[newbie question] What frequency to use outside ATC service?

[alxx]

Hello!

I've got a newbie question. Outside of ATC service hours, what's the best frequency to contact somebody nearby? I noticed another helicopter flying on the same airport as me and tried calling it on tower, ground, and unicom; but he either didn't hear me, or was tuned someplace else, or didn't want to answer.

Is there any kind of convention in this sense?

Thanks!

[Kyle.Sanders]

Are you sure it wasn't a drone? The drones are flying 24/7. If so, it won't respond lol.
What airport?
To answer your question - use the same frequency they would real world.

[rtataryn]

Yeah, especially the heli's at Catalina never respond and never call their traffic. So rude. I chew them out on unicom all the time, but they freakin' ignore me. They think they own the place.

[Kyle.Sanders]

Haha

[alxx]

Are you sure it wasn't a drone? The drones are flying 24/7. If so, it won't respond lol.
What airport?
To answer your question - use the same frequency they would real world.

Hi Kyle!

It was a red EC-140 which I started following between KSBP and some place about 30 miles to the north, I forget which airport it was. Anyway, when I nearly caught up with him he circled back and flew in formation with me, then we both landed and kinda stared at each other I doubt drones care about TCAS, look to see who's following them, then circle around to greet them. Then he took off north-east.

I've noticed that I can never hear myself (using the PE receiver software) outside ATC hours. Is that by design, or am I really not transmitting?

[kullery]

Check the on line map. This will show you if an aircraft is a drone or not.

If it's not, it will show you the pilots name and the frequency they are on.

[alxx]

Check the on line map. This will show you if an aircraft is a drone or not.

If it's not, it will show you the pilots name and the frequency they are on.

That's a great answer, thanks! I knew about the map but didn't think to use it in this case

[Keith Smith]

You will not hear yourself on the receiver in the center, approach and tower rooms if atc is not there. Those are atc-specific voice rooms. You should use the CTAF outside of our operating hours, not ground or Unicom.

[alxx]

You will not hear yourself on the receiver in the center, approach and tower rooms if atc is not there. Those are atc-specific voice rooms. You should use the CTAF outside of our operating hours, not ground or Unicom.

Thanks, will do.

I tried ground because at the moment we were both on the, well, ground. (Parking area.)

Is there some sanctioned way to make sure I'm transmitting, outside operating hours? Some echo frequency, for example? In ham radio we often have parrots on dedicated frequencies -- automated stations that repeat everything they hear.

[helicopterjoe]

the real world helicopter air to air advisory frequency in the Los Angeles area is 123.025. I know the drones don't respond, but you might find yourself in a similar situation in the future with a real person at the controls. I'm not sure how many people on PE actually use 123.025, but it might be worth a shot if you see another helicopter flying about .