Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 1600; Flight Crew Type 60
Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Airport; Human Factors
I often fly late-day or evening; and routinely use the associated pilot-controlled airport lighting both to fix my position and for terminal guidance. Sky Manor has MIRL but does not have an airport beacon; so I often also turn on the lighting for Alexandria (N85); located approximately 2NM northwest; which has both MIRL and a rotating beacon. The frequency for this at Sky Manor is 122.975 (which doubles as the CTAF frequency); at Alexandria; 121.8 (with 122.975 as CTAF).On at least two separate occasions; coming from more than one direction; I have turned the airport lighting on for Alexandria and ended up momentarily distracting pilots and/or ATC by doing so. Alexandria is not very far away from Newark Liberty (EWR); or Lancaster (LNS); both of which use 121.8 as a Ground Control frequency and are apparently well within radio range and altitudes at and below 2000 ft MSL. Further research indicates that McGuire (WRI) may also be affected; as it's a similar distance as Newark.While I don't want to keep distracting others in the ATC system - and I've resolved the issue for myself by increasing familiarity with the airspace; which has reduced the necessity of me using the Alexandria airport beacon for guidance - I also realize that this has the capability to reduce my situational awareness; and at any event; aircraft intending to land at Alexandria at night must necessarily turn the airport lighting on; potentially distracting operations at the airports previously listed.I propose that the lighting frequency at Alexandria be changed; either to CTAF or to some other discrete frequency; with the intention of minimizing possible adverse operational implications for local controlled airports.
Flight instructor reports identical frequencies are used at several airports in close proximity.