Middle East and Southeast Asia MWARA /RDARA Frequencies

With military tension ratcheting up rapidly in Pakistan and India, civilian air activity has already been affected. International and regional aircraft transiting the two countries airspace use MWARA (Major World Air Route Area) HF frequencies when they are out of VHF/UHF range for ATC purposes. The main MWARA frequency group covering Pakistani and Indian air space are the Middle East 2 (MID-2) and Southeast Asia 1 (SEA-1) MWARA family of frequencies.

Here are the main frequencies and stations in the MID-2 and SEA-1 MWARAs to monitor (all freqs are in kHz and mode is USB:

Chennai ACC/FIC India (SEA-1): 2872 3470 5670 6583 6655 8861 8909 10036 11285 13318
Delhi ACC/FIC India (MID-1): 2872 3467 5580 5601 5658 8906 8948 10018 13288
Lahore ACC Pakistan (MID-1): 3467 5601 5658 10018
Karachi ACC Pakistan (MID-1): 2923 3467 5601 5658 10018 13288
Kolkata (ex-Calcutta) ACC/FIC India (SEA-1): 2872 2823 2947 3470 3491 5484 5580 6556 6583 8861 8906 8948 10066 13318
Mumbai (ex-Bombay) ACC/FIC India (MID-1): 2872 3467 5601 5658 6655 8879 8909 8948 10018 10084 13288

Mumbai (ex-Bombay) RDARA 6E: 6661

North Atlantic (NAT) MWARA Profile and Frequencies

Tony Roper posted the following list of North Atlantic (NAT) Major World Air Route Area (MWARA) frequencies on the UDXF list. I have added some additional material from my personal files and monitoring to round out this profile. If you are a military monitor, these frequencies are a great playground in the HF spectrum to catch possible mil aircraft activity. All frequencies are in kHz and mode is USB.

HF Aeronautical Frequencies

HO = Service available to meet operational requirements

NAT Family A: Used by all aircraft flying the Southern NAT Routes. Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates between 43° North and 47° North.
Ground Stations: Gander, New York, Santa Marie, Shanwick

3016.0 kHz 0100-0900 and 1800-2200 UTC
5598.0 kHz H24
8906.0 kHz 0900-2100 UTC
13306.0 kHz HO

NAT Family B: Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates between 47° North and 64° North. Ground Stations: Gander, Iceland, Shanwick

2899.0 kHz 0000-0900 and 1800-2400 UTC
5616.0 kHz H24
8864.0 kHz 0900-2100 UTC
13291.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family C: Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates between 47° North and 64° North. Ground Stations: Gander, Iceland, Shanwick

2872.0 kHz 0000-0900 and 1800-2400 UTC
5649.0 kHz H24
8879.0 kHz 0900-2100 UTC
11336.0 kHz HO
13306.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family D: Assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting coordinates north of 62° North. Ground Stations: Bodo, Gander, Iceland, Shanwick, Arctic Radio (not a NAT station)

2971.0 kHz 0100-0800 UTC
4675.0 kHz 0100-0800 and 1100-1800 UTC
8891.0 kHz HO
11279.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family E: Assigned on a tactical basis and coordinated between New York Radio and Santa Marie Radio.

2962.0 kHz 0100-0800 UTC
6628.0 kHz 0000-1900 UTC
8825.0 kHz 0000-1900 and 2300-2400 UTC
11309.0 kHz 0900-1900 UTC
13354.0 kHz 1100-1900 UTC
17946.0 kHz HO

NAT Family F: Assigned on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio and Gander Radio.

3476.0 kHz 0100-0800 UTC
6622.0 kHz 1000-1800 UTC
8831.0 kHz 1000-1800 UTC
13291.0 kHz HO
17946.0 kHz HO

Starting April 22, 2013, the following additional Regional and Domestic Air Route Area (RDARA) HF frequencies  (NAT H/I/J) will be used on a tactical basis by Shanwick Radio, adjoining NARTEL (North Atlantic Enroute HF RTL Network) Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies. These frequencies are used individually or by common network agreement between the NAT aeronautical stations.

NAT Family H: Used on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio, adjoining NARTEL Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies.

2965.0 kHz HO
3491.0 kHz HO
5583.0 kHz HO
6556.0 kHz HO
6667.0 kHz HO
10021.0 kHz HO
10036.0 kHz HO
11363.0 kHz HO

NAT Family I: Used on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio,
adjoining NARTEL Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies.

2860.0 kHz HO
2881.0 kHz HO
2890.0 kHz HO
3458.0 kHz HO
3473.0 kHz HO
3488.0 kHz HO
5484.0 kHz HO
5568.0 kHz HO
6550.0 kHz HO
6595.0 kHz HO
10066.0 kHz HO

NAT Family J: Used on a tactical basis and coordinated between Shanwick Radio, adjoining NARTEL Radio Stations and domestic ATC agencies.

