Reporter used 123 pt 45 to communicate with another of his company's flts. FCC advised that it was an unauthorized frequency. Reporter said it is commonly used for communication between flts.

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Attributes
ACN	101954
Time
Date	198901
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tup
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zme
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	101954
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Upon hearing another company aircraft on center frequency I requested he come up on frequency 123.45. Company aircraft have been using this frequency for 2 yrs for plane to plane conversation. During this time I, along with every other company pilot, have been unaware this was an unauthorized frequency. Upon return to home base I found out the FCC had called with my flight # and said next time a fine would be imposed. I just finished recurrent training, and after reviewing far 61.91 and the aim, I can find no mention of any unauthorized frequencys. You no longer have to have a radio license to fly domestic (at least that's the impression I'm under). If the FCC wants pilots to know about their regulations, why aren't they published? There should be something said in the aim or regulations. I have never heard any ATC communications on 123.45 in any part of the country. Every company pilot is under the impression this frequency is never used, or doesn't exist. Why doesn't someone publish all frequencys that are to be used, and for what, and all frequencys that are not to be used?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER USED 123 PT 45 TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANOTHER OF HIS COMPANY'S FLTS. FCC ADVISED THAT IT WAS AN UNAUTH FREQ. REPORTER SAID IT IS COMMONLY USED FOR COM BETWEEN FLTS.

Narrative: UPON HEARING ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT ON CENTER FREQ I REQUESTED HE COME UP ON FREQ 123.45. COMPANY ACFT HAVE BEEN USING THIS FREQ FOR 2 YRS FOR PLANE TO PLANE CONVERSATION. DURING THIS TIME I, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER COMPANY PLT, HAVE BEEN UNAWARE THIS WAS AN UNAUTH FREQ. UPON RETURN TO HOME BASE I FOUND OUT THE FCC HAD CALLED WITH MY FLT # AND SAID NEXT TIME A FINE WOULD BE IMPOSED. I JUST FINISHED RECURRENT TRNING, AND AFTER REVIEWING FAR 61.91 AND THE AIM, I CAN FIND NO MENTION OF ANY UNAUTH FREQS. YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO HAVE A RADIO LICENSE TO FLY DOMESTIC (AT LEAST THAT'S THE IMPRESSION I'M UNDER). IF THE FCC WANTS PLTS TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR REGS, WHY AREN'T THEY PUBLISHED? THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING SAID IN THE AIM OR REGS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANY ATC COMS ON 123.45 IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY. EVERY COMPANY PLT IS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THIS FREQ IS NEVER USED, OR DOESN'T EXIST. WHY DOESN'T SOMEONE PUBLISH ALL FREQS THAT ARE TO BE USED, AND FOR WHAT, AND ALL FREQS THAT ARE NOT TO BE USED?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.