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Yes, this is an “old man yells at cloud” article. Yes, I can already hear the jokes about the “guard police.” I don’t care. It needs to be said: Guard frequency (121.5) has become a national embarrassment, a sign that our self-absorbed social media culture has spread to the once-boring world of aviation. We need to do better.
If you follow the advice of the Aeronautical Information Manual—and you should—then monitoring 121.5 is a required part of every flight. This frequency is used for all kinds of critical tasks, including military intercepts of airplanes that bust TFRs. But these days most of what you hear on Guard is far less important: bad jokes, pilots mocking one another, and animal noises.
For newer pilots, I can assure you it wasn’t always this bad. In fact, for decades the only pilots who listened to Guard were conscientious airline pilots and Civil Air Patrol cadets. You might occasionally hear a lost pilot or an ELT, but that was it. This relative quiet was shattered (like so much else) by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Almost overnight everyone, from airline captain to student pilot, was on frequency. It was required, first by FDC NOTAM and then by AIM section 5-6-2. For a few years it was fine—nerves were frayed so people took it seriously, and many pilots realized there were benefits to having more ears listening.
Then came the second defining event of the century, not as tragic as 9/11 but equally significant: the introduction of social media. In addition to making Americans hate each other and ruining our attention spans, apps like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok also turned everyone into their own “brand.” We all started performing for the crowd, and in the process we all got a little more selfish, a little more eager to win praise from strangers.
In this cutthroat world of going viral and canceling people, Guard has morphed into a comedy show with national distribution, or at least an audio version of the YouTube comments section. When an airline pilot accidentally makes their cabin announcement on guard, we could gently remind the pilot they hit the wrong switch. Instead, you can expect to hear at least half a dozen jokes (“which gate are we parking at?” or “you’re on guard; no you’re on guard!”). This takes up airtime and is never as funny as the anonymous commenter thinks it is.
Then there are the pilots who play random sound effects and music into their microphones. Or the ones who make the same tired jokes about Delta pilots and turbulence PIREPs. Or, worst of all, the meowing. Make. It. Stop.
If you think I’m just a humorless Gen Xer who is mad that “kids these days” are having too much fun, I can assure you I’m no purist when it comes to radio etiquette. I don’t say “tree” and “fife” and I have been known to talk on 123.45 when flying in formation for a $100 hamburger. I’m also not against having fun in the air—in fact, it’s why I fly in the first place.
But there is a cost to all this goofing off, ranging from minor to critical. Consider the following scenarios, all of which I’ve heard in the last five years, all of which were at least somewhat disrupted by the Guard comedians:
- A pilot in a remote part of West Virginia trying to relay an IFR flight plan cancellation to another airplane.
- An airline pilot searching for the right ATC frequency, and struggling to hear the right numbers from another crew.
- A new pilot, lost and increasingly panicked, trying to get help as night crept in.
- A pilot listening for an ELT from a crashed airplane (at the request of New York Center).
It’s funny when one person makes a joke, but when everyone does it we destroy the shared resource that is 121.5. Economists would call this the tragedy of the commons, but Aristotle said it best: “That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it. Every one thinks chiefly of his own, hardly at all of the common interest.” It applies to aviation just as well as Ancient Greek politics. Heaven forbid someone tries to say “Mayday” while a pilot is relaying the latest NFL score.
Sometimes it’s not a catastrophic risk to safety, just a minor annoyance that can lead to distraction. About a month ago, I was landing at a Class C airport located very close to a large college football stadium where a TFR was active. Naturally, I had 121.5 tuned in the #2 COM radio while I listened to tower on #1. The weather was good, but the sun was setting and there was a stiff crosswind, so I was working pretty hard on final. Just as I was wrestling the Cirrus into a flare, the Guard jokes erupted. It was a terrible time for a distraction, especially when the tower frequency was active as well. While the landing turned out perfectly fine, it was just another reminder of how many pilots are impacted by bad behavior (when you’re transmitting from FL350, those radio calls go a long way).
Lest you think I’m alone on this crusade, here is a PIREP that was posted shortly after my landing:
The answer is pretty simple: don’t make nonessential calls on Guard, and don’t tolerate it from others in your airplane. Flight instructors should teach their students what 121.5 can and cannot be used for, and stop passing on bad habits to the next generation of pilots. Airline and corporate pilots don’t need to be tyrants like the captains of decades past, but they should tell their colleagues to shut up and read the airplane manual if they’re bored. Discipline is one of the most valuable traits for a pilot, and it definitely applies to radio communications.
