No direct land lines to 2 approach control facs.

Attributes
ACN	105606
Time
Date	198903
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zlc
State Reference	UT
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hln tower : mso
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 4 controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	105606
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

When a controller at ZLC sector 19 wanted to talk to the controllers at hln or mso, he must access a line used by 2 non radar approach controls and 3 FSS's, then he must dial a 2 digit # and wait for the controller at the approach to pick up the ringing line. This is the same process used by hln and mso when contacting ZLC sector 19. Many times it is necessary to rapidly access the controllers at hln or mso due to pilots busting restrictions or other reasons. It often takes longer than an acceptable amount of time to do this. We have been told for over a yr now that the quick access line or 'hot line' is just about ready for operation, however they keep putting it off. Our fab has been told no less than 3 times that the 'hot line' will be ready in less than a month, however they always claim due to 'equipment problems' they will have to push back the operational date. We had a systems error (major) in 1/88 that could have been avoided with a dedicated 'hot line.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NO DIRECT LAND LINES TO 2 APCH CTL FACS.

Narrative: WHEN A CTLR AT ZLC SECTOR 19 WANTED TO TALK TO THE CTLRS AT HLN OR MSO, HE MUST ACCESS A LINE USED BY 2 NON RADAR APCH CTLS AND 3 FSS'S, THEN HE MUST DIAL A 2 DIGIT # AND WAIT FOR THE CTLR AT THE APCH TO PICK UP THE RINGING LINE. THIS IS THE SAME PROCESS USED BY HLN AND MSO WHEN CONTACTING ZLC SECTOR 19. MANY TIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO RAPIDLY ACCESS THE CTLRS AT HLN OR MSO DUE TO PLTS BUSTING RESTRICTIONS OR OTHER REASONS. IT OFTEN TAKES LONGER THAN AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THIS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD FOR OVER A YR NOW THAT THE QUICK ACCESS LINE OR 'HOT LINE' IS JUST ABOUT READY FOR OPERATION, HOWEVER THEY KEEP PUTTING IT OFF. OUR FAB HAS BEEN TOLD NO LESS THAN 3 TIMES THAT THE 'HOT LINE' WILL BE READY IN LESS THAN A MONTH, HOWEVER THEY ALWAYS CLAIM DUE TO 'EQUIP PROBS' THEY WILL HAVE TO PUSH BACK THE OPERATIONAL DATE. WE HAD A SYSTEMS ERROR (MAJOR) IN 1/88 THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A DEDICATED 'HOT LINE.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.