Air carrier flight crew tunes old frequency for VOR. Heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	227712
Time
Date	199212
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bvt
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	227712
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000
ASRS Report	227565
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

The first officer and I were talking about old times (he was a 20 yr other air carrier pilot). While en route atl to msp were cleared direct boiler VOR 115.1 bvt. The old frequency was 115.6 (old times). We tuned in the old frequency and were interrupted before we idented the signal with voice. We received a good signal in the general direction of boiler VOR. Found out 15 mins later we were going to the old boiler frequency, not the new. The ATC controller said even though it's over 1 yr since the change, people still tune and track to the old frequency. Suggest 115.6 be moved from the general area of the boiler VOR. Supplemental information from acn 227565: my mistake, I didn't check the frequency for boiler, or just read what I expected -- ie, complacency. I'm not sure which VOR is using 115.6 now, but at FL350 and 100 mi to the sse, we received it and it points at boiler. The solution is obvious to any student pilot: 1) check the chart, 2) check the identify!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC TUNES OLD FREQ FOR VOR. HDG DEV.

Narrative: THE FO AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT OLD TIMES (HE WAS A 20 YR OTHER ACR PLT). WHILE ENRTE ATL TO MSP WERE CLRED DIRECT BOILER VOR 115.1 BVT. THE OLD FREQ WAS 115.6 (OLD TIMES). WE TUNED IN THE OLD FREQ AND WERE INTERRUPTED BEFORE WE IDENTED THE SIGNAL WITH VOICE. WE RECEIVED A GOOD SIGNAL IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF BOILER VOR. FOUND OUT 15 MINS LATER WE WERE GOING TO THE OLD BOILER FREQ, NOT THE NEW. THE ATC CTLR SAID EVEN THOUGH IT'S OVER 1 YR SINCE THE CHANGE, PEOPLE STILL TUNE AND TRACK TO THE OLD FREQ. SUGGEST 115.6 BE MOVED FROM THE GENERAL AREA OF THE BOILER VOR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 227565: MY MISTAKE, I DIDN'T CHK THE FREQ FOR BOILER, OR JUST READ WHAT I EXPECTED -- IE, COMPLACENCY. I'M NOT SURE WHICH VOR IS USING 115.6 NOW, BUT AT FL350 AND 100 MI TO THE SSE, WE RECEIVED IT AND IT POINTS AT BOILER. THE SOLUTION IS OBVIOUS TO ANY STUDENT PLT: 1) CHK THE CHART, 2) CHECK THE IDENT!

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.