In Reply to: Spokane Airport Approach posted by Wayne on February 04, 2001 at 11:08:28:
Although I don't live in the Spokane area, and cannot check this out myself, I am a pilot and you may be running into the following situation:
When air traffic is relatively light, there's no point in having extra FCC controllers on duty using all the approach frequencies so they will use a primary one. So, if those are the right frequencies, then that's probably what is happening. There's no problem with the aircraft coming in from the east because Seattle Center, before 'handing off' the aircraft to Spokane TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) will tell the aircraft which frequency to use right now despite what the frequency lists or charts say.
One way to tell when this is happening is to listen closely to the controllers on the West frequency (hopefully you can hear them). They will direct ("vector" in ATC terminology) each aircraft. If both freqs were in use, then you would hear aircraft on the West freq being vectored on headings that run approximately through a 180 degree arc, perhaps from 0 degrees to 180 degrees, with most of them being vectored towards an easterly direction. Once you've heard that, then listen for aircraft on the same frequency being vectored to a westerly direction. If you hear that on the same West channel, then you know that only one freq is being used for all approaches.
In addition, you might want to find the enroute Seattle Center frequencies being used in the area. These would be the freqs aircraft are using at the lower altitudes BEFORE Seattle Center tells them to switch to Spokane Approach. Another good way to help understand the flow and which freqs are in use.
Just some ideas...good luck
: In monitoring aircraft arriving into Spokane IA I can receive traffic on 123.750, which according to a aeronautical chart map is the approach to the west, the east approach is 133.350, which I have tried but no traffic. The funny thing is that I live in Moscow, ID and thus at least be getting the east approach. Any thoughts from any Spokane listeners?