If you do have a pithy comment, you don’t have to share it with the whole world—say it to the other pilot instead of pushing the PTT button. Or you could always post it to your favorite social media app once you’ve landed. Maybe you’ll go viral…
- Guard frequency in the age of social media - October 13, 2025
- Why are spatial disorientation accidents on the rise? - September 8, 2025
- The aviation community is alive and well - June 2, 2025
John, your last paragraph….here’s one to throw at you: Maybe Starlink will alleviate this problem to a certain degree? It will provide a dedicated outlet for folks who get bored in the cockpit.
Trade one problem for another? Sounds like the American way.
At least it would reduce chatter on guard, which has become almost untenable to monitor on sunny VFR days. You can add “chicken jockey!” to that list too btw.
If you dislike America so much, you can leave.
AC, If you can’t tolerate the opinions of others perhaps you should consider leaving
John
As a former Naval Aviator for 20 years and a Delta pilot for 33 years, I can’t agree with you more!
Would first responders tolerate people using the 9-1-1 emergency number in this manner? I don’t think so. Respect 121.5 for what it is; your life may depend on it someday.
Guy’s question sum’s up John’s article nicely. I don’t think John’s article is an “old man yelling” article at all. During a recent several hour cross country flight at least 3 pilots had to ask Center to repeat their call because they were stepped on by senseless meows on Com 2. At times it is so annoying I turn off guard and likely others do too … which risks an emergency not being caught in a timely manner.
Thank you for the article. I am a Sporty’s Sport Pilot on-line graduate approaching 500 hours. I don’t remember if monitoring “guard” was taught to me by either Sporty’s or my CFI, but I am not in the habit of doing so. My radio system only allows me to monitor one frequency at a time, but I understand what you are saying and will try to make periodic checking of 121.5 part of my routine.
It is in an FDC NOTAM 4/4386. That NOTAM states ‘all aircraft operating in the United States national airspace, if capable, shall maintain a listening watch on VHF guard 121.5 or UHF 243.0.’ If you are using your radios for other critical tasks, I would say you are not capable of monitoring 121.5. That’s just an opinion.
Thanks John for your post on this topic. Critical phase of flight with an instrument student yesterday and the instant distraction occurred at a most inopportune time on a practice approach. It’s super easy to turn down the second radio monitoring 121.5 and forget to turn it back up.
We had a new hire at my airline that came from the Regionals. He made some animal noises on guard while doing his IOE. He was marched into the Chief Pilots office and terminated. I couldn’t agree more with the author.
Agree with this result 100%. The first idiot FO to try that with me will have a bad day.
That was my procedure as well. Not funny, not cute, very unprofessional and not in my cockpit! Flying into complicated and congested airspace like LA, NY and Chicago with that childish insanity popping off on comm #2 was not just distracting, but dangerous as well. You had to have #2 up enough to hear but down enough not to listen to those little A-holes meowing or playing guard police.
Your article is completely on point, John. I have missed ATC calls because of unnecessary chatter on 121.5. Unfortunately, I think that in this age of social media, where everyone feels compelled to share everything that pops into their head with everyone else, asking for restraint, decorum, and an understanding of the purpose of the Guard frequency is a lost cause.
I read this article mainly because I have not heard or experienced anyone goofing off on guard. Maybe a meow or two once in a while and I did see the video where the FO transmitted his passenger call on guard but for the most part, nothing invasive. Corporal punishment for anyone who does! It’s an emergency frequency.
Well said, John.
I usually stop monitoring guard when entering the approach environment. As I am sometimes harsh with SIC’s chatty comments during critical phases when I need to fully concentrate, I find guard nonsense a possibly dangerous distraction.
Comparing this to a 911 line puts it in to perspective.
At our company the cockpit is sterile to FL180/18000. This was generally part of my CRM brief.
Same, zip it below 10 and until the brakes are set at the gate unless it’s cockpit duty, checklist, traffic or response to ATC. And it’s an FAR 121.542!
Thank you for this, it absolutely needs to be said… guard freq discipline is a reflection of the maturity of the pilot population, and it currently speaks for itself (pun not intended)…
One additional risk factor: remember ATC monitors 121.5 as well. Guard distractions disrupt the critical work of controllers, too…
Excellent piece. Right on point/. I hope it’s shared and has some effect.
You hit the nail on the head. Glad someone wrote that article
Great points John.
The first time you hear a ‘real world’ MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY on Guard …you’ll sober up.
If we could only clean up some of the B.S. being spewed over CTAFs as well…
Unfortunately, the clowns that need to read your article are probably not up on this freq…
Yes, radio discipline has gone by the boards, thanks for this timely reminder particularly on CTAF.
