Narrative:

Ramp control air to ground radio was replaced [with] digital due to upcoming FAA mandate. The system is flawed and has [a] wait respond time that's so long that other aircraft are calling to the controller before he or she can give instruction to original call. This is not only confusing to the ramp controller but to all aircraft on the ramp at the [busiest] time. It's just a recipe for an accident. The answer [from] the radio installer to the controller is its new [tech] you'll just have to get used to it??? Also the clarity could be a lot better. The ground to ground is just garbled and muffled to the point that you cannot understand the person that's calling you or you to them. We got the same answer from the radio tech.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PIT Ramp Agent reported the new digital Ramp Control radio transmissions were garbled; muffled and unintelligible which caused confusion and is a potential safety issue for personnel and aircraft.

Narrative: Ramp control air to ground radio was replaced [with] digital due to upcoming FAA mandate. The system is flawed and has [a] wait respond time that's so long that other aircraft are calling to the controller before he or she can give instruction to original call. This is not only confusing to the ramp controller but to all aircraft on the ramp at the [busiest] time. It's just a recipe for an accident. The answer [from] the radio installer to the controller is its new [tech] you'll just have to get used to it??? Also the clarity could be a lot better. The ground to ground is just garbled and muffled to the point that you cannot understand the person that's calling you or you to them. We got the same answer from the radio tech.

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.