What happened
On August 3, 2015, at approximately 18:00 UTC, the radio communication network used for ground movement at EPMO airport experienced a complete blockage. The disruption lasted for 70 minutes, until technical services restored functionality at 19:10 UTC. During this period, flight operations continued without disruption; however, the movement of ground vehicles utilizing the radio system was restricted. To maintain safety, the duty operations officer monitored the movement of vehicles on the apron by patrolling the area in a vehicle, ensuring no vehicle entered the maneuvering area without explicit authorization from the tower controller. Communication between tower control and terminal coordination was maintained via telephone.
The investigation
An investigation conducted by the airport management examined communication logs to determine the source of the interference. The analysis established that the blockage was caused by a specific radio unit used within the system. This particular device was repeatedly attempting to log into the network, which triggered a cascade effect that occupied all available channels, thereby preventing other users from establishing or maintaining communication.
Findings
- The primary cause of the communication failure was a malfunction of a single radio unit within the communication system.
- The malfunctioning device caused continuous re-authentication attempts, which saturated the network channels.