Keep in mind 123.45 is used in oceanic airspace for traffic in the tracks to monitor, as well.
And WTF is this ‘last call’ bleat that people seem compelled to make when departing an airport/clearing a practice area? I’d be more interested in your final position, heading and altitude if you must say something. With that ‘logic’, why not precede an initial transmission with ‘FIRST CALL’?
And FFS- NO ONE CARES WHAT COLOR YOUR PLANE IS- or can even tell from more than 1/4 mile away. Ditch this crap.
Good article but unfortunately will probably not be read by the offenders you mention. My military and CAP training taught me to monitor guard full time and after 48 years of flying, I’ve just about heard it all. The most annoying are not even the meow’s, which are transient and short lived, but the cowboys in formation who use guard to as a cell phone to compare ground-speed (“Fred, I’m showing 96 MPH” and Fred responds with “I’m doing 101.” ) or location (I’m on the North end of Lake Wangawanga, I see two dinghy’s and the fish are biting). These folks should have their ears smeared with jam and staked to an ant hill.
Flying within the DC SFRA, I’ve heard several instances where aircraft have been hailed by authorities for flying within the SFRA or the FRZ withkut authorization. Despite my proximity to DC, I continuously hear people tying up valuable airtime with unnecessary transmissions like the ones described herein. Too bad aviation radios don’t transmit an ID, making it easy to identify the culprits.
Back in the day the CB radio craze was in full swing. Channel 19 was the “common” and everyone was on it. With 23 channels, later 40 or so, it was exciting and fun to listen to as a teen learning how the world worked. Unfortunately the not so good crept in at lightening speed. How can you creep at lightening speed you ask? Well, it was the small things that were inappropriate folks got away with and it spread very, very fast. Right behind the off color soon came the vulgar and inappropriate. I dropped CB and went amateur radio and of course aviation exclusively. I have no idea what the CB world is like today, don’t need it, don’t care. I don’t do much social media either. Only what is necessary with folks I know and no better means to communicate. In spite of my best efforts I get tons of spam, rude comments, phishing, etc. My last emergency back in April when I lost a cylinder over Arkansas, (avoid Arkansas with the spouse on a cross country), I was fortunate to remain on the original ATC frequency. Had I been on 121.5 it might not have been nearly as easy or quick to get the help I needed. As it turned out, it couldn’t have gone better in the circumstance. I wonder now it might have gone if I had to use 121.5 with all the chatter and noise at the time. I had to turn it off due to the distraction. From military and civilian training, we have these systems in place generally for good reasons. We have failed to imbue this into the younger generations and enforce it for everyone. Hopefully such articles and viewpoints will prevail over time. I certainly hope it doesn’t cause harm that could have been avoided from the juvenile behavior many exhibit. It’s not funny when it’s your behind in the sling.
John, I couldn’t say it better. One factor not mentioned, is many of us, when we start hearing this childish practice, just turn off 121.5 rather than tolerate it. It means less ears when someone is in need. A ‘boy who cried wolf’ outcome. Yes, we can do better.
I agree and I do the same. It’s just the way it is now. I don’t see it changing.
I’ve seldom heard nonsense chatter on Guard. I have it in my checklists to monitor 121.5 after setting cruise power and to stop on descent.
Seems to be somewhat regional in terms of abuse.
I couldn’t disagree with you more. I hear the crap all the time (although, it HAS seemed to die down some lately, most likely the offenders have tired of their childish ways) all over the country. It’s not restricted to one region or sector of the country, but country wide! Gone are the days of kick the tires, light the fires, brief on guard. Good luck cleaning it up, what with the millenial/boomer crap these days. Sad testament to the “the world needs to hear my next thought and I need to make myself and internet/social media cool guy and the next viral moment.”
Well, read the comments. Some people hear it all the time while others barely hear any abuse. You be the judge.
Sure, you can probably say it’s regional to the extent that areas of the country with more air traffic will have more nonsense due to saturation. But there are many factors at play – I’m sure it’s also a function of altitude, and length of flight. High altitude flights pull in calls from a far greater distance. If I monitor 121.5 on a 2.5 hour flight in the flight levels, I will hear nonsense on the frequency on several different occasions, guaranteed. On 40 minute flights at 8000 ft, guard might actually stay quiet more often than not. Everyone’s mileage will vary.
Me too. I’ve heard one meow and an occasional air to air non emergency communication otherwise I only hear relevant chatter. Maybe I fly in a more mature piece of sky. Who knows?
