ATIS phone inoperative for 2 months.

Attributes
ACN	278326
Time
Date	199406
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mvy
State Reference	MA
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : edw
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1775 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	278326
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

The telephone line 508-693-7685 to the ATIS at mvy is broken (or the ATIS machine is broken). The ATIS works fine on VHF 126.250. The phone access would answer, then hang up on you, but you could get through on the second try. Now, the line just stays busy. I called the (non federal contract) tower on the landline and they are aware of the situation, but have made no attempt to get a repair. I called 800-FAA-sure and was transferred to 3 departments and got no return call. Let me give you an example of the importance of the phone access. Yesterday, I did a mvy- pvd-hya-mvy trip, all IFR. While on the ground at hya for a couple of hours, I phoned bdr FSS for current WX and radar summary. Their computer had problems and wouldn't give new WX, although I stayed on the phone with the briefer for 20 mins. This is a waste of an FSS specialist's time. I carry a cellular phone to make the calls for the current WX, especially in a situation like this where the possibility of rapid WX deterioration exists. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the ATIS phone has been fixed and works normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATIS PHONE INOP FOR 2 MONTHS.

Narrative: THE TELEPHONE LINE 508-693-7685 TO THE ATIS AT MVY IS BROKEN (OR THE ATIS MACHINE IS BROKEN). THE ATIS WORKS FINE ON VHF 126.250. THE PHONE ACCESS WOULD ANSWER, THEN HANG UP ON YOU, BUT YOU COULD GET THROUGH ON THE SECOND TRY. NOW, THE LINE JUST STAYS BUSY. I CALLED THE (NON FEDERAL CONTRACT) TWR ON THE LANDLINE AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SIT, BUT HAVE MADE NO ATTEMPT TO GET A REPAIR. I CALLED 800-FAA-SURE AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO 3 DEPTS AND GOT NO RETURN CALL. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PHONE ACCESS. YESTERDAY, I DID A MVY- PVD-HYA-MVY TRIP, ALL IFR. WHILE ON THE GND AT HYA FOR A COUPLE OF HRS, I PHONED BDR FSS FOR CURRENT WX AND RADAR SUMMARY. THEIR COMPUTER HAD PROBS AND WOULDN'T GIVE NEW WX, ALTHOUGH I STAYED ON THE PHONE WITH THE BRIEFER FOR 20 MINS. THIS IS A WASTE OF AN FSS SPECIALIST'S TIME. I CARRY A CELLULAR PHONE TO MAKE THE CALLS FOR THE CURRENT WX, ESPECIALLY IN A SIT LIKE THIS WHERE THE POSSIBILITY OF RAPID WX DETERIORATION EXISTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE ATIS PHONE HAS BEEN FIXED AND WORKS NORMAL.

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.