SELCAL

In international aviation, SELCAL or SelCal is a selective-calling radio system that can alert an aircraft's
crew that a ground radio station wishes to communicate with the aircraft. SELCAL uses a ground-based
encoder and radio transmitter to broadcast an audio signal that is picked up by a decoder and radio
receiver on an aircraft. The use of SELCAL allows an aircraft crew to be notified of incoming
communications even when the aircraft's radio has been muted. Thus, crewmembers need not devote
their attention to continuous radio listening.

SELCAL operates on the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) radio frequency bands used
for aircraft communications. SELCAL in INDIA is available on HF only. HF radio often has extremely high
levels of background noise and can be difficult or distracting to listen to for long periods of time. As a
result, it is common practice for crews to keep the radio volume low unless the radio is immediately
needed. A SELCAL notification activates a signal to the crew that they are about to receive a voice
transmission, so that the crew has time to raise the volume.

An individual aircraft has its own assigned SELCAL code. To initiate a SELCAL transmission, a ground
station radio operator enters an aircraft's SELCAL code into a SELCAL encoder. The encoder converts the
four-letter code into four designated audio tones. The radio operator's transmitter then broadcasts the
audio tones on the aircraft's company radio frequency channel in sequence: the first pair of tones are
transmitted simultaneously, lasting about one second; a silence of about 0.2 seconds; followed by the
second pair of tones, lasting about one second.
The code is received by any aircraft receiver monitoring the radio frequency on which the SELCAL code is
broadcast. A SELCAL decoder is connected to each aircraft's radio receiver. When a SELCAL decoder on
an aircraft receives a signal containing its own assigned SELCAL code, it alerts the aircraft's crew by
sounding a chime, activating a light, or both.

The crew next turns up the volume on the aircraft radio to hear the incoming voice transmission. Using
ICAO radio protocol, they must verify with the transmitting operator that they are the intended message
recipients. The crew then uses the received information.

ADVANTAGE:
 No need to monitor Radio Continuously
 Whenever your ATC calls you, you will get AUDIO (chime sound) and VISUAL indication
(Blinking Lights) in A/C even if you are keeping radio on mute.
 It reduces workload on pilots in terms of monitoring radio.

Each A/C will get discreet SELCAL code  Made by ASRI (Aviation Spectrum Resources Inc.)

1. It works under the guidelines of ICAO to give

SELCAL to A/C operator /owner.
2. This is a paid service.
3. Selcal code once given will be same for that
A/C
4. It is PLUCARDED in the aircraft.

Guidelines for SELCAL Codes:-

1. SELCAL Codes should be four letter codes.
2. Alphabets from A to S are used except { I,O,N }
3. Two Pairs, [AB-CD], each pair should be in ascending order.
4. No repetition of alphabets is allowed.

THE SYSTEM IS ALSO KNOWN AS SELCAL-16 (as 16 characters from A to S except I, O, N.

Code registration:-

An individual aircraft is given a SELCAL code upon application to the SELCAL code
registrar, Aviation Spectrum Resources, Inc. (ASRI). The code is technically assigned to the
owner-operator of the aircraft rather than the aircraft itself; if an aircraft is sold, the new owners-
operators must apply for a new code.
The code is a sequence of four letters, written or transmitted as an ordered two sets of two
letters each (e.g., AB-CD). The letters are chosen from a subset of the Latin
script comprising A through S, excluding I, N and O. The letters within a given pair are written or
transmitted in alphabetical order (e.g., AB-CD is an allowable distinct SELCAL code, as is CD-
AB, but CD-BA is not). A given letter can be used only once in a SELCAL code; letters may not
be repeated (e.g., AB-CD is allowable, but AA-BC and AB-BC are not).
Each letter designates a specific audio tone frequency.
Alphabet-audio frequency equivalents
A 312.6 Hz E 473.2 Hz J 716.1 Hz P 1083.9 Hz
B 346.7 Hz F 524.8 Hz K 794.3 Hz Q 1202.3 Hz
C 384.6 Hz G 582.1 Hz L 881.0 Hz R 1333.5 Hz
D 426.6 Hz H 645.7 Hz M 977.2 Hz S 1479.1 Hz

Limitations:
The current rules for SELCAL code assignment, with sixteen available letters/tones, limit the number of
possible allowable codes to 10,920. Additionally, SELCAL codes assigned previously use a subset of only
twelve letters/tones. Therefore, more than one aircraft may be designated by the same code.

To avoid confusion from two or more aircraft using the same SELCAL code, ASRI tries to assign code
duplicates to aircraft that do not usually operate in the same region of the world or on the same HF
radio frequencies. However, aircraft commonly move between different geographical regions and it is
now routine for two aircraft with the same SELCAL code to be found flying in the same region.
Therefore, air crew always verify both SELCAL and call sign (i.e., aircraft tail registration, or telephony
designator and flight identification) to be sure their aircraft is the intended recipient.

Q.1 how are Selcal codes Tx?

Ans. Tx of Selcal codes is done in pairs

Q.2 How ATC would get to know about aircraft SELCAL Codes?

Ans. Through Item No. 18(other info) of the flight plan

Q.3 How to respond to SELCAL?

Ans. Whom are you calling, who are you, Go ahead.

Q.4 what is the reason for this call format of SELCAL?

Ans. SELCAL codes follow guidelines of ICAO. ASRI could only make 11000 SEL CODES and number of A/C
using SELCAL codes is 35,000+.

Hence many A/c had same Selcal codes. To prevent confusion we follow this call format.

Q.5 How to Carry out SLCAL Check?

Ans. SELCAL check is done first on secondary frequency then on primary frequency.

TO GIVE UNIQUE SELCAL CODES TO EACH AIRCRAFT WE HAE TO INCREASE NO. OF CHARACTERS.

SELCAL16 + 16 NEW CHARACTERS  SELCAL32