Narrative:

Tactical low level and air drop training mission. Problem arose on second route after first route and drop were accomplished in restr area. On departure from palmdale airport after formation recovery, joshua approach was contacted on 126.1 with formation call sign and intentions. Normally at this point the formation receives clearance to enter the restr area which will be penetrated farther north of the route. Joshua approach was very busy. We received instructions to 'contact joshua approach on 134.1 at caliente.' I have never heard that clearance before, nor did I know where caliente was. My copilot was on his second day tactical mission after initial training. The navigator was unqualified and was receiving instruction from a new instructor navigator. I do not carry a chart, so really should not have accepted that particular clearance. North on the route, at about cuddeback lake, I attempted contact on 134.1, which was an inactive frequency. The formation of 3 aircraft continued to attempt contact and climbed to no avail. Finally one of my wingman contacted 'sport' control on 134.05, which was the correct frequency. We received clearance to enter the restr area after we had already entered r- 2515. I feel there were many problems contributing to this incident: lack of appropriate coordination between sport and our tactics office, inexperienced crew and controllers, issuance of an unfamiliar and incorrect clearance by joshua approach, and finally my ability to recognize this incorrect clearance while accomplishing checklists, rejoining a formation first officer 3 aircraft and training inexperienced crew members simultaneously.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL FORMATION FLT ISSUED WRONG FREQ TO CONTACT APCH. ENTERS RESTRICTED AREA PRIOR TO MAKING CONTACT.

Narrative: TACTICAL LOW LEVEL AND AIR DROP TRAINING MISSION. PROBLEM AROSE ON SECOND RTE AFTER FIRST RTE AND DROP WERE ACCOMPLISHED IN RESTR AREA. ON DEP FROM PALMDALE ARPT AFTER FORMATION RECOVERY, JOSHUA APCH WAS CONTACTED ON 126.1 WITH FORMATION CALL SIGN AND INTENTIONS. NORMALLY AT THIS POINT THE FORMATION RECEIVES CLRNC TO ENTER THE RESTR AREA WHICH WILL BE PENETRATED FARTHER N OF THE RTE. JOSHUA APCH WAS VERY BUSY. WE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO 'CONTACT JOSHUA APCH ON 134.1 AT CALIENTE.' I HAVE NEVER HEARD THAT CLRNC BEFORE, NOR DID I KNOW WHERE CALIENTE WAS. MY COPLT WAS ON HIS SECOND DAY TACTICAL MISSION AFTER INITIAL TRAINING. THE NAVIGATOR WAS UNQUALIFIED AND WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM A NEW INSTRUCTOR NAVIGATOR. I DO NOT CARRY A CHART, SO REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED THAT PARTICULAR CLRNC. N ON THE RTE, AT ABOUT CUDDEBACK LAKE, I ATTEMPTED CONTACT ON 134.1, WHICH WAS AN INACTIVE FREQ. THE FORMATION OF 3 ACFT CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT CONTACT AND CLBED TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY ONE OF MY WINGMAN CONTACTED 'SPORT' CTL ON 134.05, WHICH WAS THE CORRECT FREQ. WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO ENTER THE RESTR AREA AFTER WE HAD ALREADY ENTERED R- 2515. I FEEL THERE WERE MANY PROBLEMS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INCIDENT: LACK OF APPROPRIATE COORD BTWN SPORT AND OUR TACTICS OFFICE, INEXPERIENCED CREW AND CTLRS, ISSUANCE OF AN UNFAMILIAR AND INCORRECT CLRNC BY JOSHUA APCH, AND FINALLY MY ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THIS INCORRECT CLRNC WHILE ACCOMPLISHING CHKLISTS, REJOINING A FORMATION FO 3 ACFT AND TRAINING INEXPERIENCED CREW MEMBERS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

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