HF MEMENTO FOR FERRY FLIGHTS

Foreword

• This memento is provided as a reminder for HF Communications

during ferry flights. It cannot superseed official pilot basic training,

• Crews remain responsible for checking that the content of this

memento is compliant with local and/or company regulations.
Always refer to the official regulation in force.

• Crews must be aware that depending on which country is overflown,

local procedures may slightly differ from the standard procedure. Refer
to your flight documentation (Jeppesen, or equivalent).

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HF communications :

• Any air to ground voice communication on a High Frequency network

(between 3 and 30 MHz) in overseas operations ( cf. Jeppesen
definition).

• VHF radios have a visual range. As it’s impossible to maintain radio

communications with ATC on the VHF band during overseas operations,
pilots shall use the HF network to guarantee the permanent radio
contact.

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 Where to find relevant information ?

General Local
information regulations &
procedures

Technical
documentation
OFFICIAL REGULATION
ICAO, VOL II - Annexe 10

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 The principle of HF radios

• HF radio communications use longer wavelength frequencies than VHF

one, bouncing on the ionosphere. Depending on the distance to be covered,
an appropriate wavelength might be selected.
• The ionosphere activity is directly linked with the sun radiation, making its
existence dependent on the time of the day and the season of the year.

o The higher the sun, the higher the frequency

o The lower the sun, the lower the frequency

o The longer the distance, the higher the frequency

o The shorter the distance, the lower the frequency

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CAUTION
• HIGH ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY IS RADIATED DURING
HF TRANMISSION.

• KEEP PEOPLE (ONBOARD AND OUTSIDE THE AICRAFT) AS

FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM HF ANTENNA WHEN HF IS
TRANSMITTING.

• NEVER USE HF ON GROUND WHEN AICRAFT IS PERFORMING

REFUELING OPERATIONS.

• AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, SET THE TRANSMITTING POWER

LEVEL TO ITS LOWEST VALUE AND MINIMIZE THE TRANSMISSION
TIME.

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 Propagation prediction

For each HF ground station, different frequencies covering the whole

HF range are available. To help you to determine which one is the most
suitable, propagation forecasts are available via different sources.
Below, an example for Stockholm (STO) service communication
available on an internet source.

Hourly radio propagation map

Daily radio propagation map

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 Propagation prediction
The prediction of suitable frequencies to contact STO services for the
next three months (FEB 2018 – APRIL 2018) :

HF frequencies
From 3 to 30 MHz

Optimum frequency

Time of the day

After the propagation forecast check, the crew shall tune the closest
frequency to the one shown as optimum.
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Tuning a frequency

• Dial the frequency in the VCP, via the MCP or the MCDU.
• If squelch operation is desired, select SQL 0 and then select SQL
1. Receiver squelches after a short delay. If intermittent noise
persists, advance SQL control to SQL 2. If intermittent noise persists,
again advance SQL control one more click SQL 3.
• Setting the squelch control too high could result in blocking out
weak signals
• Squelch level can be adjusted either via MCP or via the MCDU.
• HF radio should always be in USB mode (Upper Side Band).Otherwise
the reception could be totally garbled as the communicating station
transmits in USB. This option is modifiable only via MCDU.

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Tuning a frequency

• Momentarily key the microphone to tune the antenna coupler.

The antenna coupler tunes automatically.
• A steady 1000-Hz tune tone is heard in the headset or speaker
during the tune cycle. The average tune cycle is approximately 30
milliseconds, provided the frequency is already tuned and tuning data is
already stored in memory. Automatic tuning to a new frequency takes
nominally less than 1 second. At completion of the tune cycle, the steady
tune tone disappears.
• To avoid poor reception and missed calls in single system
installations, always key the microphone after selecting a new frequency
to initiate an antenna coupler tune cycle.
• The presence of sidetone in the headset or speaker during
transmit operation indicates transmitter output. A lack of sidetone
indicates the absence of a transmit signal.

• Adjust VOL control for desired audio level.

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 Tuning a frequency

Open RMS in MCDU, and select HF 1 or 2. All the options are visible
and modifiable on this page.

HF frequency

Modulation mode selection

USB or AM

SQUELCH Level
OUTPUT Power

© ATR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT.

 Establishing a communication

• Aircraft stations shall, if possible, communicate directly with the air-ground

control radio station appropriate to the area in which the aircraft are flying. If
unable to do so, aircraft stations shall use any relay means available and
appropriate to transmit messages to the air-ground control radio station.
• As the aeronautical station operator generally guards more than one
frequency, the call should be followed by an indication of the frequency used,
unless other suitable means of identifying the frequency are known to exist.
When no confusion is likely to arise, only the first two digits of the High
Frequency (in kHz) need to be used to identify the transmitting channel.
Example: ATC 123 calling SHANNON on 8,871 MHz
“ ATC ONE TWO THREE - ON HEIGHT HEIGHT”

BE PATIENT. OPERATOR NEEDS TIME.

