Pilot left frequency of controller to get ATIS.

Attributes
ACN	302614
Time
Date	199504
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma tower : aus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2900
ASRS Report	302614
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While descending into mia on collier 4 arrival, after several vectors reclred on a vector to join the arrival outside worpp intersection. The frequency was very busy. I had preset the approach frequency in the #1 communication, so I could get the new updated ATIS (which finally came out) on the #2 communication. A min after I picked up the ATIS and was monitoring the #1 communication - mia approach asked if we were on and gave us a visual and told us to call center on the phone. Somehow the #1 communication switch was moved from the center frequency to the preset approach frequency. We are both bewildered how it was moved. My only suggestion to help reduce communication loss or only 1 pilot on the radio is to have ATIS WX taken at some time - then always at a specific time put the new WX on the ATIS, ie, :00, on the hour like canadians do or make ATIS available through ACARS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT LEFT FREQ OF CTLR TO GET ATIS.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING INTO MIA ON COLLIER 4 ARR, AFTER SEVERAL VECTORS RECLRED ON A VECTOR TO JOIN THE ARR OUTSIDE WORPP INTXN. THE FREQ WAS VERY BUSY. I HAD PRESET THE APCH FREQ IN THE #1 COM, SO I COULD GET THE NEW UPDATED ATIS (WHICH FINALLY CAME OUT) ON THE #2 COM. A MIN AFTER I PICKED UP THE ATIS AND WAS MONITORING THE #1 COM - MIA APCH ASKED IF WE WERE ON AND GAVE US A VISUAL AND TOLD US TO CALL CTR ON THE PHONE. SOMEHOW THE #1 COM SWITCH WAS MOVED FROM THE CTR FREQ TO THE PRESET APCH FREQ. WE ARE BOTH BEWILDERED HOW IT WAS MOVED. MY ONLY SUGGESTION TO HELP REDUCE COM LOSS OR ONLY 1 PLT ON THE RADIO IS TO HAVE ATIS WX TAKEN AT SOME TIME - THEN ALWAYS AT A SPECIFIC TIME PUT THE NEW WX ON THE ATIS, IE, :00, ON THE HR LIKE CANADIANS DO OR MAKE ATIS AVAILABLE THROUGH ACARS.

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.