Atx pilot concerned with overlapping frequency coverage interference between hmn AFB and ZHU.

Attributes
ACN	434145
Time
Date	199904
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	special use airspace : hmn.restricted
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc military facility : hmn.milfac
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	King Air 100 A/B
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : ns.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	434145
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar controller : military
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zhu.artcc other physical facility

Narrative:

Holloman AFB approach and ZHU share the same frequency -- 120.6. Holloman has used this frequency for 25+ yrs. Is there some guideline in place for a minimum distance between facilities? This could cause a communication conflict. The one time I mentioned this to holloman, they took it as no big deal. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter advised he is a BE10 atx pilot. He has been aware of/encountered this frequency overlapping coverage/interference problem for 'yrs.' the reporter has encountered hmn/ZHU frequency interference occasionally when above 12000 ft, always above 16000 ft when flying between abq/saf areas, to and from the hou area airports. The reporter advised he encounters this interference when he flies between abq and hou areas on fri and sun.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX PLT CONCERNED WITH OVERLAPPING FREQ COVERAGE INTERFERENCE BTWN HMN AFB AND ZHU.

Narrative: HOLLOMAN AFB APCH AND ZHU SHARE THE SAME FREQ -- 120.6. HOLLOMAN HAS USED THIS FREQ FOR 25+ YRS. IS THERE SOME GUIDELINE IN PLACE FOR A MINIMUM DISTANCE BTWN FACILITIES? THIS COULD CAUSE A COM CONFLICT. THE ONE TIME I MENTIONED THIS TO HOLLOMAN, THEY TOOK IT AS NO BIG DEAL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED HE IS A BE10 ATX PLT. HE HAS BEEN AWARE OF/ENCOUNTERED THIS FREQ OVERLAPPING COVERAGE/INTERFERENCE PROB FOR 'YRS.' THE RPTR HAS ENCOUNTERED HMN/ZHU FREQ INTERFERENCE OCCASIONALLY WHEN ABOVE 12000 FT, ALWAYS ABOVE 16000 FT WHEN FLYING BTWN ABQ/SAF AREAS, TO AND FROM THE HOU AREA ARPTS. THE RPTR ADVISED HE ENCOUNTERS THIS INTERFERENCE WHEN HE FLIES BTWN ABQ AND HOU AREAS ON FRI AND SUN.

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.