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ZTL controller concerned with radio frequency coverage in the vicinity of sug VORTAC, for low altitude traffic transitioning to and from avl airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 503867 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200103 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : sug.vortac |
| State Reference | NC |
| Altitude | msl single value : 8500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Bonanza 35 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 20 |
| ASRS Report | 503867 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Facility |
| Primary Problem | ATC Facility |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | communication equipment : ztl.artcc |
Narrative:
Aircraft X was en route to 1a5 (macon county, GA). We received a radar handoff from avl approach, but we never communicated with the aircraft. We lost radar contact and had to call the airport to see if he had arrived. Our radio 134.8 has been unsatisfactory for this altitude. We have reported this same problem for at least 10 yrs. No action has been taken to fix the problem. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: ZTL facility specialist advised there is an approximately 10000 ft minimum reception altitude required to ensure constant frequency coverage in the area in question. Avl lies in a valley associated with the snowbird mountain range. To the southwest of avl is also the snowbird MOA. There are 3 radio air/ground (rag) sites that provide coverage to this mountainous region -- one 55 mi northwest of atl, 10 mi northwest of snowbird mountain (newport, tn), hours VORTAC (knoxville, tn). ZTL has this area idented as a concern for radio coverage for aircraft operating below 10000 ft in a facility bulletin and the effected control sectors SOP manual.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ZTL CTLR CONCERNED WITH RADIO FREQ COVERAGE IN THE VICINITY OF SUG VORTAC, FOR LOW ALT TFC TRANSITIONING TO AND FROM AVL ARPT.
Narrative: ACFT X WAS ENRTE TO 1A5 (MACON COUNTY, GA). WE RECEIVED A RADAR HDOF FROM AVL APCH, BUT WE NEVER COMMUNICATED WITH THE ACFT. WE LOST RADAR CONTACT AND HAD TO CALL THE ARPT TO SEE IF HE HAD ARRIVED. OUR RADIO 134.8 HAS BEEN UNSATISFACTORY FOR THIS ALT. WE HAVE RPTED THIS SAME PROB FOR AT LEAST 10 YRS. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO FIX THE PROB. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ZTL FACILITY SPECIALIST ADVISED THERE IS AN APPROX 10000 FT MINIMUM RECEPTION ALT REQUIRED TO ENSURE CONSTANT FREQ COVERAGE IN THE AREA IN QUESTION. AVL LIES IN A VALLEY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SNOWBIRD MOUNTAIN RANGE. TO THE SW OF AVL IS ALSO THE SNOWBIRD MOA. THERE ARE 3 RADIO AIR/GND (RAG) SITES THAT PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THIS MOUNTAINOUS REGION -- ONE 55 MI NW OF ATL, 10 MI NW OF SNOWBIRD MOUNTAIN (NEWPORT, TN), HRS VORTAC (KNOXVILLE, TN). ZTL HAS THIS AREA IDENTED AS A CONCERN FOR RADIO COVERAGE FOR ACFT OPERATING BELOW 10000 FT IN A FACILITY BULLETIN AND THE EFFECTED CTL SECTORS SOP MANUAL.
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.