NAS Whiting Field Reopens NOLF Summerdale (KNFD)

 

Blog Author Note: Frequency profile presented at the end of this article.

By Jay Cope, Naval Air Station Whiting Field Public Affairs

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (NNS) -- With a quick snip of the oversized, ceremonial scissors and a fluttering of red, white, and blue ribbon, Naval Air Station Whiting Field's Navy Outlying Landing Field Summerdale was officially reopened for business March 14.

 The outlying field, located in Baldwin County, had been idle for more than 10 years, but a recent military construction project lengthened the runways to enable them to accommodate the installation's fleet of T-6B Texan II aircraft.

 Baldwin County Commissioner Chris Elliott joined NAS Whiting Field Commanding Officer Capt. Todd Bahlau in the ceremony and recalled his time as a youth riding a bike near the airfield and seeing the previous training aircraft performing touch and go operations. The sight spurred his interest in aviation, and engendered a true excitement in the military.

 "It is absolutely the most patriotic thing we have going here in Baldwin County," Bahlau said following the ceremony. "It is an awesome aircraft, and the mission of training NAS Whiting Field performs is incredibly important. We are proud to have you back!"

 NAS Whiting Field has not utilized NOLF Summerdale regularly since 2005, but with the recent P-266 construction on the facility completed, training flights can now recommence. Construction was necessitated by the installation's planned replacement of the venerable T-34 Turbomentor aircraft with the T-6B Texan II. The T-6B required longer runways and NOLF Barin and NOLF Summerdale were selected as the airfields best able to accommodate the extensions during a lengthy scoping process in 2010.

 The construction effort included the purchase of privately owned land, dwellings and structures necessary for the construction of runway extensions, reestablishing clear zones and realigning nearby roadways. Each runway was extended by 1,150 feet, providing total runway lengths of 4,000 feet. Additionally, 500 foot overruns were provided at the end of each runway to comply with Navy and FAA Safety requirements. The construction at NOLF Summerdale represents one half of a $36.5M Military Construction (MILCON) project to revitalize and extend NOLFs Barin and Summerdale.

 "The completion of NOLF Summerdale represents a significant increase in flight safety and scheduling flexibility for Training Air Wing 5 to complete their Primary flight training mission," Cmdr. Eric Seib, NAS Whiting Field's Operations Officer said. "With nearly 70 percent of all primary flight training flown out of NAS Whiting Field, the addition of NOLF Summerdale gives a significant increase in airfield training opportunities. The addition of NOLF Summerdale reduces airspace congestion thus increasing flight safety over the other NOLF's that support primary flight training. The completion of P266 represents a major milestone in potential student Naval aviator throughput at NAS Whiting Field."

 NAS Whiting Field's complex is the busiest Naval aviation facility in the world and serves as the "Backbone of Naval Aviation." Training Air Wing 5, the major tenant command on the base, regularly accomplishes more than 1.1 million flight operations per year and flies more than 150,000 flight hours. This comprises 14 percent of all Navy and Marine Corps flight hours worldwide.

 More than 700 student military aviators completed their primary flight training through Training Air Wing 5 in 2015. This comprises approximately two thirds of all primary Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviators. TRAWING-5 also trains all helicopter pilots for the three maritime services. NOLF Summerdale will be one of five outlying fields that NAS Whiting Field and Training Air Wing 5 use to complete their T-6B aviator training mission.

 The others are NOLFs Barin, Evergreen, Brewton, and Choctaw. Bahlau emphasized the need for NOLF Summerdale to augment the other NOLFs.

 "The production of pilots for our national defense is just as important now as it was when Outlying Field Summerdale was first constructed in 1943," NAS Whiting Field Commanding Officer Capt. Todd Bahlau said. "The completion of the runway extensions at Summerdale reestablishes a key asset for our mission and will help ensure years of safe, productive flight training for our student aviators."

 Navy Outlying Landing Field Summerdale has played an integral part in NAS Whiting Field's military pilot training mission, dating back to its original construction date of 1943. During the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s this airfield supported training flights from both Training Air Wing 5 at NAS Whiting Field and Training Air Wing 6 at NAS Pensacola in support of T-34 touch and goes. The last significant number of operations that occurred at NOLF Summerdale was in 2005, when Training Air Wing 6 at NAS Pensacola began their T-34 to T-6A transition. Since 2005 the airfield has served as a "Low Approach" only airfield due to the runway length restrictions.

 Training Air Wing 5 commenced full-time training flight operations March 14.

 "The residents of Baldwin County and Summerdale are tremendous patriots and supporters of the military -- it is a great place to fly, and we are happy to be back," Bahlau said.

NAS Pensacola Area Frequency Guide courtesy of Teak Publishing

2015 Air Show Guide Now Available

Every year, from March through November, millions of people hit the road to watch the excitement and thrills as military and civilian flight demonstration teams put their high performance aircraft through the paces to entertain the crowds and perform at air shows all over the world. Anyone who has attended one of these events will tell you it is thrilling to watch the close quarter flying of the Blue Angels delta formation or the hair-splitting maneuvers of the Thunderbird opposing solos.

While attending the show and enjoying the sights and sounds is an exciting experience that is only half the fun. You can add another whole dimension to that visual experience by monitoring the performing teams’ radio communications.

With a radio scanner in hand you will experience a whole new perspective of the show that few of the attendees will ever experience – pilot audio from the aircraft cockpit. While everyone else at the air show is just watching and listening to the public address system narrator, you’ll be able to hear what’s happening inside the cockpit, up in the tower and on the ground with the hundreds of players that keep these screaming, state of-the-art air machines thundering through the skies.

But you can’t tell the players without a program, and to indulge in the craft of monitoring the air show experience you need a current and well researched list of frequencies that the various performers may use during their performances.

In our new Teak Publishing 2015 Air Show Guide eBook, former Monitoring Times Editor and Milcom columnist Larry Van Horn - N5FPW, delivers the hundreds of frequencies you’ll need to monitor the action if you’re within receiving distance of any air show in 2015.

