Bulldog MOA Changes - Shaw AFB and Augusta Regional Airport Compromise

The Augusta Chronicle featured an article on the Bulldog MOA that Shaw AFB, McEntire JNGB, and other services use on November 29, 2008. Augusta Regional Airport and the Air Force have come to a compromise on airspace changes, but Swainsboro-Emanuel County Airport is still resisting those changes. Below is an excerpt from the article, you can read the entire article here.

MILITARY AIRCRAFT TRAINING PLAN

THE PROPOSAL: Shaw Air Force Base has proposed expanding military aircraft training operations into air space used by facilities in Augusta, Swainsboro and Millen.

THE IMPACT: Military aircraft would be allowed to fly at an altitude of 500 feet, a drop from 11,000 feet in some areas.

THE DEAL: Augusta Regional Airport officials negotiated to have the path changed; Augusta will not be affected by any changes.

THE CRITICISM: An official from the Swainsboro Emanuel County Airport says civilian aircraft planning to land at the facility would face delays that could hurt area commerce. The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing the request to exclude Swainsboro Emanuel County's airspace.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

77 FS Back in the Air

I heard the 77th Fighter Squadron from Shaw AFB back in the air this afternoon, flying missions in the Bulldog MOA.

The two flights I heard were using VEGAS 4# and MISTY 5#, using 143.800 and 139.975 respectively for air-to-air traffic. They used the long standing 273.700 for traffic with 77th FS "GAMBLER OPS."

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Shaw AFB ORE?

Shaw Air Force Base may be having an ORE (Operational Readiness Exercise). F-16s from the 55th Fighter Squadron and the 79th Fighter Squadron have been flying missions to Townsend Range, the Bulldog MOA, and W-161/177 the last few days. On return from these missions, they have been heard making mission reports on the Shaw Command Post frequency. The actiivty on the Command Post frequency in particular seems consistent with ORE/ORI type traffic.

381.300 - Shaw Command Post
311.200 - 55th FS Ops
139.975 - 55th FS air-to-air
141.650 - 55th FS air-to-air
141.900 - 55th FS air-to-air
320.525 - 79th FS Ops
139.700 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.550 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.600 - 79th FS air-to-air
141.700 - 79th FS air-to-air

228.400 - Townsend Range
343.750 - Bulldog MOA
279.575 - DOUBLESHOT (W-161/177)
258.400 - DOUBLESHOT (W-161/177)
381.350 - DOUBLESHOT (W-161/177)

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Shaw AFB SOF Frequency Change

Yesterday I noted a change in the Shaw AFB SOF (Supervisor of Flying) frequency. Several 79th Fighter Squadron flights were working the SOF on 140.200 (AM) in reference to a weather recall.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Bulldog MOA Controversy

http://www.themillennews.com/news/2007/1226/Front_Page/006.html

While it is not mentioned by name in the article above, the Bulldog MOA is the military training airspace mentioned in the article. It seems that expansion of the Bulldog MOA airspace is not popular in Burke, Emanuel, Jefferson, and Jenkins Counties.

There are two addresses (one for the ACC and one for the FAA) listed to send comments to on the airpsace expansion. My suspicion is that the Millen News is looking for people to write in opposing the plans, but there is on reason folks couldn't write supporting the plans either.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Article on the 20th FIghter Wing at Shaw AFB

The current issue of Combat Aircraft magazine (Vol. 8, No. 6) has an excellent article on the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB. It includes information on their Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) missions, upgrades to the Wing's F-16s, and the missions that they have flown down to the Avon Park Range in recent months.

The article is particularly useful to those of us who monitor their missions in the Bulldog MOA because it describes just what they are doing when they mix close air support and SEAD/DEAD (distinguished by "MAGNUM" calls and comms with BEEFEATER) tasks.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

McEntire JNGB and Shaw AFB Sign Memorandum of Understanding

This article is from the 14 October 2007 issue of "The Item", the Sumter, SC newspaper. It will be interesting to see what this means for those of us who monitor both the 169th Fighter Wing and the 20th Fighter Wing.

McEntire, Shaw sign initiative
‘Momentous occasion’ strengthens bases’ ties

By JOE PERRY
Item Staff Writer
jperry@theitem.com


A brief Saturday afternoon ceremony at McEntire Joint National Guard Base served to further the relationship between Shaw Air Force Base and its nearby counterpart as commanders from both bases signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The initiative directs the operation and administration of the Active Associate unit now operating at McEntire and is aimed at utilizing the experience of Air National Guard men and women to foster training and development of Air Force pilots and maintenance specialists. The unit also gives the 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire bolstered manpower in fully realizing its Air Expeditionary Force.

With a Swamp Fox F-16 looming in the corner of the main hangar, Col. Keith Coln, commander of the 169th Fighter Wing, noted the memorandum was a “momentous occasion” and signified the strengthening relationship between the bases.