As an active GA CFI, I have been amazed at the nonsense I hear on 121.5. Recently, 2 CFI’s (who I know) and their students, were doing maneuvers in the local practice area, when CFI #1 keys up the mic on 121.5 and proceeds to ask CFI #2 for a date later. She (CFI #2) relented and agreed to a date with CFI #1. This is the primacy example that CFI’s apparently are teaching student pilots these days.
I’m blown away at some of the conversations between ATC and pilots but especially regarding the use of 121.5. Is the lack of professionalism due to the many relatively inexperienced pilots moving into the system? I still get nervous just tuning into 121.5 for fear I’ll trigger an alert! Maybe these exchanges have always occurred but posting them on the web makes it look like a free-for-all.
I stop monitoring 121.5 after the first “meow” or irrelevant chatter during cruise. Also, it’s now off during any critical phase of flight. Never used to be that way.
From an unashamed Boomer with 46 years in this business, 21+ of which were as an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector: Faced with idiotic Guard chatter, it seems to me that we have but 3 alternatives which, as it turns out, are the same as when we observe other dangerous or obnoxious behaviors involving an airplane: (1) Ignore it and suffer in silence; (2) Turn it off and listen (look) the other way; or (3) “hear (see) something, say something.” All 3 have advantages and disadvantages. I used to think that the “mature” thing to do was to remain silent. After all, the frequency (ANY frequency) is not the place to provide free flight instruction. However, I’m beginning to change my mind. Maybe it’s time we took back the airwaves—as well as the airways—from these poorly-taught nimrods. At the risk of further mucking up the freq, might I suggest a brief, acerbic pushback? How about, “Take it off Guard, moron!”
Spot-on article, by the way!
Thanks for the write up John.
I’ve actually been noticing the “guard dogs” – people who for any transmission that they deem not proper – say “you’re on guard” or something similar, step on people all the time who are using guard for it’s purpose in scenarios like you mention in the article. I actually was trying to relay for someone lost in a cessna and some guy kept transmitting saying “guarrrrd” and “you. are. on. guard. dude.” Lets not completely blame the new generation.
An anecdote, a 30 year captain i flew with several years ago told me his stories about guard graffiti since pre 9/11, so with all due respect, i do take your nostalgia trip with a grain of salt.
If someone is trying to stir something up, and nobody responds, it usually goes nowhere because it doesn’t garner the reaction the person wanted. Don’t feed the trolls.
AIM 4–1–11 Designated UNICOM/MULTICOM Frequencies
Air-to-air communication (private fixed wing aircraft) 122.75
As an aside, “Fingers” – 123.45 is not for air to air communications.
From the AIM – Assignment to flight test land and aircraft stations (not for air-to-air communication except for those aircraft operating in an oceanic FIR).
John, your article needs to be sent to every licensed pilot in the USA. I have been flying for 47 years and in my first 40 years of flying you never heard 121.50 being used for such nonsense as it is today. Back in the day a seasoned captain would have responded by saying we are all professionals and if you can not act professional on this frequency please do not push the push to talk switch until you act like a professional. One thing I have noticed is you never hear a female voice, only male voices being stupid on this frequency. PLEASE STOP IF YOU ARE ONE OF THESE OFFENDERS AND TAKE YOUR STUPIDITY ELSEWHERE!
Jim,
Not to worry, the guard antics are inclusive to women as well. I heard a female saying suggestive comments on guard just last week.
John, thank you for the excellent writing and insight.
Aviation education must instill not only published, but personal standards.
It is not the world of “look at me” social media.
We are loosing respect and discipline in many kinds of endeavors, somehow is like people don’t care anymore, I’ve been flying for 30 years and come from an aviation family, I was born in the 70’s and thru my dad stories about his long career in professional aviation back in the 50’s to the 80’s I can tell the big difference in pilot’s character and discipline between then and now, and this definitely has a connection to safety at some point. Safe flights.
We are loosing respect and discipline in many kinds of endeavors, somehow is like people don’t care anymore, I’ve been flying for 30 years and come from an aviation family, I was born in the 70’s and thru my dad’s stories about his long career in professional aviation back in the 50’s to the 80’s I can tell the big difference in pilot’s character and discipline between then and now, and this definitely has a connection to safety at some point. Safe flights.
This is timely. My buddy just renewed his PPL after over 40 years and asked me to help him get some confidence. He paid a float instructor for the 150 hours he needed but only became proficient on floats. ( I am also not very current but have 3000 plus. )
He had a nice radio package with preset frequencies at the push of a button but he only used one. I said he needs to put 121.5 on #2 or at least on back up. He asked, “what’s that?”