From the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, military parachute and search and rescue demonstration teams, to a wide variety of other military and civilian demonstration teams from the U.S. and abroad, Larry has the list of frequencies each unit has used. Now you can bring the excitement you see at the show to your ears. Listening to the nonstop action at the air show on dozens of radio frequencies is part of the real fun of being there.

But wait, there’s more! Larry also tells you which scanners work best at the air shows, what features you’ll need and which models can cover the military as well as civilian frequencies used at these events. There is also a chapter on tips for enjoying a great day at the air show.

You will also get frequency lists for other possible frequencies that may be used at the air show including GMRS, Family Radio Service (FRS), DoD Intra-Squad Radio frequencies, and even Civil Air Patrol VHF/UHF frequencies and call signs. We also include in this eBook an up-to-date air show Internet resource guide and frequency listings for overseas military and civilian aeronautical demonstrations teams.

Finally you will get the latest air show schedules for the Navy Blue Angels, Air Force Thunderbirds, Canadian Forces Snowbirds and the Army Golden Knight Parachute Teams. We include with each show location, the latest air traffic control frequencies for each facility hosting a show, when known. This schedule information only covers the United States and Canada.

This is the 16th edition of this popular frequency monitoring guide published by the author. The first fourteen editions appeared annually each March in the pages of the former Monitoring Times magazine and were one of the most popular features carried in the magazine. This edition of the Teak Publishing Air Show Guide is the most comprehensive collection of air show information and frequencies currently published for the radio listening hobbyist.

The Teak Publishing 2015 Air Show Guide is now available for purchase worldwide from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R6QG7GW/. The price for this second eBook edition is US$3.99. Since this book is being released internationally, Amazon customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France Spain, Italy, Japan, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia can order this e-Book from Amazon websites directly servicing these countries. All other countries can use the regular Amazon.com website.

When the T-Birds, Blue Angels, and all the other precision flight teams are in the air, Larry has all the frequencies you need to hear them on the air in this new eBook from Teak Publishing!

Frequency updates, correction and late additions between editions of this e-Book will be posted on his Milcom Monitoring Post blog at: http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/.

You do not even need to own a Kindle reader to read Amazon e-book publications. You can read any Kindle book with Amazon’s free reading apps. There are free Kindle reading apps for the Kindle Cloud Reader, Smartphones (iPhone, iTouch, Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry); computer platforms (Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 and Mac); Tablets (iPad, Android and Windows 8), and, of course, all of the Kindle family of readers including the Kindle Fire series. A Kindle e-book allows you to buy your book once and read it anywhere. You can find additional details on these apps by checking out this link to the Amazon website at www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771.

For additional information on this and other Teak Publishing radio hobby books, monitor the company sponsored Internet blogs – The Military Monitoring Post (http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/), The Btown Monitor Post (http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/) and The Shortwave Central (http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/) for availability of additional e-books that are currently in production.
You can learn more about the author by going to his author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00G1QMO4C.

Current NORAD UHF MilAir Frequencies

There are a lot of bad NORAD frequency list floating around out there on the net, including some old ones that have old designators heard after in use after the 9/11 attack. The frequencies listed below is a complete list of currently assigned NORAD UHF military air frequencies.

Since the entire UHF military air (225-400 MHz) band plan was overhauled by DoD in recent years, quite a few of the old NORAD frequencies have been reassigned for other uses.

I should also note that I have not heard, not have I seen any valid reports, of any of those old NORAD color/number designators actually being used on the air since the band plan overhaul began back in 2004.

So in case you weren’t a Monitoring Times subscriber and a follower of my old Milcom column, here is the list of the current NORAD UHF milair frequency assignments.

 

228.900  234.600  235.900  238.400  252.000  254.200  260.900  265.400  270.200  271.000  274.000  277.600  278.000  281.600  282.600  288.400  293.600  316.300  320.600  324.000  327.900  328.000  355.200  364.200  (AICC Nationwide) 386.000 MHz

Another facet of air defense is the use of US Air Force E-3 AWACS aircraft for air defense zone surveillance. These aircraft also have some specific UHF mil assignments now that the band has been overhauled including a frequency shared with the AD frequencies listed above.

237.150  254.475  303.100  317.950  320.600 (also shared with AD feqs above)  324.650  335.950  388.950 MHz

Given the current state of relations with Russia and the many ADIZ intercepts in recent weeks, milcom monitors along the coastline should keep these frequencies programmed in their scanners. These frequencies are also used during various NORAD combat air patrols nationwide.

Frequency lists above courtesy of Teak Publishing, all rights reserved.

Heads up West Coast - the MAFFS 130s from Charlotte heading your way

From the NORAD/USNORTHCOM twitter feed:

"Two C-130s with MAFFS system from 145th Airlift Wing/North Carolina Air National Guard are being activated to assist with California wildfires."

For our west coast readers watch for the 145AW call signs Epic ## and MAFF ##. In addition to the regular west area fire cache freqs, two possible 145AW frequencies to watch for include 289.2000 and 292.2500 MHz.

If you aren't already, you can follow our military hobby comm twitter feed for additional freq and call information @MilcomMP.

NAS Jacksonville P-3 and P-8 Callsigns/Frequencies

Our good friend Mac McCormick III has posted an excellent online reference for those of us who like to monitor the fixed wing ASW assets based at NAS Jacksonville. Check out his blog post at http://kf4lmt.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/nas-jacksonville-p-3-and-p-8-callsigns/. Thanks Mac that is good stuff and keep us informed of changes down your way.

Blue Angels on the Move, and will Perform Today -- Finally!!!

This afternoon at 3:30 p.m. the Navy will take on Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. And the good news is the Blue Angels will be there for a flyover. Yesterday the flight demo team left Pensacola and are now in the South Bend area.

If you are nearby, here are the frequencies to monitor from our exclusive, annual air show guide.

Blue Angel Aero Frequencies

The premier U.S. Navy/Marine Corps military flight demonstration team on the air show circuit is the Blue Angels flying the F/A- 18 Hornet aircraft. The team is based at Forrest Sherman Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. However, the squadron does spend January through March each year training pilots and new team members at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California. The other major piece of flying hardware in the squadron is their C-130T Hercules transport aircraft, affectionately known as “Fat Albert Airlines.”

