Narrative:

While working the oceanic R60 position; when communication (meva land-lines with nassau approach) have been historically intermittent and unreliable; example: with no notice they will fail and require that the controllers resort to commercial telephones to communicate between ZMA and nassau approach. This is usually not timely and cumbersome; as these commercial phones are used by many controllers (for back-up) and are frequently busy. Nonetheless; this is the only thing we have as a contingency. So; with that in mind; as we coordinated the inbound (aircraft X) to nassau approach; and also while attempting to complete the subsequent radar hand-off (aircraft X) to nassau approach; once again; the line failed; thus rendering the inability to complete the hand-off with nassau approach. Unfortunately; also at this same time; while the d-side was trying to complete the hand-off; a misunderstanding occurred (in that the radar controller inadvertently gave a frequency change to aircraft X to contact nassau approach and immediately advised the pilot to disregard that instruction and stay on ZMA frequency (due to the fact that the d-side advised that the line failed and he was unable to completely confirm the radar hand-off); however; the pilot went over to nassau approach anyway and ZMA observed aircraft X descending further. Approx. 4 minutes later (after observing aircraft X descending into nassau approach airspace) we finally; via commercial telephone was able to ask nassau ATC if they were talking to aircraft X and did they take the hand-off? (As the lines were breaking up and chopping words). Nassau ATC advised that they were talking to aircraft X; but they did not get a complete hand-off (due to intermittent; land-lines); but were aware of the traffic and aircraft X had no conflict so they just cleared him into their traffic pattern with no problem (as they also realized we had line problems and could see the target of aircraft X anyway.improve reliability of ZMA oceanic land lines communications; as they are historically problematic and unreliable.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMA Controllers report of landline problems with Nassau Approach that are intermittent and unreliable. Reports includes information of an airspace violation attributed to the outage.

Narrative: While working the Oceanic R60 position; when communication (MEVA land-lines with Nassau Approach) have been historically intermittent and unreliable; example: with no notice they will fail and require that the controllers resort to commercial telephones to communicate between ZMA and Nassau Approach. This is usually not timely and cumbersome; as these commercial phones are used by many controllers (for back-up) and are frequently busy. Nonetheless; this is the only thing we have as a contingency. So; with that in mind; as we coordinated the inbound (Aircraft X) to Nassau Approach; and also while attempting to complete the subsequent radar hand-off (Aircraft X) to Nassau Approach; once again; the line failed; thus rendering the inability to complete the hand-off with Nassau Approach. Unfortunately; also at this same time; while the D-side was trying to complete the hand-off; a misunderstanding occurred (in that the Radar Controller inadvertently gave a frequency change to Aircraft X to contact Nassau Approach and immediately advised the pilot to disregard that instruction and stay on ZMA frequency (due to the fact that the D-Side advised that the line failed and he was unable to completely confirm the Radar Hand-off); however; the pilot went over to Nassau Approach anyway and ZMA observed Aircraft X descending further. Approx. 4 minutes later (after observing Aircraft X descending into Nassau Approach airspace) we finally; via commercial telephone was able to ask Nassau ATC if they were talking to Aircraft X and did they take the hand-off? (as the lines were breaking up and chopping words). Nassau ATC advised that they were talking to Aircraft X; but they did not get a complete hand-off (due to intermittent; land-lines); but were aware of the traffic and Aircraft X had no conflict so they just cleared him into their traffic pattern with no problem (as they also realized we had line problems and could see the target of Aircraft X anyway.Improve reliability of ZMA Oceanic land lines communications; as they are historically problematic and unreliable.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.