[MilCom] KCEF Air Show Alert & Detailed Information!!!

[Ken]

The Great New England Air Show will be held at Westover Joint Air Reserve
Base, Chicopee MA on August 14th & 15th, 2004.   (You can expect aircraft to
start arriving by 8/12/04).  A crowd of over 300K is expected over the 2 day
event & you can expect a very strong law enforcement/security presence to
insure your safety & security.

See the website http:///www.greatnewenglandairshow.com  for complete
information on aerial performers, aircraft static displays, tentative show
schedule, & other important information including security
restrictions/rules that will be in affect.

POTENTIAL RADIO FREQUENCIES TO MONITOR:

Aircraft Control & Aerial Performers (AM mode)
Air Traffic Control:
Ground Control:  118.35/275.8
Tower:  134.85/348.75
ATIS:  138.10
Metro Wx:  274.75
Command Post/Base Ops:  252.1, 372.2
Air/Air Tactical:  41.90 (NFM), 46.75 (NFM), 123.05, 242.4, 301.4, 356.3

Bradley Approach Control:  125.35/325.8, 125.65, 327.1
Boston Air Route Traffic Control:  132.65/379.1
Unicom Metro Air Services/Pax Terminal: 123.0

Air Show Boss: (it's unclear at this time whether the typical ground control
or tower freqs will be used
OR some discrete aero VHF & UHF freqs).

Aerial Performers (Courtesy 'Monitoring Times' magazine  (see:
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtairshows.html for a complete up to the
minute list & detail usage of these frequencies)

USAF Thunderbirds F16 Flight Demo Team:  141.85, 142.575, 143.85, 143.90,
235.25, 322.95

US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team:  123.40, 123.475, 123.50, 367.7 &
possibly 32.3, 32.4, 122.575, 124.875, 284.90

(see the website above for other military aircraft teams as well as
potential use of low
power inter squad radio NFM tactical portable radios)

Civilian Peformers:  122.725, 122.75, 122.775, 122.825, 122.95, 123.15, &
123.475.

Primary On Base Radio Nets (probably offer the most information about what's
going on)
Commander's Net 148.05, 149.55
Security/Law Enforcement:  163.4875, 165.1875 (there could be others,
remember to "search")
Fire Crash:   173.4125, 173.4375
Transit Alert/Acft Parking/Base Operations:  165.1375
Base Operations/Civil Enginnering Nets:  173.5375
Medical:  173.5625
 I'd also suggest doing some search scanning in the 138-144, 148-150, &
162-174, 406-420 mhz areas for other military & federal freqs/nets that may
be in use for this very large public event!!!! -- that's the REAL fun of
this!!!

Other Public Safety Support (communities surrounding the base perimeter &
major travel routes into the airshow)
Law Enforcement:
Chicopee PD:  866.5625, 868.5375, ITAC's direct
Granby PD:  155.25R
S. Hadley PD:  867.8625, ITAC's direct
Ludlow PD:  453.25R, (never heard any reference to direct simplex freqs)
Regional Law Enforcement Net:  155.475, 460.225, 858.7375 (simucast all),
460.475 (secondary)
MA State PD Troop B Trunking System:  852.2625, 856/57/58/59/60.7875 (I'd
guess the helo with the video downlink will probably be using the statewide
talk group).
MA State PD Troop B fixed & mobiles:  42.44, 42.46 (dispatch), 42.50
(secondary), 42.34(mobile), 42.38 (mobile), 42.42 (mobile), 42.54 (mobile &
base)
MA State PD Troop E, Turnpike Support:  42.42 (mobiles & station E3
Westfield), 159.03R, 159.225R
MA State PD tactical/direct:  154.92, 155.475, 868.9375, 868.95, 868.9625,
868.975, 868.9875.
ITACS:  866.0125 (call), 866.5125 (#1), 867.0125 (#2, probably
repeaterized), 867.5125(#3), 868.0125(#4)
Environmental Police:  31.46, 31.50, also talk groups on MA State PD
trunking systems.

Fire:
Chicopee FD:  154.16R, 154.34
S. Hadley FD:  151.175R, 153.89
Granby FD:  155.04R
Ludlow FD:  154.205R, 154.25
Regional Coordination Nets:  154.28, 453.4125, 154.37

Emergency Medical:  (NOTE: Chicopee, Granby, Ludlow, S. Hadley FD's all
operate ambulance services)
Ambulance to Hospitals (direct & phone patch Through Springfield CMED):
463.075 (calling), 155.34, 463.000, 463.125 as well as other UHF meds as
overflow.
Private Ambulances:  159.4125, 463.10, 400 mhz LMR system

Misc Others Support:
Chicopee Electric:  451.05, 451.15
WMass Electric:  47.98
Mass Highway Dept:  47.26
Mass Turnpike Highway Maint:  159.045R, 159.24R (they will probably have to
put up additional caution boards)
Mass State Parks (Chicopee SP is right on the other side of the runway):
151.145R, 151.205, 151.37 (local park ops)

