ZDC CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RADIO COM COVERAGE IN THE RDU SECTOR AREAS.

Date: 2007-06

Anomalies: other-radio-com-problem

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.