Ground communication outlet
Encyclopedia
An GCO is a variant of a remote communications outlet
(RCO). Historically, pilots
would use a RCO, which was a direct telephone line to the nearest air traffic controller, be it a 'tower' or a 'Flight Service Station'. A GCO allows a pilot to use the plane's radio to contact the RCOand/or the air traffic control facility while on the ground. In areas with cellular telephone coverage, the procedure has been replaced by just calling the air traffic control facility directly.
A ground communication outlet (GCO) is an automatic, remotely controlled, ground to ground communications device.
Pilots at non-towered airport
s may contact the local Air Traffic Control
(ATC) facility and / or Flight Service Station (FSS) by aircraft radio-to-telephone
connection located on the airport. The telephone call goes to the
appropriate FSS or sector ATC controller. Pilots may receive an instrument
clearance, close a VFR or IFR flight plan, get an updated weather briefing
prior to take off, or any other FSS or ATC services. Use the listed frequency
for the airport ( 121.725 or 135.075 ). Activate the system with four “key
clicks” on the VHF radio to contact the appropriate ATC facility or six “key
strokes” to contact the FSS. There is timer on the modem
connection. If no
voice is heard for a preset time period, the system will disconnect. Note that
the VHF transceiver on the airport is very low power, 2 - 5 watts
. You may
not be able to establish contact when between hangar rows or near other
obstructions. Additionally, you may need to reposition your aircraft
slightly
when stopped on the taxiway. The GCO system is intended to be used only
on the ground. Airports with GCO are noted in the text portion of the airport
diagram.
See also remote communications outlet
.
Remote Communications Outlet
Remote Communications Outlets are remote aviation band radio transceivers, established to extend the communication capabilities of Flight Information Centres and Flight Service Stations ....
(RCO). Historically, pilots
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
would use a RCO, which was a direct telephone line to the nearest air traffic controller, be it a 'tower' or a 'Flight Service Station'. A GCO allows a pilot to use the plane's radio to contact the RCOand/or the air traffic control facility while on the ground. In areas with cellular telephone coverage, the procedure has been replaced by just calling the air traffic control facility directly.
A ground communication outlet (GCO) is an automatic, remotely controlled, ground to ground communications device.
Pilots at non-towered airport
Non-towered airport
A non-towered airport, sometimes referred to as an uncontrolled airport, is an airport with no operating tower, or air traffic control unit...
s may contact the local Air Traffic Control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
(ATC) facility and / or Flight Service Station (FSS) by aircraft radio-to-telephone
connection located on the airport. The telephone call goes to the
appropriate FSS or sector ATC controller. Pilots may receive an instrument
clearance, close a VFR or IFR flight plan, get an updated weather briefing
prior to take off, or any other FSS or ATC services. Use the listed frequency
for the airport ( 121.725 or 135.075 ). Activate the system with four “key
clicks” on the VHF radio to contact the appropriate ATC facility or six “key
strokes” to contact the FSS. There is timer on the modem
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
connection. If no
voice is heard for a preset time period, the system will disconnect. Note that
the VHF transceiver on the airport is very low power, 2 - 5 watts
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
. You may
not be able to establish contact when between hangar rows or near other
obstructions. Additionally, you may need to reposition your aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
slightly
when stopped on the taxiway. The GCO system is intended to be used only
on the ground. Airports with GCO are noted in the text portion of the airport
diagram.
See also remote communications outlet
Remote Communications Outlet
Remote Communications Outlets are remote aviation band radio transceivers, established to extend the communication capabilities of Flight Information Centres and Flight Service Stations ....
.