“We’re going to pursue a common mission,” Coln said, “we protect the same Constitution. And whether you fly in my wing, or I fly in your wing, together we’re going to achieve. Together we’re going to set new goals, we’re going to make new accomplishments, and we’re going to achieve what our leaders want us to achieve for our national security objectives and to protect our country in this Global War on Terror that we’re engaged in today.”

To protect the country, he said, each base has to count on one another.

Col. James N. Post III, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw, said there are only 25 miles between the bases, “but we’ve been separated by those 25 miles up until today.”

Post said the day marked the beginning of “what I know will be a long-term relationship between the 20th Fighter Wing and the 169th.”

As the detachments continue to grow, he said, they will both realize “what Total Force really means,” and the opportunity it affords both bases to “build a synergy that can remain second to none.”

“We’re all part of the same U.S. Air Force,” he said, built upon the same foundation with the same core values of integrity, excellence and service above self.

“We’ll continue to grow stronger and grow together,” Post said, thanking everyone for the opportunity, “and for what you mean for our Air Force and the National Guard and for what you’ll do for these folks here at the 20th Fighter Wing on active duty.”

Coln then told his counterparts they were now part of the Swamp Fox family.

“You’ll always be Swamp Foxes,” he said, “no matter where you go.”

Coln said after the ceremony that McEntire — known as Congaree Air Base until a name change in 1961 — celebrated its 60th anniversary last year.

Contact Staff Writer Joe Perry at jperry@theitem.com or (803) 774-1272.

Shaw Air Force Base VHF Trunked Repeater System

During my trip to Florence and Darlington yesterday, I was able to help identify the Shaw AFB TRS. A few months ago, I was asked to check out some frequencies that were known to be a trunked system in South Carolina, probably Shaw AFB or McEntire ANGB. At that time I was unable to determine much while in Columbia because of band conditions. VHF was wide open that morning and it was almost impossible to pick local transmissions from distant transmissions. During yesterday's trip conditions were normal, so I was able to nail down the location as Shaw AFB. Once I figured out the settings for the system, I was able to monitor it with the BC-796. Stations using the callsign SHAW and references to the 79th Fighter Squadron confirmed it as the Shaw AFB TRS.

SETTINGS & FREQUENCIES 9600 Baud Motorola
Base Freq: 162.0000
Step: 12.5
Offset: 380

163.4625 - Control Channel (9600 baud)
165.0125 - Digital Voice
165.1875 - Digital Voice
165.2250 - Digital Voice
165.4125 - Digital Voice
166.0000 - Digital Voice
166.2250 - Digital Voice

TALKGROUPS
19 - Fire?
20 - unknown
21 - unknown
25 - Police?
28 - Squadron talkgroup?
34 - Tower/Ground Control?
42 - POL?

Much work still needs to be done on sorting out this system. The talkgroup info above was accquired from less than one day (a Saturday no less) of monitoring while passing the area on I-95. If you are in the area, or are visiting the area, do some monitoring on this system. Please pass on your information to me or to Larry Van Horn at the Monitoring Times MilCom Monitoring Blog.


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

Savannah, GA to Warner Robins, GA Road Trip

Today, I took a road trip from Savannah to Warner Robins to visit the Museum of Aviation and monitor activity at Robins AFB. Along the way, I monitored various military and public safety communications systems, my notes are inlcuded below. After several trips to the Robins AFB area since they put up the trunked system there, I have decided that unless your intent is to monitor the Robins ALC, it is best to lock out their talkgroups. Otherwise, the ALC is all you will hear; they are more active on the system than any other entity at the base.

Radios used during the trip were a Uniden BC780, Uniden BC796, Uniden BC245, Alinco DJ-X10T, and a Yaesu FT-8800.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net


Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF TRS
---------------------------
Control Channels: 406.5000, 407.3500, 408.1500, 407.1625
TG 1616 Army Common
TG 1808 A/DACG
TG 2128 3rd Aviation Brigade
TG 2288 Range Admin
TG 2352 Range Admin
TG 2416 Multi-Purpose Range Complex (MPRC)
TG 2448 Range Control
TG 2480 Forestry
TG 2576 EMS Dispatch
TG 3440 Ft. Stewart Fire
TG 3504 Hunter Fire


363.200 Jax Center Allendale Low
------------------------------------
-GAMBER 6# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 141.675 V10
-ROYAL 4# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 137.475 a2a
-CLAW 9# (F-16CJ, 79 FS); 141.775 V10
-HICK 1# (F-16CJ, 55 FS); 141.900 V8
-HEAT 2# (F-16CJ, 55 FS); 143.425 V11
-DIAMOND 4# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 143.800 V8
-POKER 6# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 141.675 V11

