A C340 PLT RPTS THAT THE MEMPHIS CTR FREQ IN THE UCY AREA WAS RECENTLY CHANGED. THE NEW FREQ IS UNUSABLE BELOW ABOUT 2500 FT.

Date: 2004-11 · Aircraft: Cessna 340/340A · Phase: approach

Anomalies: other-atc-coms-deficiency

Synopsis

A C340 PLT RPTS THAT THE MEMPHIS CTR FREQ IN THE UCY AREA WAS RECENTLY CHANGED. THE NEW FREQ IS UNUSABLE BELOW ABOUT 2500 FT.

Narrative

RECENTLY ATC (MEM CTR) COM FREQ (128.05) WAS PULLED FROM USE AT UCY. IT WAS AND IS NOW STILL ON THE PUBLISHED LET DOWN PROCS FOR UCY ARPT. THE FREQ WAS CHANGED (VIA NOTAM) TO 133.65. THE PROB IS THAT ACFT ON DEP OR APCH CANNOT ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT WITH THE IFR CTLING AGENCY (MEM CTR) UNDER ABOUT 2500 FT MSL. THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH ALT AT UCY IS 2000 FT MSL. UCY NEEDS A DEDICATED COM FREQ BOTH FOR APCHS AND DEPS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE PLT STATED RADIO CONTACT IN THE UCY AREA HAD BECOME VERY LIMITED BECAUSE THE REMOTE FREQUENCY 128.05 WAS PULLED AND ASSIGNED TO A HIGH ALT SECTOR. ATC COMS ARE NOT POSSIBLE BELOW 2500 FT AND THIS FACT HAS DOWNGRADED THREE CRITICAL FLT PHASES: DEPS; CANCELING FLT PLANS FOLLOWING ARR; AND ATC NOTIFICATION FOLLOWING GARS. THE FREQUENCY RESTORATION PLANS ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME AND NO ALTERNATIVES TO HANDLE THE AIRBORNE COMMUNICATIONS DEFICIENCIES ARE OFFERED. IN CASES THAT THE RPTR KNOWS OF; PLTS HAVE HAD A 10 MINUTE IMC DEP WINDOW FOLLOWING A PHONE CALL.

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