237.800 Solos outside the show box (Solo #2) and cross country air/air [Channel 8]
251.600 Air/Air nationwide and at NAS Pensacola – Start and taxi
255.200 Circle/arrivals discrete and cross country air/ air [Channel 17]
265.000 Diamond formation secondary
275.350 Diamond formation outside the show box, cross country air/air and their Pensacola squadron common [Channel 9]
284.250 Show box (center) for diamond, solos, delta and cross country air/air [Channel 16]
289.800 Air refueling during cross country trips
305.500 Fat Albert “Bert” primary, solo aircraft (west coast) and maintenance officer [Channel 10]
305.900 Fat Albert “Bert” and solos/“Ernie Demo” Blue Angel 9
333.300 Diamond formation/Delta show box (Fleet Week in San Francisco)
346.500 “Checklist Freq” – Pre-show checklist, ground start/roll out and maintenance [Channel 18]

The Blue Angel ground maintenance crews have their own set of communication frequencies in support of their mission. They carry with them a communications cart (comcart) for their ground maintenance net. The two confirmed frequencies used by this cart include:

139.8125 Ground maintenance crews/equipment checks NBFM 67.0 Hz PL tone
141.6125 Ground maintenance crews/equipment checks NBFM 67.0 Hz PL tone
142.6125 Tower Observer NBFM 67.0 Hz PL tone

We have now had several reports that the Blue Angels have the capability to operate on 380-400 MHz Navy trunk radio systems. In the Southeast Region, the ground maintenance team (aircraft ground handlers) and tower-to-comcart communications have used talk group 29529. Talk group 29530 has been used when the team conducts comm checks and at the start of their performance.

If you attend an air show this year at a base that has one of these new DoD 380-400 MHz trunk radio systems, be sure to program these systems in your scanner. You might be treated to some interesting ground communications on
talk groups 29529 and 29530.

Now that Monitoring Times has ceased publication, we will be publishing our annual air show guide and exclusive frequency list in e-book format through Amazon before the end of the year. We will announce the  availability of that publication as soon as it is available online.

Another T-Bird Frequency Update

As folks attend air shows this season we continue to receive frequency reports from the field on frequencies that have been heard or uncovered by the various air show performers. We use these reports, including reports that verify the frequencies in our annual MT Air Show Guide, to compile the next guide that will be released in the March 2013 MT.

This latest report comes from another north easterner Brian Topolski. During the Atlantic City air show, “Thunder Over The Boardwalk.” According to Brian "the Thunderbirds were providing a live video feed from inside the jet cockpit to a huge video screen on the Atlantic City boardwalk. Their comm-cart was set up directly on the boardwalk and I was able to get a close look at it. I noticed a rack mounted receiver, and a screen readout of: (CH-3) 4845.0 MHz."

Brian confirmed with one of the team members that the frequency listed above on the comm-cart was providing the video feed.

So this will be an interesting frequency range to explore. Wonder whether the frequency is analog NTSC or the newer digital standard video used by US television stations these days?

That is it for this report. If you attend an air show this season we want to hear from you. Even if the freqs you monitored are in our guide, your report is still valuable to us to confirm and verify the current frequencies being used by the various air show performers. You can reach us in the address in the masthead.

73 and good hunting de Larry

New USAF Thunderbird VHF Frequency

Our good friend in the Northeast and MT contributor US Kevin Burke has uncovered and confirmed a new USAF Thunderbird Flight Demonstration Team VHF frequency - 141.175 MHz.

Here are some other VHF Air frequencies that you should have programmed in that scanner of you are a milair monitor:

138.4375 138.550 138.600 138.625 138.750 138.950 139.000 139.300* 139.600 139.700** 139.900 140.200 140.500 141.175 142.300* 142.600 142.700 142.800 142.900 143.000 143.600 143.725 143.750 MHz

* indicates a PTD freq
** indicated a Air Def freq

REA4 - Russian Strategic Air / 37th Air Army Frequencies

Russian military communications expert Trond Jacobsen in Norway shared this great list of Russian Strategic Air HF frequencies to the UDXF list. Thank you always Trond for sharing your monitoring and researching with the rest of us.

Recently there has been been some interesting posts of REA4 messages (Russian strategic Air / 37th Air Army) by Jay and others.

Here is a list of frequencies in use by their outlet at Kostino, mil units # 23452, 66213. (56.0158N 39.400E) (The tx site east of Pochinki 55.2598N 39.5095E, is believed to be longer in use.)

Mode is F1B 50/1000 revs, w/fsk morse/1000 on the higher frequencies and OOK 50/sec idle, w/A1A morse on the lower frequencies:

2721, 2737, 2807
3375, 3476, 3530, 3531
4170, 4179, 4357, 4379, 4451, 4521, 4706
5157, 5157.9, 5158, 5293
6321.5, 6827, 6830, 6934, 6978
7018, 7044, 7050, 7054, 7076, 7319, 7320, 7353, 7515.5, 7559, 7559.5, 7659, 7785.5, 7940, 7942, 7959, 7999
8190, 8533, 8585, 8586, 8810
9073, 9151, 9194
10442, 10673, 10816
11072, 11408, 11409, 11470, 11760, 11848
12173, 12315, 12337, 12732, 12734.2, 12736
13479, 13576
14092, 14508
16856
23961

These transmissions do (at times) go out on a number of // frequencies, but as the transmissions are directional not all of them are // receivable at a given rx site.

Some well known // combinations:

2721 // 5157
2737 // 4179, 7018
3530 // 4357, 7959
3531 // 4357, 7959
4170 // 3737, 3735, 7018
4357 // 3530, 7959
4521 // 6978
4521 // 6979
4531 // 6978
5157.9 // 2721
6827 // 7999
7559 // 3530, 4357
8810 // 7018
9193 // 8585
10673 // 5293
11409 // 12736
11848 // 8192
12736 // 11408

Tune in and have fun. If you know of other frequencies in use, please share !
Trond Jacobsen
Hvaler archipelago, SE Norway
59.0333N 11.0333E JO59MA

Is the Cold War Really Over??

