N90 controller experienced problems with rdvs equipment and 121 pt 5 usage.

Attributes
ACN	584837
Time
Date	200306
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain Fog
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Make Model Name	Gulfstream IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 10 controller radar : 10 controller time certified in position1 : 10 flight time total : 450
ASRS Report	584837
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : rdus-121.5 usage other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

GLF4 departed isp, climbed to 6000 ft and turned to a 290 degree heading, told to contact ny approach on 135.9. Aircraft never checked in on 135.9. Multiple calls on 135.9 and 118.0 (isp departure) went unanswered. I pushed the 'transmit' button (xr) on the rdvs system for 121.5. A piercing feedback squeal came through rdvs system, preventing me from transmitting on 121.5. It was later determined that if one position in the sector has 121.5 selected (monitoring the frequency)(121.5 was being monitored at the supervisor's counsel), and another position also has 121.5 or 243.0 selected for monitoring (as I had) and then tries to transmit on it (as I did), it causes a 'feedback loop' and creates loud squeal. A report was filed. Any position must be able to transmit and receive on 121.5/243.0 at any time, no matter what. (GLF4 did finally appear on somebody's frequency, but not until after wreaking havoc with lga, ewr, and teb arrs and departures -- fortunately, no loss of separation -- this time.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: N90 CTLR EXPERIENCED PROBS WITH RDVS EQUIP AND 121 PT 5 USAGE.

Narrative: GLF4 DEPARTED ISP, CLBED TO 6000 FT AND TURNED TO A 290 DEG HDG, TOLD TO CONTACT NY APCH ON 135.9. ACFT NEVER CHKED IN ON 135.9. MULTIPLE CALLS ON 135.9 AND 118.0 (ISP DEP) WENT UNANSWERED. I PUSHED THE 'XMIT' BUTTON (XR) ON THE RDVS SYS FOR 121.5. A PIERCING FEEDBACK SQUEAL CAME THROUGH RDVS SYS, PREVENTING ME FROM XMITTING ON 121.5. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT IF ONE POS IN THE SECTOR HAS 121.5 SELECTED (MONITORING THE FREQ)(121.5 WAS BEING MONITORED AT THE SUPVR'S COUNSEL), AND ANOTHER POS ALSO HAS 121.5 OR 243.0 SELECTED FOR MONITORING (AS I HAD) AND THEN TRIES TO XMIT ON IT (AS I DID), IT CAUSES A 'FEEDBACK LOOP' AND CREATES LOUD SQUEAL. A RPT WAS FILED. ANY POS MUST BE ABLE TO XMIT AND RECEIVE ON 121.5/243.0 AT ANY TIME, NO MATTER WHAT. (GLF4 DID FINALLY APPEAR ON SOMEBODY'S FREQ, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER WREAKING HAVOC WITH LGA, EWR, AND TEB ARRS AND DEPS -- FORTUNATELY, NO LOSS OF SEPARATION -- THIS TIME.)

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.