ZDC CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RADIO COM COVERAGE IN THE RDU SECTOR AREAS.
Synopsis
ZDC CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RADIO COM COVERAGE IN THE RDU SECTOR AREAS.
Narrative
THE XMITTER AND RECEIVER FOR THE RALEIGH HI SECTOR (FL240-FL600) HAS BEEN QUESTIONABLE FOR MONTHS (ALONG WITH OTHER FREQS IN-HOUSE). TODAY; WE ARE ON THE BUEC SITE. YESTERDAY; WE WERE ON THE MAIN AND STANDBY SITES. ALL 3 HAVE DEAD SPOTS IN COVERAGE; TO THE POINT WHERE SAFETY COULD BE JEOPARDIZED. SEVERAL NIGHTS AGO; THERE WERE NUMEROUS TSTMS AND AREAS OF HVY TO EXTREME PRECIP. I WAS WORKING RDU HI AND HAD MANY ACFT THAT WERE DEVIATING. THERE WERE TIMES WHERE MY CTL INSTRUCTIONS WENT UNANSWERED; CAUSING AN INCREASED WORKLOAD FOR ME. I CAN'T HEAR THE PLANES; AND THEY CAN'T HEAR ME. TODAY; IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN AROUND XA50 LCL TIME. I HAD A B737 AT FL390; WHO I GAVE A XING RESTR TO. HE SAID I WAS BREAKING UP; AND I COULDN'T HEAR HIM CLRLY; EITHER. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS; I GOT THE CLRNC THROUGH. THIS WAS AROUND 30 NM S OF RDU. THEN ABOUT 40 N OF RDU; I TRIED TO GIVE SAME ACFT A FREQ CHANGE. HE HAD TROUBLE HEARING ME AGAIN; AND COMMENTED THAT 'YOUR RADIOS ARE REALLY BAD.' IF THIS SCENARIO CONTINUES; IT COULD RESULT IN AN OPERROR OR WORSE; UNLESS IT IS FIXED; OR THE TFC IS REROUTED AND OR CURTAILED INTO THE SECTOR.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.