Am trying to understand the proper radio procedures when flying in / out of CYTS. Doing IFR flights (Pilot2ATC), I can file my flight plan and get clearance from Toronto Center.
After that, I am told to contact them on that frequency (182.3) when number 1 for departure for IFR release.
This is pretty standard for all non towered airports.
At this point, I would switch to Unicom and do my call-outs until I am number 1 for departure. Switch back to Toronto Center and request my IFR release, once given, I would be told to contact them when I am airborne.
I would then switch back to Unicom and do the call outs once up in the air, switch back to Toronto Center and be on my way.
This works no problem at any airport, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what frequency I should be using at CYTS when I am not talking to center.
The sim ATC says it’s 122.9 but I don’t see reference to that anywhere, and Pilot2ATC does nothing with it. P2A has what’s listed in all the charts / manuals.
With Timmins Radio, you would call your reports as you would any ATF. However, they’re addressed to Timmins Radio, not Timmins Traffic. For example, “Timmins Radio, GXTR taxiing runway 06 via A C for IFR departure to the southeast”.
In response you would get “GXTR, Timmins Radio, roger”.
Timmins Radio is staffed by Nav Canada (same organization that staffs all of Canada’s civil air traffic control), and their job is to provide situational awareness and information. They’re almost like a tower controller except they don’t control traffic at all.
Hell, in theory, you could probably get your IFR release from Toronto center through them; they’ll relay the request in a perfect world.
I’ll have to talk to Dave @ Pilot2ATC maybe P2A doesn’t know how to handle FSS? I just tried again “Timmins Radio, Kodiak Sierra Kilo Papa is taxing runway 10 via taxiway Alpha for IFR departure to the north”
And no matter what I say, it always comes back with “Kodiak Sierra Kilo Papa this is Timmins FSS on 122.3 please say again with your request”.
So it seems to know about it but I guess I’m not getting the phrasing right.
So is this just a disconnect in the capabilities of P2A (missing the functions for the general call outs) or is there actually another frequency I’m missing that I would do those on?
Yeah a Flight Service Station is more of a “hey can you tell me what the situation is up ahead”. An MF radio is more of a mandatory reporting station which informs everyone of each other.