Bill Gertz on the Washington Free Beacon website has a really interesting article dated July 6 for Milcom monitors to digest titled: Putin’s July 4th Message -- Russian nuclear-capable bombers intercepted near West Coast in second U.S. air defense zone intrusion in two weeks.

According to Gertz, "Two Russian strategic nuclear bombers entered the U.S. air defense zone near the Pacific coast on Wednesday and were met by U.S. interceptor jets, defense officials told the Free Beacon.

"It was the second time Moscow dispatched nuclear-capable bombers into the 200-mile zone surrounding U.S. territory in the past two weeks.

"An earlier intrusion by two Tu-95 Bear H bombers took place near Alaska as part of arctic war games that a Russian military spokesman said included simulated attacks on “enemy” air defenses and strategic facilities.

"A defense official said the Pacific coast intrusion came close to the U.S. coast but did not enter the 12-mile area that the U.S. military considers sovereign airspace.

"The bomber flights near the Pacific and earlier flights near Alaska appear to be signs Moscow is practicing the targeting of its long-range air-launched cruise missiles on two strategic missile defense sites, one at Fort Greely, Alaska and a second site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif."

You can read the entire Gertz article online at http://freebeacon.com/putins-july-4th-message/.

If you are new to Milcom monitoring and want to monitor DoD Air Defense action, program the following nationwide frequencies in your scanner: 228.900 232.500 (Canada) 234.600 234.700 (Canada) 235.900 238.400 241.200 252.000 254.200 254.475 260.900 265.400 270.200 271.000 274.400 277.600 278.000 281.600 282.600 288.400 293.600 316.300 320.600 324.000 327.900 328.000 349.550 355.200 360.150 364.200 369.000 386.000 MHz (AM mode)

HF monitors should keep an eye on 4727 5705 6736 9022 13206 15046 18027 kHz USB.
These HF freqs are all tertiary backup freqs at best between the AWACS and the Air Def Sectors. They are also shared with other DoD users and are "NOT" dedicated Northcom/USAF/NORAD freqs. Don't expect to hear a lot of air def comms on these HF freqs these days. Most of the old HF stuff we use to hear has now moved on a secure UHF milsatcom channel that we have heard them refer to many times on their UHF aero freqs listed above.

Who was transmitting on 6877.0 kHz discussion is still hanging around!

As I have stated publicly here and in other forums, the final analysis of exactly who was transmitting the taped looped warnings in English/French/Arabic on 6877.0 kHz USB early in the Libyan conflict is just impossible to do. There is just not enough concrete proof to indicate with complete confidence who transmitted those messages. One can make a case for various scenarios, but to continue to argue this on the various radio groups of who it actually was is an exercise in futility. Time to move on to bigger and better things.

Milcom Blog Logs - 2 Feb 2011 - BTown NC

The National Guard frequencies have been active in the last 24 hours as indicated in the following logs from here on the radio ranch.

2240.0 KYAASF National Guard (KY) AASF 63 AVN Group - Boone ARNG Center Frankfort, KY
4021.5 KYAASF National Guard (KY) AASF 63 AVN Group - Boone ARNG Center Frankfort, KY
4562.0 TRYNY National Guard (NY) Troy, NY
4780.0 FEMA/FNARS Net: FC0FEM002 FC1FEM002 FC8
4790.0 BROOK National Guard (FL) AASF #2 Brooksville, FL
5304.0 BROOK National Guard (FL) AASF #2 Brooksville, FL
5306.5 C4M/F2H US Army or National Guard Tri-graphs
5778.5 KYAASF National Guard (KY) AASF 63 AVN Group - Boone ARNG Center Frankfort, KY
5821.5 C4M/F2H/S2L US Army or National Guard Tri-graphs
5875.0 BROOK National Guard (FL) AASF #2 Brooksville, FL
6911.5 BROOK National Guard (FL) AASF #2 Brooksville, FL
6911.5 KYAASF National Guard (KY) AASF 63 AVN Group - Boone ARNG Center Frankfort, KY
6911.5 SPO Unknown user/usage
6985.0 KYAASF National Guard (KY) AASF 63 AVN Group - Boone ARNG Center Frankfort, KY
6985.0 TIDNG National Guard (ID) Idaho (T)
7361.5 A51 C51 Unknown user/usage
7361.5 BROOK National Guard (FL) AASF #2 Brooksville, FL
8161.5 BROOK National Guard (FL) AASF #2 Brooksville, FL wkg R26331
8171.5 C4M/F2H/S2L US Army or National Guard Tri-graphs
9081.5 BROOK National Guard (FL) AASF #2 Brooksville, FL
9295.0 TIDNG National Guard (ID) Idaho (T)
9295.0 SABRE STONEWALL National Guard (VA)
12129.0 FEMA/FNARS Net: FC0FEM002 FC1FEM002
12129.0 C4M/F2H/S2L US Army or National Guard Tri-graphs
14653.0 A090ZN National Guard (AZ) Phoenix, AZ
14653.0 C080ON National Guard (CO) Centennial, CO

CAP to Conduct Disaster Relief Exercise this Weekend

According to an article in the online website of the Canby Herald, the Oregon CAP will be conducting a disaster relief exercise this weekend.

The large-scale exercise will include aerial and ground operations throughout the state as the CAP members respond to mock disasters and simulated terrorist activity.

A USAF team will observe the exercise and other agencies that will participate includes the U.S. Coast Guard and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.

The exercise will be run out of the patrol’s Incident Command Center at the Aurora State Airport.

For my friends on the PDX list and others in the area here are some VHF freqs to watch. These freqs are based on extensive monitoring and study, the frequency/designator list below is believed to be the current loadout of the ground radios used by the CAP nationwide.

And, before the CAP community has a major hemorrhage as usual and sends the Feds to knock down our door, let me hasten to add that the information presented in this column has come from open sources we found on various Internet websites and from Milcom monitors in various areas of the country. Absolutely no internal CAP classified sources were used to compile the frequency list below.

