[MilCom] MAXIM et al

[lrk]

On Sat, Sep 24, 2005 at 06:36:45PM -0500, W wrote:
>  
> 121.500 - nervous sounding pilot, "uhhh, sir an F-16 just shot flares at
> me..."

Might be another guy who filed a flight plan thru a TFR and nobody pointed
out that he could get "attacked" even when talking to ATC.
.
  
> Maxims up on 271.000 working Texaco
  
TEXACO ## is a normal tanker callsign. The CAPs recently usually have the
tanker just using TANKER ## but the fighters often ask where they are from.

  
> Are the MAXIMS being controlled by a ground controller, AWACS or are they
> autonomous?  As soon as a call goes out on 121.500 they seem to target the
> offending aircraft.

Theory is they are controlled by SEADS or WADS via a ground station and that
station has an open line to the local ATC. There have been several different
arrangements. Haven't been any AWACS doing CAPs around here.

At least recently they haven't been chasing scheduled airliners into 
Waco Regional.

  
> Is it an AWACS or ground station broadcasting the warnings to aircraft on
> 121.500?

There have been both. I suspect around San Antonio they are the aircraft.
That usually means there is no other channel as the F-16s seem to have only
the two radios.


> Never been in the middle of one of these POTUS CAPs so it is very
> interesting monitoring for me.

Does get interesting but in the past it was a bit frightening listening to
the screwups. They have backed down a lot doing CAPs at the ranch and
may be doing better with the ATC co-ordination. 

The tanker may have a normal ATC freq up for that area. They usually
operate about 22,000 feet flying a racetrack pattern but not a normal
AR track.

Dubya is supposed to RON so they may be up all night.


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