2869.0 kHz HO
2944.0 kHz HO
2992.0 kHz HO
3446.0 kHz HO
3473.0 kHz HO
4651.0 kHz HO
4666.0 kHz HO
4684.0 kHz HO
5460.0 kHz HO
5481.0 kHz HO
5559.0 kHz HO
5577.0 kHz HO
6547.0 kHz HO
8954.0 kHz HO
11276.0 kHz HO

After April 22, 2013, the historical practice of assigning aircraft registered west of 30° west HF Family 'B' frequencies and east of 30° west HF Family 'C' frequencies, no longer applies.  NAT HF Family 'B' and 'C' frequencies are assigned to aircraft flying routes with reporting co-ordinates between 47° North and 64° North.

Search and Rescue (SAR) - Operated as required

2182.0 kHz HO
3023.0 kHz HO
5680.0 kHz HO

Hours of service of individual frequencies, or groups of frequencies, may vary as HF propagation conditions or operational requirements demand.

VHF Aircraft Frequencies

123.450 MHz H24 - VHF air to air frequency enables aircraft engaged in flights over remote and oceanic areas, out of range of VHF ground stations, to exchange necessary operational information and to facilitate the resolution of operational problems.
122.375 MHz - Gander

123.950 MHz H24 - For use by aircraft registered in States west of 030° West for requesting Oceanic clearance direct from OAC.

124.175 MHz H24

126.550 MHz - Reykjavik

126.900 MHz - Churchill, Gander, Goose, Iqaluit, Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Winnipeg

127.100 MHz - Gander
127.650 MHz H24 - For use by aircraft registered in States east of 030° West for requesting Oceanic clearance direct from OAC. For this purpose Australia is regarded as being east of 030° West.

127.850 MHz - Reykjavik
127.900 MHz H24 - Gander, Santa Marie, Shanwick. Used when practicable by aircraft when east of 020° West to reduce loading on HF channels. Traffic received on this frequency is handled in exactly the same way as if received on HF.

129.900 MHz - New York

SATCOM

425002 - A/G Shanwick Radio H24 Irish Aviation Authority. Available for routine ATS messages via Shanwick Radio.

423201 - ATC Shanwick Oceanic H24 NATS Ltd.  Available for direct pilot/controller communications in emergency situations only

436623 - ATC New York Atlantic Flights H24

436625 - ATC San Francisco Pacific Flights H24

Turmoil in Egypt - Civilian/Military Aero Frequencies

As indicated in two articles on the Shortwave Central Blog -  Egypt in Turmoil and Egypt in Turmoil - Monitoring Egyptian Radio via the Internet , Egypt is in nearly complete  collapse. Below I have compiled a list of Cairo area airports (military and civilian) as well as the Cairo Air Control Center VHF and HF frequencies. Cairo Radio on the AFI MWARA frequencies listed below is widely heard worldwide controlling aircraft within the Cairo FIR.

CAIRO ACC, EG (HECC)
Sector 1 127.700 128.725
Sector 2 124.700 125.175
Sect0r 3 119.350 126.600
Sector 4 129.400 124.575
SW Sector 130.900

HF ATC AFI MWARA (freqs in kHz and mode is USB) 11300 6574 5517 5637 (13288 Opr SR-SS) (3467 Opr SS-SR)

CAIRO INTL, EG (HECA)
ATIS 122.600
Approach 119.050 119.550 120.700
Tower 118.100 119.550
Ground Control 121.900 127.600
Preflight 120.100

ALMAZA AFB, EG (HEAZ)
Cairo Approach 119.050 119.550 120.700
Cairo Tower 118.100 119.550
Tower 132.900 263.000

More as we get field reports.

UK Thwarts Massive Terror Plot - North Atlantic MWARA Freqs

Press reports this morning are headlining a story on a terror plan to blow up commercial airlines in mid flight that has apparently been disrupted by Britain's Scotland Yard. Because the US DHS is not sure if the plot has been completely thwarted, they have raised the threat level to critical or red for flights from the UK to the US. The Associated Press is reporting that the terror threat appeared to be aimed at United, American, Continental and British Airways international flights.

Radio monitors can keep tabs on trans Atlantic aircraft traffic via the North Atlantic MMARA family of frequencies listed below. Be especially diligent of the LDOCF frequencies listed below. These ARINC frequencies could provide especially interesting monitoring.

North Atlantic Major World Aero Route HF Frequencies

This aeronautical major world air route has a high concentration of military, airline, charter, and business aircraft crossing the Atlantic on a variety of routes within six sub-families.

Graphics showing the boundaries of each of the NAT sub-families is available courtesy of Risto Hirvomen via the following links:

NAT ABCEF MWARA Graphic

NAT D MWARA Graphic

NAT-A North Atlantic Family A:
This sub-family of frequencies is assigned to aircraft whose route or portion of route transits Gander, New York, Santa Maria and Shanwick areas, especially those aircraft flying routes with reporting point coordinates between 43N and 47N. During off peak periods, and when watch is reduced on other families, Family A will remain the primary assignment for aircraft flying southerly routes.