I wrote an extensive article on all of the VHF freqs used by CAP in the May 2010 Monitoring Times Milcom column (if you miss one issue you miss a lot). But to help out those who don't subscribe (and you really should), here are the frequencies to watch for CAP activity:

139.8750 141.0000 141.5750 143.5500 143.6250 143.600 143.7000 148.1250 148.1375 148.1500 149.2750 150.2250 150.5625 MHz

National CAP Plan (Supposedly Zone 1 in all the new ground-only radios)

141.5750 Simplex 127.3 Hz Command Control
141.0000 Simplex 131.8 Hz Command Control
149.2750 Simplex 141.3 Hz Air-to-Air
150.5625 Simplex 151.4 Hz Air-to-Air
150.2250 Simplex 162.2 Hz CAP Guard Channel
139.8750 Simplex 173.8 Hz Tactical/Miscellaneous use (also used on the Canadian Border as an input to the 148.1250 repeaters)
148.1250 Simplex 100.0 Hz Primary Talk-Around
148.1500 Simplex 100.0 Hz Secondary Talk-Around
148.1375/143.6250 203.5 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1375/143.6250 192.8 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1375/143.6250 131.8 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1375/143.6250 162.2 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1250/143.5500 203.5 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1250/139.8750 Canadian Border repeaters
148.1500/143.7000 203.5 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1500/143.6000 Canadian Border repeaters

Again there is more to all this, but that is about 2,000 words in the MT May issue. Field reports on what was heard is always welcomed at the email address in the masthead.

Milcom Blog Logs - 4 Aug 2010 - BTown 9025 kHz

Here are the raw owlogs from monitoring the HF-GCS Scope Command ALE frequencies 9025.0 kHz yesterday here on the radio ranch.

[01:25:46][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][180221 ][AL0] BER 29 SN 08
[01:16:08][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][ICZ ][AL0] BER 23 SN 06
[23:47:28][FRQ 09025000][TO ][OFF ][TIS][580021 ][AL0] BER 30 SN 07
[23:41:30][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][580021 ][AL0] BER 29 SN 08
[23:32:49][FRQ 09025000][TO ][OFF ][TIS][580021 ][AL0] BER 30 SN 08
[23:32:46][FRQ 09025000][TO ][580021 ][TIS][OFF ][AL0] BER 28 SN 30
[23:32:42][FRQ 09025000][TO ][OFF ][TIS][580021 ][AL0] BER 30 SN 07
[23:25:39][FRQ 09025000][TO ][580021 ][TWS][OFF ][AL0] BER 30 SN 08
[23:22:36][FRQ 09025000][TO ][OFF ][TIS][580021 ][AL0] BER 27 SN 30
[23:22:33][FRQ 09025000][TO ][580021 ][TIS][OFF ][AL0] BER 29 SN 28
[23:22:28][FRQ 09025000][TO ][OFF ][TIS][580021 ][AL0] BER 25 SN 07
[22:44:02][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][JNR ][AL0] BER 19 SN 07
[22:43:55][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][JNR ][AL0] BER 13 SN 05
[22:42:36][FRQ 09025000][TO ][ADW AGA ][TIS][MCC ][AL0] BER 18 SN 06
[22:22:48][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][HAW ][AL0] BER 20 SN 08
[22:12:06][FRQ 09025000][TO ][CRO ][TIS][ICZ ][AL0] BER 29 SN 07
[22:12:00][FRQ 09025000][TO ][CRO ][TIS][ICZ ][AL0] BER 29 SN 30
[22:11:37][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 24 SN 07
[21:29:22][FRQ 09025000][TO ][ADW ][TIS][580021 ][AL0] BER 26 SN 07
[21:09:03][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][580021 ][AL0] BER 25 SN 07
[20:45:39][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][ICZ ][AL0] BER 23 SN 06
[20:39:55][FRQ 09025000][TO ][HAW ][TWS][PLA ][AL0] BER 24 SN 08
[19:40:23][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][PLA ][AL0] BER 21 SN 05
[19:07:17][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][150009 ][AL0] BER 30 SN 09
[18:19:00][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][OFF ][AL0] BER 29 SN 07
[17:41:00][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 27 SN 07
[17:13:54][FRQ 09025000][TIME OUT][ ]
[17:11:22][FRQ 09025000][TO ][MEF XLA ADW ][TIS][538872 ][AL0] BER 24 SN 07
[17:07:54][FRQ 09025000][LINKED ][538872 ]
[16:10:48][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 27 SN 08
[15:07:33][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][180221 ][AL0] BER 26 SN 08
[10:48:09][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][OFF ][AL0] BER 30 SN 30
[10:05:28][FRQ 09025000][TO ][ADW ][TIS][OFF ][AL0] BER 30 SN 30

ALE Addresses:

150009 USAF C-5B 436AW Dover AFB, DE #85-0009: Selcal FQ-BE
180221 USAF C-5A 433AW/68AS Kelly AFB, TX #68-0221 AE0521 Selcal DP-CS
538872 USAF ANG KC-135R 101ARW/132ARS Bangor IAP, ME #63-8872

ADW USAF Andrews AFB MD
AGA USAF Hickam AFB HI
CRO USAF RAF Croughton G
HAW USAF Ascension Island
ICZ USN NAS Sigonella (Sicily), Italy
JNR USAF Salinas, PR
MCC USAF McClellan, CA
MEF US DoD Unknown (Marine Expeditionary Force?)
OFF USAF Offutt AFB, NE
PLA USAF Lajes Field, Azores
XLA US DoD Unknown

Milcom Blog Logs - 3 Aug 2010 Brasstown NC

Yesterday here on the Radio Ranch I set my main ALE setup to scan the Customs COTHEN HF ALE network. Started the scan at 1415 to 2116 UTC. Here is a summary of the stations monitored during that ALE scan.

