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Difference between revisions of "Combat Air Patrols"

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==General Information==
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The Combat Air Patrol (CAP) covering Washington D.C. and/or the Thurmont (Camp David) area is known as the Guard Dog CAP.
DC area Combat Air Patrols (DC CAP) can occur at any time; however, they are commonly held during national holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July) or whenever the President goes to the Retreat in the
 
Catoctin Mountains known as Camp David. When a CAP is announced over the Thurmont area, Camp David
 
is said to be the '''Bullseye'''.
 
  
Here we'll list some frequencies and sites that you can use to get started monitoring this activity.
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Here are the units with callsigns that participate in CAP duty (with the associated callsigns):
All frequencies are in MHz, and utilize AM
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* [[DC ANG 113th Wing]], 121st Fighter Squadron, BRAVE
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* [[NJ ANG 177th Fighter Wing]], 119th Fighter Squadron, COSMIC
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* ND-ANG Detachment 1, 119th Fighter Wing (Langley AFB VA). SPIDER
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* Eglin AFB FL 60th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, ARROW
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* Shaw AFB SC 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, PITTMAN
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* [[USAF 1st Fighter Wing,Langley AFB]] 27th Fighter Squadron, HARASS
  
==Common Frequencies==
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Guidance during the Guard Dog CAP is provided by [[North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)]](NEADS) using callsign HUNTRESS
Callsigns shown in this list are subject to change
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The CAP is normally comprised of two F-15 or F-16 fighters and a KC-135 tanker for refueling support. A pair of F-22A Raptor fighters participated one weekend but don't expect this to happen very often.
  
* '''135.525''' 'Guard Dog' Tankers, shared with Washington ARTCC/Falls Church
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==Frequencies==
* '''228.900''' Huntress (NORAD) Tankers/Coordination
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* HUNTRESS frequencies most often used for primary CAP control are '''228.9''' and '''260.9'''
* '''255.400''' Flight Service Stations (nationwide assignment)
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* DC-ANG will often use '''139.7''' as primary CAP freq
* '''260.900''' Huntress (NORAD) Tankers/Coordination
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* NJ-ANG has been known to use '''138.2''' as primary CAP freq
* '''288.350'''  'Guard Dog' Aircraft, Coordination
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* Refueling is sometimes performed on the primary frequency but most often on a separate boom freq. The most popular boom freqs currently are '''320.6''' and '''324.0''' but can be on any number of freqs. The boom freq is normally stated at the beginning of the CAP.
* '''320.600''' Huntress (NORAD) boom frequency
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* The fighters and the tanker get clearance to enter/exit the CAP area using a Guard Dog (Washington Center) special frequency of '''135.525''' and '''288.350'''. Most often the fighters will use 288.35 and the tanker 135.525 but can use either.
* '''324.000''' Intercept aircraft (nationwide assignment)
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* ND-ANG (SPIDER) units has been noted on '''138.0'''
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* Shaw AFB (PITTMAN) units have been noted on '''138.15''' and '''141.6'''
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* Eglin AFB (ARROW) units have been noted on '''338.750''' and '''369.150'''
  
''Frequencies used in the past by aircraft for chit-chat, coordination, etc.''
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''Thanks to TinEar for the writeup''
* '''138.000'''  Fargo ND ANG F16s deployed to Langley AFB callsign SPIDER
 
* '''138.150'''  Shaw AFB SC F15s callsign PITTMAN
 
* '''138.200'''  NJ ANG Atlantic City F16s callsign ARROW, also Huntress (NORAD)
 
* '''138.425'''  NJ ANG Atlantic City F16s callsign ARROW
 
* '''139.700'''  DC ANG callsign BRAVE, also Huntress (NORAD)
 
* '''143.150'''  Shaw AFB SC F15s callsign PITTMAN
 
* '''338.750'''  Eglin AFB F15s callsign ARROW
 
* '''369.150'''  Eglin AFB F15s callsign ARROW
 
 
 
== Sites ==
 
Concentrate on the '''UHF''' frequencies (225-400 mhz)
 
 
 
* [http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=2247 Washington ARTCC]
 
* [[Potomac Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control]]
 
* [http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15095 Maryland Sticky Thread for Milair]
 
* [http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html FAA Graphic TFRs] Concentrate on those marked '''ZDC''' in the ''facility'' column
 
 
 
and for equipment, see our [[Milcom Receiving Equipment]] page. However, if you're a ham with a dualband (2m/440) radio, it's possible your radio can also receive milair. If it can do 138-144
 
Mhz (5 khz steps) and/or 225-400 mhz (12.5 or 25 khz steps) in AM mode, it's a possible candidate.
 
 
 
==Online Audio Links==
 
* [http://www.dxtuners.com/servlet/IBMainServlet/?ib_page=1 DXTuners.com]
 
** Use the Washington DC and Tidewater sites
 
* [http://www.mdscanner.com Maryland Scanner]
 
* [http://scanmilair-dc.com/ Scan Milair-dc.com]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/milairdc/ Scan Milair DC Teamspeak Yahoo Group]
 

Revision as of 20:49, 26 May 2006

The Combat Air Patrol (CAP) covering Washington D.C. and/or the Thurmont (Camp David) area is known as the Guard Dog CAP.

Here are the units with callsigns that participate in CAP duty (with the associated callsigns):

Guidance during the Guard Dog CAP is provided by North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)(NEADS) using callsign HUNTRESS The CAP is normally comprised of two F-15 or F-16 fighters and a KC-135 tanker for refueling support. A pair of F-22A Raptor fighters participated one weekend but don't expect this to happen very often.

Frequencies

  • HUNTRESS frequencies most often used for primary CAP control are 228.9 and 260.9
  • DC-ANG will often use 139.7 as primary CAP freq
  • NJ-ANG has been known to use 138.2 as primary CAP freq
  • Refueling is sometimes performed on the primary frequency but most often on a separate boom freq. The most popular boom freqs currently are 320.6 and 324.0 but can be on any number of freqs. The boom freq is normally stated at the beginning of the CAP.
  • The fighters and the tanker get clearance to enter/exit the CAP area using a Guard Dog (Washington Center) special frequency of 135.525 and 288.350. Most often the fighters will use 288.35 and the tanker 135.525 but can use either.
  • ND-ANG (SPIDER) units has been noted on 138.0
  • Shaw AFB (PITTMAN) units have been noted on 138.15 and 141.6
  • Eglin AFB (ARROW) units have been noted on 338.750 and 369.150

Thanks to TinEar for the writeup