Narrative:

I was on the last leg of an assignment to deliver a PA-23 aztec from fort lauderdale to dortmund. Although I had ferried dozens of airplanes internationally, this was my first delivery to germany. At the end of the lyon to dortmund flight, flown IFR, I was handed off to the dusseldorf terminal radar facility on frequency 136.7. Trying to dial this frequency, I realized that they were 720 channel radios, incapable of accessing the 40 channels between 135.0 and 136.975. I reported this fact to the previous controller who told me that, in order to fly IFR in german, I had to have 760 channel equipment. Luckily, I was in excellent VMC conditions a few mi from destination and I was able to cancel IFR and proceed VFR to dortmund, contacting the tower directly. I had heard that german and other european registered aircraft had to be upgraded to 760 channels. Radios a yr or so ago, but did not know that foreign aircraft had to comply as well to fly IFR in european airspace. I suggest that the FAA publicize this requirement so as to prevent us operators from being denied access to european airspace although they are legally IFR equipped and capable as per the far's. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter thought that he had done his homework, but was unaware of the 760 channel requirement. The controller refused or was unable to give the reporter another frequency. The controller got the reporter's attention when he said, 'I will have to report this.' the reporter has heard nothing further. The aircraft will be re-registered in germany with new radios. A call to the commercial chart maker confirms that the 720 channel radio is required while operating within germany airspace. Supposedly the reason for this is the close proximity of many facilities. The chart maker will check to see if they publish this information, if not, they will add it to the appropriate aeronautical chart.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DELIVERY PLT FOUND THAT HE NEEDED 760 CHANNELS TO FLY IFR IN GERMANY.

Narrative: I WAS ON THE LAST LEG OF AN ASSIGNMENT TO DELIVER A PA-23 AZTEC FROM FORT LAUDERDALE TO DORTMUND. ALTHOUGH I HAD FERRIED DOZENS OF AIRPLANES INTERNATIONALLY, THIS WAS MY FIRST DELIVERY TO GERMANY. AT THE END OF THE LYON TO DORTMUND FLT, FLOWN IFR, I WAS HANDED OFF TO THE DUSSELDORF TERMINAL RADAR FACILITY ON FREQ 136.7. TRYING TO DIAL THIS FREQ, I REALIZED THAT THEY WERE 720 CHANNEL RADIOS, INCAPABLE OF ACCESSING THE 40 CHANNELS BTWN 135.0 AND 136.975. I RPTED THIS FACT TO THE PREVIOUS CTLR WHO TOLD ME THAT, IN ORDER TO FLY IFR IN GERMAN, I HAD TO HAVE 760 CHANNEL EQUIP. LUCKILY, I WAS IN EXCELLENT VMC CONDITIONS A FEW MI FROM DEST AND I WAS ABLE TO CANCEL IFR AND PROCEED VFR TO DORTMUND, CONTACTING THE TWR DIRECTLY. I HAD HEARD THAT GERMAN AND OTHER EUROPEAN REGISTERED ACFT HAD TO BE UPGRADED TO 760 CHANNELS. RADIOS A YR OR SO AGO, BUT DID NOT KNOW THAT FOREIGN ACFT HAD TO COMPLY AS WELL TO FLY IFR IN EUROPEAN AIRSPACE. I SUGGEST THAT THE FAA PUBLICIZE THIS REQUIREMENT SO AS TO PREVENT U.S. OPERATORS FROM BEING DENIED ACCESS TO EUROPEAN AIRSPACE ALTHOUGH THEY ARE LEGALLY IFR EQUIPPED AND CAPABLE AS PER THE FAR'S. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR THOUGHT THAT HE HAD DONE HIS HOMEWORK, BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THE 760 CHANNEL REQUIREMENT. THE CTLR REFUSED OR WAS UNABLE TO GIVE THE RPTR ANOTHER FREQ. THE CTLR GOT THE RPTR'S ATTN WHEN HE SAID, 'I WILL HAVE TO RPT THIS.' THE RPTR HAS HEARD NOTHING FURTHER. THE ACFT WILL BE RE-REGISTERED IN GERMANY WITH NEW RADIOS. A CALL TO THE COMMERCIAL CHART MAKER CONFIRMS THAT THE 720 CHANNEL RADIO IS REQUIRED WHILE OPERATING WITHIN GERMANY AIRSPACE. SUPPOSEDLY THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE CLOSE PROX OF MANY FACILITIES. THE CHART MAKER WILL CHK TO SEE IF THEY PUBLISH THIS INFO, IF NOT, THEY WILL ADD IT TO THE APPROPRIATE AERONAUTICAL CHART.

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.