5909.5 005 A39 D46 D48 J26 J30 LNT

5732.0 500 D14 D41 D46 EST J08 J12 J25 J30 LNT N01

7527.0 3WY 005 07Z 719 720 A39 D07 D14 D46 D48 F29 F40 I31 I34 I53 J08 J12 J26 J31 J42 LNT MAG N01 N03 N07 TSC Z13

8912.0 0R0 005 719 720 D46 D48 F29 F41 I34 I53 I96 J12 J30 J31 LNT N01 N07 Y9A Z13

10242.0 07Z 500 720 CRB D07 D46 D48 EST F29 F40 I34 I43 I76 J12 K62 LNT MAG N01 N07 N08 P07 PAC T9A

11494.0 005 0P5 07Z 500 707 719 720 A39 CNT CRB D07 D14 D46 D48 F29 F40 F41 I4J I34 I43 J12 J30 J31 K62 K69 K82 LNT N01 N07 P07 PAC T97 Z13

12222.0 005 D46 D48 I34 I96 J08 J26 LNT N01 N03 N07 N08 Z13

13312.0 005 D46 D48 I43 J08 J31 LNT N01 N07

13907.0 005 D46 F29 F33 F40 I34 I53 J31 LNT N07 N08 Z13

14582.0 D46 D48 N08

15867.0 07Z 720 I43 I53 LNT N03 Z13

18594.0 720 A50 D14 D48 I63

23214.0 D14

ALE Addresses:

0P5 US BICE Unknown
0R0 US BICE Unknown
3WY US BICE Unknown
005 USCG HC-130J CGAS Elizabeth City, NC #2005
07Z USCG USCG District 7 Miami, FL Miami Ops
500 USCG HC-130H CGAS Clearwater, FL #1500
707 USCG HC-130H CGAS Sacramento, CA #1707
719 USCG HC-130H CGAS Clearwater, FL #1719
720 USCG HC-130H CGAS Clearwater, FL #1720
A39 US BICE AB139 #N139HS
A50 US BICE UH-60A Caribbean AMB #79-23350
CNT US BICE ICE Regional Communications Node Central
CRB US BICE CBP AMOC Regional Communications Node Caribbean
D07 US BICE Bombardier Q400 #N807MR
D14 US BICE P-3A Corpus Christi AMB, TX #N18314/Buno No. 150513 "Slick," Voice call Omaha 314
D41 US BICE P-3B LW acksonville AMB, FL #N741SK/Buno No. 152741 "Slick," Voice call Omaha 41SK
D46 US BICE P-3B AEW&C Jacksonville AMB, FL #N146CS/Buno No. 154605
D48 US BICE P-3B AEW&C Corpus Christi AMB, TX #N148CS/Buno No. 154575
EST US BICE CBP AMOC Regional Communications Node
F29 USCG HU-25C CGAS Cape Cod, MA #2129
F33 USCG HU-25C CGAS Cape Cod, MA #2133: Voice Call Foxtrot 33
F40 USCG HU-25C CGAS Cape Cod, MA #2140: Voice Call Foxtrot 40
F41 USCG HU-25C CGAS Corpus Christi, TX #2141: Voice Call Foxtrot 41
I4J US BICE Cessna 550 San Angelo AMB, TX #N5314J
I31 US BICE Cessna 550 San Diego AMB, CA #N2531K
I34 US BICE Cessna 550 #N2734K
I43 US BICE Cessna 550 Miami AMB, FL #N43SA, Voice call Omaha 35A
I53 US BICE Cessna 550 Oklahoma City AMB, OK #N753CC
I63 US BICE Cessna 550 #N26663Y
I76 US BICE Cessna 550 San Diego AMB, CA #N6776T, Omaha 76
I96 US BICE Cessna 550 #N26496
J08 USCG MH-60J CGAS Clearwater, FL #6008
J12 USCG MH-60J CGAS Clearwater, FL #6012
J25 USCG MH-60J CGAS Cape Cod, MA #6025: Voice Call Juliet 25
J26 USCG MH-60T CGAS Elizabeth City, NC #6026: Voice Call Juliet 26
J30 USCG MH-60J CGAS Astoria, OR #6030
J31 USCG MH-60J CGAS Elizabeth City, NC #6031
J42 USCG MH-60J CGAS Clearwater, FL #6042: Voice Call Juliet 42
K62 USCG MH-65C CGAS Atlantic City, NJ #6562
K69 USCG MH-65C CGAS Humboldt Bay, OR #6569
K82 USCG MH-65C CGAS Borinquen, PR #6582
LNT USCG CAMSLANT Chesapeake, VA Voice Call CAMSLANT
MAG USCG USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715) Coast Guard Vessel NMAG
N01 USCG HC-144A ATC Mobile, AL #2301
N03 USCG HC-144A ATC Mobile, AL #2303
N07 USCG HC-144A ATC Mobile, AL #2307
N08 USCG HC-144A ATC Mobile, AL #2308
P07 USCG Coast Guard Air Station Remote Command Console, Miami Ops
PAC USCG CAMSPAC Point Reyes, CA NMC Voice Call: CAMSPAC
T9A US BICE Piper PA-42-720R Jacksonville AMB, FL #N9279A
T97 US BICE Pilatus PC-12/45 Bellingham AMB, WA #N497PC
TSC US BICE Customs National Law Enforcement Communications Center -- Technical Service Center Orlando, FL Voice Call Service Center
Y9A US BICE Unknown
Z13 USCG USCG Sector Remote Communications Consoles Key West, FL USCG Sector Key West

Lots of CG aircraft guard comms, much like we use to hear on the other prim A/G HF channels (5696, etc). Most of the comms were in the clear. Some of the ICE units used voice encryption.

COTHEN is a very active network, one that I recommend most monitors new to ALE comms start with. It is real busy and there are clear comms to monitor. I will have more on this in one of my future Milcom columns in Monitoring Times magazine.

Also monitored the HF-GCS Scope Command ALE frequency 9025.0 kHz. Here is the result of that effort.

