Frequency Changes and Sector Transitions

As you progress along your flight plan, you will fly through different areas covered by different air traffic facilities. Each facility has its own VHF frequency or set of frequencies. When you cross from one facility's area into another's, you must change your radio frequency to remain in communication with the facility covering that airspace.

For example, if you are flying from Vienna to Prague, you may start by contacting Vienna Approach, then change to Brno Radar as you enter Brno's airspace, then change to Prague Approach as you approach Prague. Each frequency change is a discrete event that requires attention and correct procedure.

The facility you are currently in contact with will instruct you when to change frequency. They will give you the new frequency to contact and, sometimes, the name of the facility you are contacting. The instruction is typically:

"OE-CMV, contact Brno Radar on one-two-zero decimal four-five-zero. Good day."

This tells you to switch to the frequency 120.450 MHz and call the facility "Brno Radar."