Medium large transport has headset problems resulting in poor ATC communication.

Attributes
ACN	195118
Time
Date	199111
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rav
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	195118
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We had descended from our cruise altitude of FL210 to 15000 and had been cleared direct to rav VOR. The first officer told me he was going to get the bwi ATIS and would be off the ATC frequency. At almost the same time he told me, I heard center call an aircraft but it was so weak I couldn't tell what aircraft was being called. I turned up the volume but it didn't help much so I changed from amp 2 to amp 1 on our interphone box. Now I could hear him and I tried to call him but no answer using the boom microphone. I then picked up the hand microphone and talked to him. He wanted an immediate left turn of about 180 degrees which we gave him. We had TCASII on board the aircraft and it gave no warnings. I have had numerous headset problems since they were installed as required by far. I believe there is a compatibility problem with the headset and the aircraft interphone box/radio setup.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG HAS HEADSET PROBLEMS RESULTING IN POOR ATC COM.

Narrative: WE HAD DSNDED FROM OUR CRUISE ALT OF FL210 TO 15000 AND HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT TO RAV VOR. THE FO TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO GET THE BWI ATIS AND WOULD BE OFF THE ATC FREQ. AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME HE TOLD ME, I HEARD CENTER CALL AN ACFT BUT IT WAS SO WEAK I COULDN'T TELL WHAT ACFT WAS BEING CALLED. I TURNED UP THE VOLUME BUT IT DIDN'T HELP MUCH SO I CHANGED FROM AMP 2 TO AMP 1 ON OUR INTERPHONE BOX. NOW I COULD HEAR HIM AND I TRIED TO CALL HIM BUT NO ANSWER USING THE BOOM MICROPHONE. I THEN PICKED UP THE HAND MICROPHONE AND TALKED TO HIM. HE WANTED AN IMMEDIATE L TURN OF ABOUT 180 DEGS WHICH WE GAVE HIM. WE HAD TCASII ON BOARD THE ACFT AND IT GAVE NO WARNINGS. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS HEADSET PROBLEMS SINCE THEY WERE INSTALLED AS REQUIRED BY FAR. I BELIEVE THERE IS A COMPATIBILITY PROBLEM WITH THE HEADSET AND THE ACFT INTERPHONE BOX/RADIO SETUP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.