[20:25:08][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][ICZ ][AL0] BER 22 SN 06
[19:51:05][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][MCC ][AL0] BER 24 SN 06
[18:46:05][FRQ 09025000][TO ][OFF ][TIS][E30557DAT ][AL0] BER 15 SN 04
[18:46:02][FRQ 09025000][TO ][E30557DAT ][TIS][OFF ][AL0] BER 29 SN 07
[18:00:52][FRQ 09025000][TO ][JNR ][TIS][6900008 ][AL0] BER 28 SN 09
[17:13:30][FRQ 09025000][TO ][JNR ][TIS][190008 ][AL0] BER 26 SN 08
[17:12:09][FRQ 09025000][TO ][JNR ][TIS][190008 ][AL0] BER 30 SN 09
[16:05:34][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][180221 ][AL0] BER 24 SN 07
[15:20:36][FRQ 09025000][SND][ ][TWS][MCC ][AL0] BER 28 SN 08
[15:15:21][FRQ 09025000][TO ][JNR ][TIS][720 ][AL0] BER 24 SN 06

Civil Air Patrol to Conduct Weekend Exercise in Northeast

The Northeast Region Civil Air Patrol will be conducting a region wide disaster relief exercise this weekend (7/31-8/1). Looks like there's going to be a lot of HF/SSB radio traffic including ALE operation. Will probably have a lot of air to ground VHF-NFM comms conducted by all wings throughout the region.

If you are an HF entusiasts CAP is quite active within the HF spectrum and can be interesting to monitor. The following ALE addresses have been seen here in BTown.

0001OKCAP 0002SCCAP 0004IACAP 0004ILCAP 0004MSCAP 0004NVCAP 0004NYCAP 0004SCCAP 0004WICAP 0004WVCAP 00081ILCAP 0010NVCAP 0010PACAP 0011ARCAP 0011DCCAP 001NHQCAP 0016MECAP 0020NHCAP 002NHQCAP 0032WICAP 0032WVCAP 0033COCAP 0040IACAP 0041CTCAP 0041MICAP 0041WICAP 0042MICAP 0042NHCAP 0043ILCAP 0048FLCAP 004MERCAP 004RMRCAP 004SERCAP 004SWRCAP 0078NVCAP 0094ALCAP 009NHQCAP 0100NDCAP 0100PRCAP 0112GACAP 0140NVCAP 0148KYCAP 0164CACAP 0196NECAP 0204MICAP 0204SCCAP 022NHQCAP 0272HICAP 028NHQCAP 0303WACAP 0314MICAP 031NHQCAP 033NHQCAP 034MERCAP 0355OKCAP 0360FLCAP 037RMRCAP 040NHQCAP 042RMRCAP 42SERCAP 0431ILCAP 043MERCAP 043NHQCAP 043SERCAP 044NCRCAP 046NHQCAP 047NHQCAP 047SERCAP 054NHQCAP 0602IACAP 060PCRCAP 062NHQCAP 064NHQCAP 0775NVCAP 0902ALCAP 1000SWRCAP 100NCRCAP 100NDCAP 100NDCAP 100NERCAP 100SWRCAP 101NCRCAP 101NERCAP 101SWRCAP 104MERCAP 201SERCAP 202SERCAP 900NHQCAP 901NHQCAP 909NHQCAP 9101ORCAP 951NHQCAP 952NHQCAP 971NHQCAP 991NHQCAP 998NHQCAP 999NHQCAP

I have found the assignment pattern for their ALE addresses as follows:

#### (state two ltr abbrev) CAP aka 0001OKCAP (A state/wing callsign)
### (region abbrev/NHQ) CAP aka 004MERCAP or 909NHQCAP (Region address/National HQ assigned address)

There are some 4-number addresses and these have all been associated with a state wing.

And here is my latest freq list (I know I am still missing some high end freqs)

2011.0 3204.0 4477.0 4585.0 5006.0 5447.0 6773.0 6806.0 7602.0 7665.0 8012.0 9047.0 10162.0 11402.0 12081.0 13415.0 14357.0 15602.0 17412.0 19814.0 25354.0 29894.0 kHz.

On the VHF/UHF side of the spectrum, I wrote an extensive article on all of this in the May 2010 MT Milcom column (if you miss one issue you miss a lot). But to help out those who don't subscribe (and you really should), here are the frequencies to watch for CAP activity:

139.8750 141.0000 141.5750 143.5500 143.6250 143.600 143.7000 148.1250 148.1375 148.1500 149.2750 150.2250 150.5625 MHz

National CAP Plan (Supposedly Zone 1 in all the new ground-only radios)

141.5750 Simplex 127.3 Hz Command Control
141.0000 Simplex 131.8 Hz Command Control
149.2750 Simplex 141.3 Hz Air-to-Air
150.5625 Simplex 151.4 Hz Air-to-Air
150.2250 Simplex 162.2 Hz CAP Guard Channel
139.8750 Simplex 173.8 Hz Tactical/Miscellaneous use (also used on the Canadian Border as an input to the 148.1250 repeaters)
148.1250 Simplex 100.0 Hz Primary Talk-Around
148.1500 Simplex 100.0 Hz Secondary Talk-Around
148.1375/143.6250 203.5 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1375/143.6250 192.8 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1375/143.6250 131.8 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1375/143.6250 162.2 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1250/143.5500 203.5 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1250/139.8750 Canadian Border repeaters
148.1500/143.7000 203.5 Hz Airborne/Tactical Repeater
148.1500/143.6000 Canadian Border repeaters

Again there is more to all this, but that is about 2,000 words in the MT May issue.

Unidentified Milsatcom Link Popped Up - SkyNet 4D?

This morning I am monitoring an unknown foreign language comms on an apparent new milsatcom downlink for this area of the world. Not sure which satellite of who, so more monitoring is in the works. The new freq is 257.425 MHz nfm at 1440 UTC.

After doing some more checking with my satellite tracking program, the satellite that host this downlink is probably the UK Milsat SkyNet 4D.

NORAD ID: 25134
Int'l Code: 1998-002A
Perigee: 36,077.2 km
Apogee: 36,144.0 km
Inclination: 6.4°
Period: 1,452.3 min
Semi major axis: 42,481.6 km
Launch date: January 10, 1998
Source: United Kingdom (UK)
Comments: Skynet 4D was a British military geosynchronous communications satellite launched by a Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft was the first in the new series that is expected to replace the aging 1988-era series. The parking longitude was expected to be in western Europe.

