Monitor Info
FMC the Netherlands
 

 
© FMC the Netherlands

News

Several B-52's have serious bad communications on board and not only bad modulation! Since 21 March I heard a lot of c/s with SATCOM problems, the alternative is to set up a phone patch with Fortress OPS, DSN 314-2476700, because this is in clear voice they can't give tactical information. Fortress can only relay the message to the Central Command that their SATCOM doesn't work. The VHF has also problems, so the air controllers asked often to switch to a UHF frequency. During the missions they have to coordinate with command post AC1 in secure voice, but also these crypto doesn't work from time to time....

Monitor Hit Ratio

To ensure you will receive VHF/UHF communication of the B-52 with their KC-135 on their missions look at this timetable. These times are based on the first 14 days of OIF. This is just a helping hand to monitor these missions. It is not guaranteed that they use any timetable as you can expect! When a B-52 is calling Fortress OPS or Mildenhall METRO or a KC-135 is calling Bravo OPS, mostly they are near waypoint NAVPI. When they are overhead the Netherlands they will exchange their squawk identity (mode 4) for refueling on the A/R primary. The B-52 will use the A/A frequencies when they are passing each other or when they are in formation flight.    

Routing of the mission flights

The routing of all these missions were in the first days mostly overhead France, but this has changed since the 3rd day of the air attacks. There are also missions flights routing from Fairford at the UL620. Within the waypoints :NAVPI ( N 52 32 50, E 02 50 26), PAM, SONEB, BIRKA and then OMELO ( on the Germany / Czech border ). People from the Netherlands who are living at the line Zandvoort - Amsterdam - Arnhem are able to see these missions when the sky is clear..... Another route is NAVPI-MILGI.

Good Monitoring!