323.000 Atlanta Center Macon
--------------------------------
-GAMBER 6# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 141.675 V10
-ROYAL 4# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 137.475 a2a
-CLAW 9# (F-16CJ, 79 FS); 141.775 V10
-HICK 1# (F-16CJ, 55 FS); 141.900 V8
-HEAT 2# (F-16CJ, 55 FS); 143.425 V11
-DIAMOND 4# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 143.800 V8
-POKER 6# (F-16CJ, 77 FS); 141.675 V11

343.750 Bulldog MOA
-----------------------
-GAMBLER 6#; 141.675 V11 v. ROYAL 4#; 138.475 a2a, simulated
DARKSTAR control
-CLAW 91/92; 141.775 V10 v. CLAW 93/94; 142.125 V11, simulated
DARKSTAR control
-HICK 1#; 141.900 V8 v. HEAT 2#; 143.425 V11, simulated
DARKSTAR control
-DIAMOND 41/42; 143.800 V8 v. DIAMOND 43/44; 141.750 V9
-POKER 6#; 141.675 V11 v. DIAMOND 4#; 143.800 V8, simulated
DARKSTAR control


Robins AFB
----------
133.225/320.100 Robins AFB Tower
-ROGUE 01 (F-15, ALC)
-RHET 21 (KC-135R, 19 ARG)
-COBB 29 (C-130, 94 AW)
-COBB 88 (C-130, 94 AW)
-PELICAN 04 (P-3C, VP-45)
-NAVY 2E 494 (T-34)

225.925 ROGUE/EAGLE CONTROL (Air Logistics Center)
-ROGUE 01 (F-15, ALC)

311.000 RAYMOND 19 (Robins Command Post)
-RHET 21 (KC-135, 19 ARG)

139.975 NFM ALC?, various civilian-sounding with references
to stands for C-130s, towbars, etc.

Robins TRS Control Channel: 406.7625
TG 2544
TG 2576
TG 2960
TG 3248 ALC, ROGUE CONTROL
TG 3344 ALC?
TG 3376 ALC
TG 3408 ALC?
TG 3472 ALC
TG 3504 ALC
TG 3536 ALC
TG 3568 ALC
TG 3600 ALC
TG 3632 ALC
TG 3696 ALC
TG 3760 ALC
TG 3792 ALC
TG 3856 ALC
TG 3888 ALC
TG 4912 Tower/Ground Control
-PEACH OPS wkg GROUND to cross runway, taxiways
-OPS 2 wkg GROUND to cross runway, taxiways
TG 4944 Crash/Fire
TG 6448 Security Control
TG 6480 Police Control
TG 8048 116th ACW
-DAGGER SUPER, DAGGER #, PRESSBOX; aircraft maintenance
related
TG 8912 116th ACW
TG 11280
TG 13648
-unknown type maintenance related traffic
TG 13680
-BASE LMR calling for radio checks
-unknown type maintenance related traffic
TG 13712
-BASE LMR calling for radio checks
-unknown type maintenance related traffic
TG 16048
TG 16112 19th ARG
-TANKER SUPER, TANKER #, TANKER FLIGHT; traffic on TG
related to in flight report from RHET 21 on 311.000


Shaw AFB
--------
138.950/252.100 SOF
-CLAW 9# (F-16CJ, 79 FS)

311.200 55 FS Ops "SHOOTER OPS"
-HEAT, HICK
141.900 55 FS V8
143.425 55 FS V11

273.700 77 FS Ops "GAMBLER OPS"
-DIAMOND, GAMBLER, POKER, ROYAL (F-16CJ, 77 FS)
138.475 77 FS a2a
143.800 77 FS V8
141.750 77 FS V9
141.675 77 FS V11

320.525 79 FS Ops "SNAKE OPS"
-CLAW (F-16CJ, 79 FS)
141.775 79 FS V10
142.125 79 FS V11


Bulloch County TRS
------------------
Control Channel: 857.7375
TG 1648 Bulloch SO Dispatch
TG 1904 Statesboro PD Dispatch
TG 2064 GSU PD Dispatch
TG 2928 Statesboro City Hall
TG 3024 Bulloch BOE Maintenance
TG 3312 BCCI Solid Waste
TG 3344 Bulloch County Water/Wastewater
TG 4256 School Buses


Houston/Peach County TRS P25 9600 Baud CC
------------------------------------------
TG 1 Houston SO Dispatch
TG 16 Houston FD
TG 17 Houston FD Fireground 1
TG 31 Warner Robins EMS
TG 46 Warner Robins PD
TG 76 Centerville PD
TG 91 Centerville FD
TG 106 Perry PD
TG 147
TG 316


Conventional Public Safety
--------------------------
151.370 Georgia Forestry District 10 Admin
156.120 North Bryan County Fire/EMS Dispatch
154.770 Emanuel County SO
154.665 Treutlen SO
154.070 Laurens FD
155.400 Laurens EMS
155.550 Dublin PD
155.640 Twiggs SO
153.890 Houston FD (multicast with TRS)
154.355 Perry FD