY PA RH TN VT WV This is also National Air Tactics 2
169.2000 M A/G 73 RM SA EA AL TX This is also National Air Tactics 3
Notes
  • (1) Geographical Area Coordination Center (GACC): NR=Northern Rockies, RM=Rocky Mountain, SW=Southwest, GBE=Great Basin Eastern, GBW=Great Basin Western, CA=California (South Ops & N Ops), NW=Northwest, SA=Southern, EA=Eastern. Access this page to obtain GACC boundaries: http://gacc.nifc.gov/
  • (2) According to this document 170.0000 will no longer be available for use beginning in 2019. As of 2012 it has been replaced in California.
  • (3) The source wishes anonymity.
  • (4) The authorization for 171.1375 expired 4/11/11 and is no longer used as an air-to-ground. The replacement frequency is not known at this time (2/2013)

Air VHF AM ("Victor") Frequencies

  • Most areas have regionally assigned air-to-air frequencies.
  • Other locally assigned or temporary incident-specific frequencies may also be used.
Air VHF AM
Frequency Type Description Notes
122.9250 BM AA/AG/FW/RW (1)
122.8500 BM AA/AG/RW
123.0250 BM AA/RW
123.0500 BM AA/RW/Helispots
123.0750 BM AA/AG/RW/Helispots
123.9750 BM National Air Tanker Base
AA = Air to Air
AG = Air to Ground 
FW = Fixed Winged (Airplanes)
RW = Rotary Wing (Helicopters)

(1) This is a nationwide assigned frequency that may be used by any aircraft, at any time, involved in any natural resource/environmental activity, be that federal, state or local.

Smokejumping & Helicopter Rappelling

  • Air-to-Ground Frequency for Smokejumping & Helicopter Rappelling and Smokejumper Ground Tactical Frequency
Frequency Type Tone Notes
168.5500 M 123.0 Smokejumpers Air to Ground (1)
168.5500 M 110.9 Rappel/RADS Air to Ground (1)
168.3500 M 123.0 Smokejumper Ground Tactical

(1) Nationwide exclusive use authorization

National Airtanker Base Radio Frequencies

  • This information was confirmed from official information as of 2014.
  • These are VHF-AM "Victor" frequencies.
  • These frequencies are assigned by the FAA, not NIFC. They are subject to annual revision by the FAA.
  • Most bases use 123.975. All bases are listed, in spite of the apparent redundancy, for showing where current airtanker bases are located.
  • The listed bases may have season long or partial season airtankers, or may only be used for loading retardant for an active incident nearby.
  • Many airtankers do not stay in one place for an entire season. They might start in the southwestern U.S. in late April or May, When the monsoon arrives in early July they are then moved to areas where the fire danger has begun to build. The contracts are drawn up in late winter and early spring and move the aircraft to match the average or typical peak fire season of each geographical area. This schedule is subject to change as the winter prediction of the peak fire seasons varies.
  • Bases with the notation "SEAT" are only capable of loading "Single Engine Air Tankers," which are similar in appearance to crop dusters.

NOTE: this is work in progress. It will take a week or more to enter all the available data into this wiki article. When it is completed note will be removed.

Alaska Geographical Area Coordination Center
Frequency State Air Tanker Base FAA ID Notes
123.975 AK Delta Junction BIG
123.975 AK Fort Wainwright (Fairbanks) FBK
123.975 AK Kenai ENA
123.975 AK McGrath MCG
123.975 AK Palmer PAQ
123.975 AK Tanacross (Tok) TSG
California Geographical Area Coordination Centers (North Ops and South Ops)
Frequency State Air Tanker Base FAA ID Notes
123.975 CA Bishop BIH
123.975 CA Castle (Merced) MER Replaces Stockton as of 2014
123.975 CA Chester O05
123.975 CA Chico CIC
123.975 CA Columbia O22
123.975 CA Fortuna (Rohnerville) FOT
123.975 CA Fresno FAT
123.975 CA Hemet (Ryan Field) HMT
123.975 CA Hollister 3O7
123.975 CA Lancaster (Fox Field) WJF
126.925 CA McClellan MCC New base

