ZMA controller voiced concern regarding ongoing problems with frequency 135.2, claiming aircraft are unable to establish contact entering ZMA sectors.
Synopsis
ZMA controller voiced concern regarding ongoing problems with frequency 135.2, claiming aircraft are unable to establish contact entering ZMA sectors.
Narrative
Rewritten in plain English from NASA’s original all-caps telegraphic report — facts, figures, and terminology preserved.
Aircraft X and all aircraft for over 3 hours were unable to contact ZMA on radio frequency 135.2 at the reporting fix LAMER. Aircraft were either 30-50 miles inside ZMA's sector R63 before contact could be made.
Aircraft have been experiencing the same issue for many months now. When aircraft request altitude changes, deviation for weather requests, or at initial contact, they are unable and must call ZMA numerous times to gain initial radar contact and directed down the line.
Improvements to the radar tower and the close proximity to the radio towers possibly are causing interference as the radio towers are much lower than the radar tower. Corrective action needs to be taken to resolve this issue.
Show the original NASA report (verbatim, telegraphic)
ACR X AND ALL ACFT FOR OVER 3 HRS WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT ZMA ON RADIO FREQ 135.2 AT THE RPTING FIX LAMER. ACFT WERE EITHER 30-50 MI INSIDE ZMA'S SECTOR R63 BEFORE CONTACT COULD BE MADE. ACFT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR MANY MONTHS NOW THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN ACFT REQUEST ALT CHANGES; DEV FOR WX REQUESTS OR AT INITIAL CONTACT; THEY ARE UNABLE AND MUST CALL ZMA NUMEROUS TIMES TO GAIN INITIAL RADAR CONTACT AND DIRECTED DOWN THE LINE. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RADAR TWR AND THE CLOSE PROX TO THE RADIO TWRS POSSIBLY ARE CAUSING INTERFERENCE AS THE RADIO TWRS ARE MUCH LOWER THAN THE RADAR TWR. CORRECTIVE ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.