USN Lewd Callsigns = bad!

[ChuckMK23]

Navy tells aircrews to question 'inappropriate' call signs after lewd flight name

A Navy E-6B changed its call sign from ‘IDICK69’ to ‘STOB7’ while in the air. The first call sign was computer generated.

taskandpurpose.com

 

[Ozarky]

I had the honor of flying as BULGE93 the other day… 😂

Another notable one that thankfully didn’t make the news: PINUP69

 

[Brett327]

Computer generated callsigns? Can't speak to the VQ community, but that's something I've never heard of in a naval aviation context.

 

[Ozarky]

Computer generated callsigns? Can't speak to the VQ community, but that's something I've never heard of in a naval aviation context.

About to finish my TACAMO JO tour and that’s where we’ve always been told they came from, and as the article mentions, they change every day for us. Sometimes it’s words that are recognizable, or sometimes it’s just a somewhat-pronounceable alphabet soup. But for all I know the truth could be it’s some Air Force dude sitting in an office making up callsigns to give us lol.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Never been in a squadron, in my entire career, where the ATC callsign wasn't the standard squadron callsign or ATO derived (and also constant, during a deployment). I guess maybe it makes sense for TACAMO, while operating in the national airspace system, in order to preserve some OPSEC though

 

[Brett327]

About to finish my TACAMO JO tour and that’s where we’ve always been told they came from, and as the article mentions, they change every day for us. Sometimes it’s words that are recognizable, or sometimes it’s just a somewhat-pronounceable alphabet soup. But for all I know the truth could be it’s some Air Force dude sitting in an office making up callsigns to give us lol.

Probably someone's idea of OPSEC. Meanwhile, you're presumably broadcasting your info via ADS-B for the world to see... then again, maybe not.

 

[IKE]

I thought it was supposed to match the field in the DD-1801, VV..... for Navy birds.

 

[GroundPounder]

Probably someone's idea of OPSEC. Meanwhile, you're presumably broadcasting your info via ADS-B for the world to see... then again, maybe not.

I see them all the time on the ADS-S Exchange, which I've always wondered about. I'm sure the bad guys have ways of figuring out where they are, but why make it so easy.

What is even more perplexing is being able to watch C2s loop around a spot in the ocean and then disappear, only to reappear later on the way back to shore. That seems like way to much information to be putting out there. Why don't they block it like tactical aircraft do?

 

[Gatordev]

I thought it was supposed to match the field in the DD-1801, VV..... for Navy birds.

Only if you're using your Tail and MODEX. The VV (or VM) is useless if you're using a JANAP or other type of callsign. There's only 7 characters available in the data tag.

I know they don't use these types of callsigns as often anymore (although I've seen them still used in Chat), but a ship callsign of R8J is still completely valid...and amusing.

 

[Griz882]

I see them all the time on the ADS-S Exchange, which I've always wondered about. I'm sure the bad guys have ways of figuring out where they are, but why make it so easy.

What is even more perplexing is being able to watch C2s loop around a spot in the ocean and then disappear, only to reappear later on the way back to shore. That seems like way to much information to be putting out there. Why don't they block it like tactical aircraft do?

View attachment 41006

I’m not sure what the demarcation line is. I do that that most military training flights show up on ADS-B but not always. Here’s Milton this morning…

 

[Brett327]

Why don't they block it like tactical aircraft do?

I imagine that they would, when it matters.

 

[SynixMan]

I’m not sure what the demarcation line is. I do that that most military training flights show up on ADS-B but not always. Here’s Milton this morning…

View attachment 41007

Units can request their transponder not be shown to the public. Common for LE like FBI THU or DHS.

 

[FLGUY]

Never been in a squadron, in my entire career, where the ATC callsign wasn't the standard squadron callsign or ATO derived (and also constant, during a deployment). I guess maybe it makes sense for TACAMO, while operating in the national airspace system, in order to preserve some OPSEC though

Unless you’re one of the nerds at VP-30, who are for some reason forced to literally say “Navy Lima Lima 123” instead of a normal squadron callsign like “Hawk 2-4”, because VP always has to VP.

 

[Hotdogs]

I’ve always wanted to check in as “Ligma XX”before, subtle enough to not raise any eyebrows, but profound enough with the initiated to get a good laugh.

 

[Hair Warrior]

In Russia, your callsign is either the street you grew up on or your high school mascot plus the number of chicken nuggets you can eat in 30 minutes.