Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 14000; Flight Crew Type 4000
Distraction; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; No Specific Anomaly Occurred Unwanted Situation
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
The abuse of the emergency radio frequency; 121.5; colloquially know as 'guard;' is getting out of hand. As professional pilots; we strive to monitor guard on our #2 radio in case we miss a frequency change on our #1 radio; or to be able to assist in case of an aircraft is in distress.  Occasionally someone will acknowledge a radio call; make a position report; or make a PA to passengers with their transmit button accidentally on the wrong radio.  The person normally recognizes the mistake quickly and sets the transmit to the correct radio.  But then comes the frequency abuse as people chime in with remarks; animal sounds; bodily function sounds and any number of various sounds from their smart phones; all on the emergency frequency.  The situation is getting worse everyday.  It is to the point where those of us who have a modicum of radio discipline are turning off our guard receivers to keep from getting distracted by the clown act that is playing out on the emergency frequency.  The emergency frequency is quickly becoming unusable as an tool in the event of an emergency. I have X years of experience as an active duty/reserve military aviator.  I have X+3 years of experience as a commercial airline pilot.  I have many times busted military flight students for lack of radio discipline.  As a first officer; I have never flown with a captain who abused the emergency frequency. As a captain; I have not flown with a first officer who abused the emergency frequency.  I believe this is a maturity problem that is being caused by a newer generation of aviators who feel at home abusing the emergency frequency while remaining anonymous.  This is way out of hand and needs to be addressed by the FAA. The problem is not going to go away until emphasis from up high comes down to primary flight schools; corporate training facilities and airline training departments. Somebody needs to step in and stop the madness.
Air carrier Captain reported that guard frequency is frequently being used to transmit non-aviation related chatter and sounds; resulting in the frequency becoming unusable as a tool in the event of an emergency.