• When entering a new network, an aircraft station should transmit the time
over the last checkpoint, or of its last reported position, to the appropriate
regular station.
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SELCAL function

• To use the SELCAL function, first ask your current ATC operator
about his system availability to activate this function.

• Communicate your aircraft SELCAL code (4 characters).

• When acknowledged by ATC, reduce the volume of HF input.

• Wait a while to ear the SELCAL ring, and establish again the
communication with ATC. Your SELCAL function is activated.

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 Reporting position (ref. Jeppesen)

Section 1 is obligatory
1 Aircraft identification (Aircraft identification)
2 Position POSITION (latitude and longitude)
OVER (significant point)
ABEAM (significant point)
3 Time (Time)
4 Flight level or altitude FLIGHT LEVEL (numbers)or (numbers) METERS or FEET

CLIMBING TO FLIGHT LEVEL (numbers) or (numbers) METERS or FEET

DESCENDING TO FLIGHT LEVEL (numbers) or (numbers) METERS or
FEET
5 Next position and estimated time over (position) (time)
6 Ensuing significant point (position) NEXT

Section 2 shall be added in whole or in part, only when so requested

by the operator, or when deemed necessary by the pilot-in-command

7 Estimated time of arrival (aerodrome) (time)

8 Endurance ENDURANCE (hours and minutes)

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 Reporting position (ref. Jeppesen)

Section 3 shall be added in accordance with Annex 3 and the Regional

Supplementary Procedures, Part 3 — Meteorology.

9 Air temperature TEMPERATURE PLUS (degrees Celsius)

TEMPERATURE MINUS (degrees Celsius)
10 Wind direction WIND (numbers) DEGREES
11 Wind speed (numbers) KILOMETERS PER HOUR or KNOTS
12 Turbulence TURBULENCE LIGHT
TURBULENCE MODERATE
TURBULENCE SEVERE
13 Aircraft icing ICING LIGHT
ICING MODERATE
ICING SEVERE
14 Humidity (if available) HUMIDITY (per cent)
15 Phenomenon encountered or observed MOUNTAIN WAVE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS
HAIL
DUSTSTORM or SANDSTORM HEAVY
VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD
ETC,

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PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT.
 Reporting position

Note that the PROG page 1/3 is designed to match with the position
report message format.

Section 1

Section 2

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Aircraft temporary HF equipped

• When flying an aircraft not equipped with an HF radio, if the use of HF

communications is necessary, a temporary equipment will be installed.
• When installed, this equipment is fully integrated to the New Avionic Suite and can
therefore be operated as a HF2 standard equipment.
• For official information, check service bulletin :
For installation,
- SB No. ATR72-23-1113 for ATR 72
- SB No. ATR42-23-0105 for ATR 42

For removal,
- SB N° ATR72-23-1114 for ATR72
SB N° ATR42-23-0106 for ATR42

• Operators wishing to perform a ferry flight with a temporary HF have to contact

ATR to obtain :
- above mentioned Service Bulletins applicable to involved aircraft (in case
temporary HF has never been installed on aircraft)
- a Technical Adaptation and applicable NOFU related to the aircraft configuration
(in case above mentioned Service Bulletins have already been embodied on
aircraft in the past).
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Aircraft temporary HF equipped layout

The HF radio is mounted on a specific shelf in the rear cargo

compartment.

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Aircraft temporary HF equipped layout

As all aircrafts are equipped with an HF antenna, the temporary HF

radio is directly connected to it via a coupler.

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Aircraft temporary HF equipped layout

A protective curtain must be installed on the shelf.

• Only tyres and ferry kit boxes are

permitted in aft rear cargo zone.
• No combustible material in both
rear cargo zones

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 Aircraft temporary HF equipped layout

In the passenger cabin floor panel, a tube bundle is installed to

connect HF radio to the cockpit NAS.

Example not valid for freighter version aircraft, refer to SB ATR72-23-1113 for applicable content

• 19 PAX maximum (if no flight attendant)

• Right seats are forbidden

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PROPRIETARY DOCUMENT.
Aircraft temporary HF equipped layout

In cockpit, a briefing card is installed on the captain chart holder.

Example not valid for freighter version aircraft,

refer to SB ATR72-23-1113 for applicable content

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