Cecil Field (KVQQ) Frequency Set

For those in the southeast US, here is my latest frequency set for Cecil Field, Florida.

Army National Guard Operations 40.900 139.300 248.200
ATIS 125.275
AWOS-3 125.275
Boeing Air Ops 123.475 264.650
CNATRA Base (Deployed units) 263.500
Ground 121.625 384.400
Jacksonville App/Dep 123.800 284.600
Jacksonville Clearance Delivery 121.625: (121.725 GCO.)
Radio 121.725 GCO Gainesville FSS
Tower 126.100 387.025
Unicom 122.950
Urban CAS JTAC (Iron Cross) 342.250

Any additions, corrections or updates are always appreciated.

5320 kHz Gulf Coast Oil Spill Comms

GULF OF MEXICO - A Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphin helicopter lands on the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute while work continues at the Deepwater Horizon spill site as part of the largest oil spill response in history, July 4, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class John Masson.

As most active ute monitors are aware the USCG is using 5320.0 kHz for oil spill operations in the Gulf of Mexico. According to one report on UDXF their is an audio stream via the internet of the freq (click here to monitor).

Just a small caveat here regarding 5320.0 kHz. Comms on this primary USCG frequency, even at this point are not entirely oil spill related. For instance, during the Haitian earthquake operations, this was a USCG operations primary freq. Per USCG Comm instruction here are some of the assignments for this USCG multi-use freq:

USCG District 5 Operations Working Simplex/Air-to-Ground
USCG District 7 Operations Working Simplex
USCG District 8 Operations Working Simplex/Air-to-Ground
USCG District 9 Emergency Net
USCG District 11 Operations Working Simplex
USCG District 14 Operations Working Simplex

I'm sure that things have changed since my last official updates, but this has always been an interesting frequency in the past to keep in my HF scan memory.

Other possible oil spill frequencies to watch (if your within LOS) include:

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATIONS FREQUENCY (165KF3E)
157.075 MHz (Ch. 81) (Simplex and Transportable Repeater Transmit)
150.980 MHz (Mobile Transmit/Transportable Repeater Receiver)

Channel 81 has been established for interface communications between the Coast Guard and non-Government entities (including oil spill cleanup contractors/cooperatives) involved in oil discharge removal or other environmental protection operations in support of National Oil Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and Joint Canada - U.S. Marine Pollution Contingency Plan for Spills of Oil and other Noxious Substances. Channel 81 will not be used for communications between non-Government cleanup activities to support their own operations. Use of Channel 81, by non-Government stations, is limited to mobile stations, operated by supervisory personnel in charge of removal operations, for communications with the Coast Guard and will be on Coast Guard owned equipment. Coast Guard owned equipment, loaned for this purpose, will not be licensed by the FCC.

The frequency 150.980 MHz is a non-government channel reserved for oil spill containment and cleanup operations. It is authorized for Coast Guard use on a shared basis with non-Federal Government activities as a mobile Transmit/Transportable Repeater receive frequency in support of oil spill containment and cleanup operations and for training purposes.

CAP Nationwide Exercise Cancelled until the Fall

Last month I reported on this blog that CAP was going to conduct a nationwide communications exercise prior to the 4th of July (see http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2010/06/cap-to-conduct-nationwide-exercise-soon.html).

Well word has reached my desk that the highly vaulted summer nationwide CAP comm exercise has been postponed and may now be conducted in the Fall.

The CAP is quite active within the HF spectrum and can be interesting to monitor. The following ALE addresses have been seen here in BTown.

0001OKCAP 0002SCCAP 0004IACAP 0004ILCAP 0004MSCAP 0004NVCAP 0004NYCAP 0004SCCAP 0004WICAP 0004WVCAP 00081ILCAP 0010NVCAP 0010PACAP 0011ARCAP 0011DCCAP
001NHQCAP 0016MECAP 0020NHCAP 002NHQCAP 0032WICAP 0032WVCAP 0033COCAP 0040IACAP 0041CTCAP 0041MICAP 0041WICAP 0042MICAP 0042NHCAP 0043ILCAP 0048FLCAP 004MERCAP 004RMRCAP 004SERCAP 004SWRCAP 0078NVCAP 0094ALCAP 009NHQCAP 0100NDCAP 0100PRCAP 0112GACAP 0140NVCAP 0148KYCAP 0164CACAP 0196NECAP 0204MICAP
0204SCCAP 022NHQCAP 0272HICAP 028NHQCAP 0303WACAP 0314MICAP 031NHQCAP 033NHQCAP 034MERCAP 0355OKCAP 0360FLCAP 037RMRCAP 040NHQCAP 042RMRCAP 42SERCAP
0431ILCAP 043MERCAP 043NHQCAP 043SERCAP 044NCRCAP 046NHQCAP 047NHQCAP 047SERCAP 054NHQCAP 0602IACAP 060PCRCAP 062NHQCAP 064NHQCAP 0775NVCAP 0902ALCAP
1000SWRCAP 100NCRCAP 100NDCAP 100NDCAP 100NERCAP 100SWRCAP 101NCRCAP 101NERCAP 101SWRCAP 104MERCAP 201SERCAP 202SERCAP 900NHQCAP 901NHQCAP 909NHQCAP 9101ORCAP 951NHQCAP 952NHQCAP 971NHQCAP 991NHQCAP 998NHQCAP 999NHQCAP\

I have found the assignment pattern for their ALE addresses as follows:

#### (state two ltr abbrev) CAP aka 0001OKCAP (A state/wing callsign)
### (region abbrev/NHQ) CAP aka 004MERCAP or 909NHQCAP (Region address/National HQ assigned address)

There are some 4-number addresses and these have all been associated with a state wing.

And here is my latest freq list (I know I am still missing some high end freqs)

2011.0 3204.0 4477.0 4585.0 5006.0 5447.0 6773.0 6806.0 7602.0 7665.0 8012.0 9047.0 10162.0 11402.0 12081.0 13415.0 14357.0 15602.0 17412.0 19814.0 25354.0 29894.0 kHz.

Updates are always welcomed via the email address in the masthead.