CTLR CLAIMS THAT IFR ACFT AT LOW ALT CANNOT CONTACT THE ADJACENT ATC FACILITY AFTER HDOF DUE TO FREQ LIMITATIONS.

1993-06 · NASA ASRS report 243226

Date: 1993-06 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear

Anomalies: other-unspecified

Synopsis

CTLR CLAIMS THAT IFR ACFT AT LOW ALT CANNOT CONTACT THE ADJACENT ATC FACILITY AFTER HDOF DUE TO FREQ LIMITATIONS.

Narrative

AN SMA X ENRTE FROM ATHENS; GA (AHN) TO LOUISVILLE; KY (LOU) WAS HANDED OFF FROM ZTL SECTOR 41 TO ZID SECTOR 21. THE RADAR CTLR ISSUED SMA X A FREQ CHANGE TO 121.32(5); THE CORRECT FREQ FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS SECTOR. THE PLT INFORMED US HE COULD NOT TUNE THIS FREQ DUE TO HIS RADIO LIMITATIONS. COORD WITH ZID RESULTED IN THESE INSTRUCTIONS: HAVE SMA X MONITOR IIU FSS ON 122.1; XMIT ON 122.2 OR 122.45; IF UNABLE TO CONTACT THEN OVER NEW HOPE; KY; VORTAC SDF APCH ON 124.5. WE CAREFULLY ISSUED THESE INSTRUCTIONS TO SMA X AS IT ENTERED INDIANAPOLIS AIRSPACE. THE PLT CALLED BACK 10 MI N OF THE INDIANAPOLIS BOUNDARY TO SAY HE COULD NOT CONTACT IIU FSS. WE REPEATED THE CONTACT INSTRUCTIONS FOR SDF APCH AND ENDED CONTACT WITH THE PLT. THIS UNSAFE CONDITION RESULTED IN THIS PLT FLYING FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS BOUNDARY (APPROX 25 MI N OF HINCH MOUNTAIN VORTAC) TO EWO VORTAC WITH NO COMS WITH ATC. THIS SIT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY SINCE THE INDIANAPOLIS FREQ WAS CHANGED IN 1992. I FILED AN UNSAFE CONDITION RPT (UCR) WITH THE FAA AFTER THE CHANGE LAST YR AND WAS TOLD BY THE SOUTHERN REGION OFFICE OF THE FAA THAT THIS WAS NOT AN UNSAFE CONDITION. IF THE CTLR CANNOT TALK TO THE PLT; THE PLT RECEIVES NO TFC; WX OR PIREPS AND CANNOT BE CONTACTED IF ALT OR HDG CHANGE IS NECESSARY FOR SEPARATION. THE SIMPLE SOLUTION IS TO TRADE THIS FREQ TO A HIGH SECTOR FOR A FREQ THESE PLTS CAN TUNE. THE FAA HAS IGNORED THIS SUGGESTION.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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