Federal Government Common

  • These are used for local tacticals in some areas, however they are common for the entire Federal government.
  • These frequencies are often used as tacticals, or commons, in National Parks.
  • See Federal Government ItinerantAs of January, 2008 the NTIA Redbook contained direction that 168.350 and 163.100 are to be used as a pair, with 168.350 being the input and 163.100 being the output. This repeater pair is to be used for temporary, or itinerant, repeater placement. Simplex use is permitted if the four new federal common frequencies are already in use. Some agencies are now using the new commons in place of this repeater pair's frequencies. In spite of the direction there is widespread use of these two frequencies for simplex, tactical and travel purposes.
168.6125||||M||(3)
Government Common
Frequency Input Type Notes
163.1000 BM (1)
168.3500 BM (2)
168.3500 163.1000 R
163.7125 M (3)
167.1375 M (3)
173.6250 M (3)

(1) Often used as airtanker base "deck frequency" for coordinating the on ground movements of air tankers loading retardant and returning to a fire.

(2) This shows up as "Travel Net" on dozens of local and GACC channel plans in the western states.

(3) New federal simplex common frequencies allocated in 2005.

Intra-Crew Communications

  • Hand held use only
  • Crews are encouraged to use Continuous Tone Coded Subaudible Squelch (CTCSS), or Network Access Code (NAC) while in digital operation, to reduce interference from other crews or other federal uses. This is not an exclusive assignment as these are VHF federal common frequencies and may be used by any agency at any time or location. These crew nets are to be used for crew logistics only and tactical communications are not allowed.
Intra-Crew
Frequency Type Description
163.7125 M National Intra-Crew Mobilization at Crew Base & Travel Net
167.1375 M Primary Intra-Crew Communications at Incident Scene
168.6125 M Secondary Intra-Crew Communications at Incident Scene
173.6250 M Tertiary Intra-Crew Communications at Incident Scene

Non-Federal Forest Firefighting Agencies

  • The following frequencies may be authorized to fixed, land and mobile stations operated by non-Federal forest firefighting agencies on a secondary non-interfereing basis.
  • See: NTIA Manual Chapter 4 US Footnotes US8 and 47CFR90.265(c)
  • West of the Mississippi River these frequencies are also used for air-to-ground and/or the local nets of National Forests.
Non-Federal Forest Firefighting
Frequency Type Description Notes
170.4750 BM East of Miss. River
171.4250 BM East of Miss. River
171.5750 BM East of Miss. River
172.2750 BM East of Miss. River (1)
170.4250 BM West of Miss. River
170.5750 BM West of Miss. River
171.4750 BM West of Miss. River (1)
172.2250 BM West of Miss. River
172.3750 BM West of Miss. River
  • (1) Frequency may also be used by non-federal conservation agencies for repeater operation only.

National Wildfire Coordinating Group Standard CTCSS Tones

Tone Number Tone Frequency
01 110.9
02 123.0
03 131.8
04 136.5
05 146.2
06 156.7
07 167.9
08 103.5
09 100.0
10 107.2
11 114.8
12 127.3
13 141.3
14 151.4
15 162.2
16 192.8
  • In California FIRESCOPE (Firefighting Resources in California Organized for Potential Emergencies - a large statewide fire interagency coordinating organization) has assigned a NAC for each tone when P25 digital modulation is in use. It does not appear that this assignment is being used nationwide as of 7/1/13.

Related Links




Return to DB page: Natl Incident Radio Support Cache / Natl Interagency Fire Ctr
Return to Wiki pages: Common Frequencies, Common Public Safety, Federal/Non-Federal Interoperability, National Interagency Fire Center