Frequencies: 3016.0 5598.0 8906.0 13306.0 17946.0 kHz (USB)
Ground Stations: Gander, New York, Santa Maria, Shanwick

NAT-B North Atlantic Family B:
This sub-family of frequencies is assigned to aircraft flying on eastbound or westbound tracks whose route or portion of route lies within the Gander, Iceland and Shanwick areas, particularly aircraft flying routes with reporting point coordinates between 47N and 64N. In order to ensure even peak-time distribution of traffic between Family B and C, aircraft may be assigned to either family on the basis of; state of registry, airline company or other such criteria as agreed between Shanwick Radio and Gander Radio.

Frequencies: 2899.0 5616.0 8864.0 13291.0 17946.0 kHz (USB)
Ground Stations: Gander, Iceland, Shanwick

NAT-C North Atlantic Family C:
This sub-family of frequencies is assigned to aircraft flying on eastbound or westbound tracks whose route or portion of route lies within the Gander, Iceland and Shanwick areas, particularly aircraft flying routes with reporting point coordinates between 47N and 64N. In order to ensure even peak-time distribution of traffic between Family B and C, aircraft may be assigned to either family on the basis of; state of registry, airline company or other such criteria as agreed between Shanwick Radio and Gander Radio.

Frequencies: 2872.0 5649.0 8879.0 11336.0 13306.0 17946.0 kHz (USB)
Ground Stations: Gander, Iceland, Shanwick

NAT-D North Atlantic Family D:
This sub-family of frequencies is assigned to aircraft whose route or portion of route lies within the Bodo, Gander, Iceland and Shanwick areas, particularly those aircraft flying routes with reporting point coordinates north of 62N.

Frequencies: 2971.0 4675.0 8891.0 11279.0 13291.0 17946.0 kHz (USB)
Ground Stations: Artic Radio, Bodo, Gander, Iceland, Shanwick

NAT-E North Atlantic Family E:
This sub-family of frequencies is assigned to aircraft whose route or portion of route transits New York and Santa Maria areas, especially those aircraft flying routes with reporting point coordinates south of 43N.

Frequencies: 2962.0 6628.0 8825.0 11309.0 13354.0 17946.0 kHz (USB)
Ground Stations: Canarias, New York, Santa Maria

NAT-F North Atlantic Family F:
This sub-family of frequencies is assigned to aircraft whose route or portion of route transits New York and Santa Maria areas, especially those aircraft flying routes with reporting point coordinates south of 43N.

Frequencies: 3476.0 6622.0 8831.0 13291.0 17946.0 kHz (USB)
Ground Stations: Gander, Shanwick

13306.0 kHz is shared between families A and C. 13291.0 kHz is shared between families, B, D and F. 17946.0 kHz is shared by all the families. 13354.0 kHz is shared with RDARA 5 and 7.

Based on basic HF propagation priciples, the following bands are used based on time of day.

2-8 MHz Night Propagation
9 MHz and higher Day Propagation

As a general rule, when assigning primary and secondary frequencies, ground station personnel will assign lower frequencies as primary and higher frequencies as secondary for aircraft flying away from the ground station. Conversely, for aircraft routing towards the station, the higher frequencies will be assigned as primary and lower frequencies as secondary.

Ground Station Frequency Profiles

Bodo Norway
2971.0 2983.0 4666.0 4675.0 6544.0 8840.0 8891.0 11279.0 kHz
SAR: 3023.0 5680.0 kHz

Gander Newfoundland, Canada
2872.0 2899.0 2971.0 3016.0 3476.0 4675.0 5598.0 5616.0 5649.0 6622.0 8831.0 8864.0 8879.0 8891.0 8906.0 11336.0 13291.0 13306.0 kHz
VOLMET: 3485.0 6604.0 10051.0 13270.0 kHz.

Reykjavik, Iceland
2872.0 2899.0 2971.0 4675.0 5616.0 5649.0 8864.0 8879.0 8891.0 11279.0 13291.0 13306.0 17946.0 kHz

Bohemia, New York
NAT: 2962.0 3016.0 5598.0 6628.0 8825.0 8906.0 11309.0 13306.0 13354.0 17946.0 17952.0 21964.0 kHz
Caribbean-A CAR-A: 2887.0 5550.0 6577.0 8846.0 11396.0 13297.0 kHz
Caribbean-B CAR-B: 3455.0 5520.0 6586.0 8918.0 11330.0 17907.0 kHz
VOLMET: 3485.0 6604.0 10051.0 13270.0 kHz
LDOCF: 3494.0 6640.0 8933.0 11342.0 13330.0 17925.0 kHz

Santa Maria, Azores
2962.0 3016.0 5598.0 6628.0 8825.0 8906.0 11309.0 13306.0 13354.0 17946.0 kHz

Shanwick, Shannon, Ireland
2872.0 2899.0 2971.0 3016.0 3476.0 4675.0 5598.0 5616.0 5649.0 6622.0 8831.0 8864.0 8879.0 8891.0 8906.0 11336.0 13291.0 13306.0 kHz
SAR: 2182.0 3023.0 5680.0 kHz
VOLMET: 3413.0 5505.0 8957.0 13264.0 kHz

The best online guide I have seen on this that will answer many questions is at: NAT-HF Guidance. You should download this and study it to understand completely the NAT MWARA system.