CLRNC FREQUENTLY MISSED ACCOUNT COMPANY POLICY REQUIRES MONITORING COMPANY FREQ AT ALL TIMES.

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MY COMPANY FLIES DAILY INTO SOME OF THE BUSIEST ARPTS IN THIS COUNTRY. WE DO IT IN A 2 ENG; 2-M ACFT; THAT REQUIRES THE UTMOST IN CONCENTRATION (TO AVOID ALL OF THE PITFALLS THAT ASRS USUALLY HEARS ABOUT) FOR AN EXPERIENCED CREW ON A GOOD DAY. TURN THAT DAY INTO A BAD ONE; RUNNING LATE; MEL'S; BAD WX AND A NEW F/O--THE MARGIN FOR ERROR IS NIL. YET IN LIGHT OF THE FACTORS FACING US; OUR COMPANY CLINGS TO AN OBSOLETE PROC THAT WAS EFFECTIVE WITH 3 ACFT; DIFFICULT WITH 10 ACFT; AND NOW RIDICULOUS WITH 85+ ACFT. THEY REQUIRE US TO MONITOR COMPANY RADIO AT ALL TIMES. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE MISSED OR MISUNDERSTOOD AN ATC XMISSION WHILE TRYING TO SEPARATE THE 2 CONVERSATIONS TAKING PLACE IN MY EARPIECE. THE OBVIOUS SOLUTION IS TO TURN OFF COMPANY RADIO SWITCH WHEN IT INTERFERES (WHICH; AGAIN; IS FREQUENTLY). THIS PREVENTS THE REQUIREMENT FOR CONSTANT CONTACT AND LEAVES THE PLT IN VIOLATION OF COMPANY AND FAA REG'S. IN ESSENCE HE IS FORCED TO BREAK THE RULES; IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY; TO ALLOW THE COMPANY TO CONTINUE AN OBSOLETE PROC AS OPPOSED TO INSTALLING ACARS AND SELCAL (CATCH 22!). I LOVE THIS COMPANY; BUT I GOTTA TELL IT LIKE IT IS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: COMPANY POLICY REQUIRES 1 PLT TO MONITOR BOTH ATC COM AND COMPANY FREQ. HAVE HAD CASES WHERE ACI WILL REQUEST DISPATCH TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITY TO CONTACT ENRTE FLTS. THEY STILL REQUIRE THE SAME PROC IN THE TERMINAL ENVIRONMENT. HAS DISCUSSED THE MGT AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROB. CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO EQUIPPING THE FLEET WITH ACARS; BUT NO FINAL DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.