ZMP CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RADIO COVERAGE IN PORTIONS OF SECTOR 14; ESPECIALLY CRITICAL DURING WX DEV EVENTS.
Synopsis
ZMP CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RADIO COVERAGE IN PORTIONS OF SECTOR 14; ESPECIALLY CRITICAL DURING WX DEV EVENTS.
Narrative
FREQ 133.45 LOCATED AT IMT IS USED FOR ZMP; AREA 1; SECTOR 14; FL360 AND ABOVE. THIS FREQ DOES NOT CARRY TO THE W SIDE OF SECTOR 14. NORMALLY THIS IS JUST A NUISANCE; SHIPPING ACFT TO THE SECTOR BEFORE THE BOUNDARY AS REQUIRED AND HAVING THEM COME BACK TO CHK THE CORRECTNESS OF THE FREQ; BUT WHEN WX IS INVOLVED; IT CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ON THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT; SECTOR 25 (W OF SECTOR 14) WAS EXTREMELY BUSY; WELL ABOVE APPROVED NUMBER OF ACFT FOR THE SECTOR. SECTORS 13 AND 14 IN AREA 1 WERE ALSO VERY BUSY. DUE TO WX; ACFT NEEDED RTE CHANGES; DEVS; AND ALT CHANGES. WITH 133.45 NOT BEING ADEQUATE TO COVER THE W SIDE OF SECTOR 14; ACFT EBOUND INTO THAT SECTOR WOULD RETURN TO SECTOR 25'S FREQ WITH THEIR REQUESTS. THE RADAR ASSOCIATE WOULD HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THE SECTOR THE ACFT WAS IN; AND THE RADAR CTLR WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO THESE ACFT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S AIRSPACE. AT A TIME THAT SECTOR 25 WAS SO FAR OVER ITS NUMBERS; THIS JUST ADDED TO THE COMPLEXITY AND WORKLOAD OF THE SECTOR AND COULD HAVE EASILY COMPROMISED SAFETY. THIS FREQ PROB NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.