SPURIOUS RF ON GFK PCL FREQUENCY FROM REMOTE ADVISORY EQUIP. REMOVAL OF REMOTE ADVISORY SERVICE EXPOSES GND CREW TO POTENTIAL CONFLICT DURING RWY SNOW REMOVAL.

Date: 2008-03

Synopsis

SPURIOUS RF ON GFK PCL FREQUENCY FROM REMOTE ADVISORY EQUIP. REMOVAL OF REMOTE ADVISORY SERVICE EXPOSES GND CREW TO POTENTIAL CONFLICT DURING RWY SNOW REMOVAL.

Narrative

THERE IS AN ON-GOING RADIO INTERFERENCE ISSUE AT GFK ON 118.4. THIS INTERFERENCE HAS BEEN OCCURRING NIGHTLY AFTER ATCT HOURS OF OPERATIONS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THIS INTERFERENCE CAN BE HEARD AS STATIC OR CLICKING NOISES ON GROUND VEHICLE RADIOS. THE PCL SYSTEM ON 118.4 IS INTERPRETING THIS NOISE OR CLICKING AS MICROPHONE CLICKS AND CAUSING THE PCL TO CYCLE RUNWAY LIGHTING UP AND/OR DOWN IN INTENSITY. AIRPORT SNOW PLOW OPERATORS NEVER KNOW WHETHER AN AIRCRAFT IS INBOUND AND SWITCHING THE RUNWAY LIGHTS VIA THE PCL OR IT IS JUST THE ON-GOING INTERFERENCE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR AIRPORT GROUND VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT THAT MAY BE RELYING ON THE PCL SYSTEM. THE PCL SYSTEM HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR CORRECT OPERATION.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT FAA TECHNICIANS DISCOVERED THE RF INTERFERENCE EMANATED FROM THE AIRPORT'S REMOTE ADVISORY SERVICE. THE RANDOM RWY LIGHTING ISSUE WAS SOLVED WHEN THIS EQUIPMENT WAS DISCONNECTED. A NEW DIRECTIVE PROHIBITS REMOTE ADVISORY SERVICES ON AN AIRPORT'S PCL FREQUENCY AND SO GFK'S REMOTE ADVISORY SERVICE WILL NOT BE RESTORED. HOWEVER; AIRPORT MAINTENANCE CREWS ARE NOW EXPOSED TO GND COLLISION HAZARDS FROM ACFT DURING NIGHTTIME SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS IF PILOTS DO NOT UTILIZE CTAF PROCEDURES AND PROPERLY NOTIFY OTHERS IN THE AIRPORT AREA ABOUT THEIR INTENTIONS.

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