As we were X-country in the mountains with no ATC I explained how it might help. He reminded me about his satellite gizmo that pinpoints his location… things have clearly changed but I persevered. We also discussed 7700 as well as he couldn’t recall any codes.
We are in Western Canada close to the border but 10 mins of flying puts us over very inhospitable terrain.
Having ‘been there-done that’, I’ve given him my 10 pound waterproof survival kit to augment his kit.
Flying in the Arctic many years ago, it was always reassuring that help was possibly flying overhead and monitoring.
Great article.
there is a solution to abuse of the guard frequency or any frequency.
Ask the pilot who made the non-professional comment to “Please state your tail number”
See if they reply.
If everyone did that on every transmittal, I think the nonsense will stop.
It takes all of us. I you or I are puppets on the wall, it will just continue to degrade flying professionalism.
This sort of thing is also completely out of control on the practice area frequencies here in the Phoenix metro. And these people want to be professional pilots?
Other than the occasional meowing on guard and an airline pilot making a passenger announcement on guard, I have not heard it abused that much. I have heard pilots trying to find the right frequency, ATC looking for someone, messages being relayed from ATC and ELTs going off around an airport. Personally, if I was on short final and someone started telling jokes on guard, I’d be inclined to silence that radio during that short, critical part phase of flight. Avigate, navigate, communicate.
John,
Once again you are spot on about radio etiquette not only on 121.5, but on regular ATC controlled frequencies. Normally, this refers to pilots, but this summer I took off from St. Louis, and the ATC got irritated because I interrupted his personal conversation with a request while I was in IMC.
I am not finding any reference to monitoring 121.5 in AIM 5-6-2.
Can you please assist
Thanks
LB
Sorry, it’s 5-6-13:
“All aircraft operating in US national airspace are highly encouraged to maintain a listening watch on VHF/UHF guard frequencies (121.5 or 243.0 MHz).”
I don’t monitor guard much these days, flying rented single-radio aircraft in the busy Bay Area, but when I did more cross country I turned it off within 5 nm of an airport on approach or departure. I found my mind more preoccupied with ATC, other aircraft in the vicinity and flying the airplane, rather than the distraction of monitoring. I would imagine anything I could hear within 5 nm at a relatively low altitude, ATC would also pickup, so figured it was superfluous . Still, it is disconcerting to hear unnecessary chatter, other than an occasional “thank you” or “have a nice day”, on other frequencies. I’ve called guard on two occasions some time ago, and though they turned out not to be emergencies, I was glad to have that option.
I think your comment on CFIs and Airline/Corp Chief Pilots is the key. It has to come down from the top to stop the misuse.
With some people it will only be a one-time chat. But for those others, i have no problem going full tyrant mode. My biggest question if I were a Chief Pilot and got reports back that it was still happening would be what else is this person thinking is unimportant in their flying duties.
Great article. Here are my two cents: I was in ATC for 39 years and now a full time pilot flying in the flight levels. When I was a controller, I found the childish behavior on 121.5 to be mostly an annoyance, but sometimes downright dangerous. I’m not sure that the offenders realize that every ATC facility within radio range hears the nonsense over loudspeakers and it is very distracting, especially when very busy or an emergency is in progress on the regular ATC frequencies. During my last few years in the FAA, there was a lot of talk about developing software to identify the location of each radio transmission to identify those that apparently did not get nearly enough attention as a child. If that comes to fruition I hope offenders get their certificates revoked, as in permanently. They don’t deserve the privilege of being a pilot. What they are doing may seem small or insignificant in the moment, but it has the potential to be disastrous. At the very least you are annoying the hell out of the controllers, the very people that help you get from departure to destination safely. And that’s your thanks?! Two words: grow up………or I’ll tell your mom.
I’m your age so this is not a generational perspective. And I “only” fly 250 hours / year but mostly in the flight levels and always on guard once I get near cruising altitude. This is a very occasional problem now that the “Let’s Go Brandon” era has passed (and even then was a very occasional rogue pilot thing). Someone reading your comments would think that you could hardly get a word in edgewise on guard but the frequency is dead 98% of the time so – while the meows are sophomoric – your comments are way out of proportion to th e”problem”.
I’ve gotten back into flying after several decades of rust. On a recent cross-country flight, I was monitoring guard when I heard some of the nonsense that John talks about above. I can’t recall anything like it from days past, except a very rare accidental “oops.” At a min, it’s unprofessional, and at worst is hazarding others. To whom it applies, knock it off.