Narrative:

There is a unique combination of airspace and operations in the university park; PA area. Bellefonte airport is located within the class D airspace of university park airport. Operators in/out of bellefonte airport are required to contact university park airport traffic control tower on 128.475 for operations in class D airspace. Likewise; the bellefonte operators must use 122.8 to communicate with other operators within the bellefonte airport area. This requires that the operators at bellefonte simultaneously monitor/use two separate frequencies 128.0 and 128.475 while conducting operations at bellefonte airport. Listening to two separate frequencies simultaneously can be complex; however; in this case; the practice allows bellefonte pilots to maintain a situational awareness of aircraft operations at both airports. The situational awareness increases overall aviation safety in the area. However; there is a continuing practice at university park airport where radio transmissions are degrading safety. The unicom frequency being used by fueling trucks and ground service personnel is the same frequency that is being used for airborne operations. Frequency 122.8 is being used for ancillary communications to pilots; fixed base operators and fueling trucks. The use of 122.8 by entities other than those aircraft operating at bellefonte airport is creating an unnecessary risk to pilots. Recommended action: immediate action by the FCC or the FAA's flight standards district office should be taken to stop the use of 122.8 by ground based operators (fbos; fuel trucks etc.) at university park airport. These entities should be provided with a separate unicom frequency which does not interfere with other local flight operations.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: General Aviation pilot voiced concern regarding the use of frequency 122.8 by ground based operators at UNV Airport; noting the practice introduces an unnecessary level of confusion for operations into Bellefonte Airport.

Narrative: There is a unique combination of airspace and operations in the University Park; PA area. Bellefonte Airport is located within the Class D airspace of University Park Airport. Operators in/out of Bellefonte Airport are required to contact University Park Airport Traffic Control Tower on 128.475 for operations in Class D airspace. Likewise; the Bellefonte Operators must use 122.8 to communicate with other operators within the Bellefonte Airport area. This requires that the operators at Bellefonte simultaneously monitor/use two separate frequencies 128.0 and 128.475 while conducting operations at Bellefonte Airport. Listening to two separate frequencies simultaneously can be complex; however; in this case; the practice allows Bellefonte pilots to maintain a situational awareness of aircraft operations at both airports. The situational awareness increases overall aviation safety in the area. However; there is a continuing practice at University Park Airport where radio transmissions are degrading safety. The UNICOM frequency being used by fueling trucks and ground service personnel is the same frequency that is being used for airborne operations. Frequency 122.8 is being used for ancillary communications to pilots; Fixed Base Operators and fueling trucks. The use of 122.8 by entities other than those aircraft operating at Bellefonte Airport is creating an unnecessary risk to pilots. Recommended Action: Immediate action by the FCC or the FAA's Flight Standards District Office should be taken to stop the use of 122.8 by ground based operators (FBOs; fuel trucks etc.) at University Park Airport. These entities should be provided with a separate UNICOM frequency which does not interfere with other local flight operations.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.