The Military Notice to Airman Website shows the following:
L0376/04 - WESTOVER ARB, NO ARRIVALS OR DEPARTURES EXCEPT AIRSHOW AIRCRAFT
FROM 2000Z 12 AUGUST 04 TO 1600Z 16 AUGUST 04. WAIVER APPROVAL AUTHORITY IS
THE 439OG/CC. 15 JUN 13:25 UNTIL 16 AUG 16:00

DIRECTIONS TO THE AIRSHOW:   (If you get lost don't blame me, there are
other alternatives!!!!):
Well I'd suggest using a mapping program but basically here's the routes:
#1.  From the East.  Mass Turnpike Exit 6 Springfield, Turn Left at lights
to South Interstate 291 exit Fuller Road (exit 1) (less than 1/2 mile) will
have signage as well as police directing traffic (there are other
alternatives)
#2.  From the West.  Mass Turnpike Exit 5 Chicopee (bear right intially out
of tolls), & than turn left onto Route 33 North (again there will be police
directing traffic) (not really any alternatives).
#3.  From the South.  I'd recommend Interstate 91 North, to Interstate 391
North & exit 4 Grattan St, bear Right & than at lights (McKinstry Ave) take
left & than at next set of major lights (next to CVS) bear left again onto
Granby Rd) and follow the directions to the show (there are alternatives,
e.g. you could get off at exit on 3 right (which is where the signage will
be) & follow Granby Rd up to Route 33).
#4.  From the North.  I'd recommend Interstate 91 South, exit in Holyoke
Route 202 North (exit 17) & than follow route 202 until it intersects with
Route 33, bear right and follow signs on Route 33 to base entrance (also
alternatives here).
#5.  For those of you that are more into the adventure of getting there (or
are VERY late arrivals or hate traffic) and like to walk a bit or just are
into nature --- you could take Interstate 90 ext 5 (Ludlow), bear left onto
Route 21 east.  Take a left on to Chapin St (lights) Ludlow public safety
complex on your right) than a right at the next stop sign to Fuller St pay
attention to Fuller St curves, than a right onto West St and continue on
West St until entering Granby (where the road becomes East St) and than take
a left onto to New Ludlow Rd, & than another left onto South St (by small
country store)... I'd assume that there will be some signage & police
support probably at the New Ludlow Rd/East St intersection.
#6. ALTERNATIVE ----  If you'd prefer to go swimming, relax, and have a cook
out while watching & monitoring the action  then go to Chicopee State Park
(which is close to the runway 5/23 area & a fairly good view of the show box
area...  Take Route 90 East & exit at 6 (Springfield).. Take a right at the
lights and to Johnny Cake Rd & bear right again on to Burnnett Rd. Just
after the Fire Station take a left into the entrance to Chicopee State
Park...

PARKING AVAILABLE (AGAIN the earlier you arrive the better chance you will
have to be closer to the action, this is an unofficial opinion, of what I
think is going to happen -- If you come early and still end up being parked
5 miles away & can't see anything don't blame me!!!)...
Well at this point it looks like there's going to be 4 major parking areas:
Referring to the above
#1 parking will start somewhere on the flight line taxiway areas on the
civilian side of the airport (Sheridan St).  Overflow will most likely go
into the industrial area parking lots (and vehicles parked along ANY access
roads will immediately be towed).
#2 You will be entering via the Industrial Area Gate via Westover Rd -- 
parking will be on the base proper in the many parking lots and open areas
on the base (there again will be a very large no parking/stopping zone set
up going on to the base and any traffic stopped there will be towed).
#3 same as #2.
#4 You will enter via the Fairview Gate and may very well get the prime
parking area which will be off the Runway 15 approach zone & allow easy view
of the air show box area from your car.   As it fills up vehicles will than
be parked at other open areas on the base.  If the open areas fill up that
overflow will probably go to #5 since there's going to be no parking/tow
zones set up all along James St & any vehicles parked on the sides of the
road will be towed immediately  -- Also there's lots of private property
(Condos) in this area...  so if you park in those areas you probably will be
towed also...  My guess is the Condo association will hire PD officers to
control access into the areas.
#5 You will enter via the Ludlow/Granby gate, and park where the old SAC HF
SSB transmitter radio site use to be.  You will in natural perserve area of
the base.   Walking from this area is approximately 1 1/2 miles to show
line, so there will be shuttle buses (not sure of the bears have left the
area yet!!!).  Chances are that overflow from #4 & maybe #2 may also be sent
here.
#6  Chicopee State Park -- limited parking and unsure if overflow will be
allowed to park on roadway (doubtful).


MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS:

I'll be monitoring FRS Channel 5 (462.6625),   CTCSS 30 (186.2 hz).
Callsign "WIND ONE"

I hope many of you will take the opportunity to attend preshow arrival on
Friday 8/13/04 (expect Golden Knights parachute jump & TBirds practice
around 0900 hrs), as well as numerous aircraft flying in.  At this time the
parking area just past the civilian air terminal may be open for parking..

I hope to meet many of you at the preshow arrival & show dates -- we are
also looking into having
an after show supper on Saturday (not too far off base)..   If you are
going to attend preshow/air show or perhaps want to attend the after show
supper than please give me private email at rfinder1 at verizon.net

Ken