Overheard on O'Hare Tower

[Hal Bryan]

From Goodyear's FAQ:

All Goodyear blimps are FAA-certified for IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flying, day or night. They carry two King 360-channel navcom radios, the usual light plane instruments, digital radar for keeping an eye on thunderstorms, transponder for radar identification, and a couple of instruments peculiar to blimps: manometers for watching envelope pressure and a helium temperature gauge. All Goodyear Airships carry GPS navigation receivers for precise navigation.

John King has some interesting stories about flying an ILS in a blimp - the best part was his crack about worrying about the weather behind​ you.

[Frank Giger]

Based on my flying today, chances are I still wouldn't see them in the pattern.

[Jim Hann]

From Goodyear's FAQ:

<snip> They carry two King 360-channel navcom radios,

I hope they have upgraded, I don't believe the old 360 radios meet the channel spacing requirements today! Anybody knowledgeable out there?

Jim

[dewi8095]

I hope they have upgraded, I don't believe the old 360 radios meet the channel spacing requirements today! Anybody knowledgeable out there?

Jim

Maybe the thinking is that two 360s equal one 720??