A frequency outage at ZTL ARTCC on 127.52 caused loss of communications with all aircraft for severa...

Attributes
ACN	706216
Time
Date	200607
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8 flight time total : 38
ASRS Report	706216
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : ztl.artcc

Narrative:

I was working sector 10 (la grange sector) in ZTL and was using 127.52 because 125.57 with OTS. 127.52 was my back-up. Frequency and crackled several times over a 30 min period and then finally completely failed. I was unable to select standby or main; it was like the frequency did not exist. I had no other frequency to use; since I was already on the back-up frequency. I had no way to communicate with aircraft for several mins. When airways facilities was notified 125.57 was miraculously released back to us. I was told that 125.57 was struck by lightning earlier in the day and was unusable. 125.57 has also failed several times over the past month or so; but just for 10-15 seconds at a time. When we have frequencys that are main; standby and buec (for the situationes that have buec); fails; there is no way to communicate with aircraft; this is a huge safety issue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FREQ OUTAGE AT ZTL ARTCC ON 127.52 CAUSED LOSS OF COMS WITH ALL ACFT FOR SEVERAL MINS. THERE WERE NO OTHER FREQS AVAILABLE FOR USE DURING THIS PERIOD.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING SECTOR 10 (LA GRANGE SECTOR) IN ZTL AND WAS USING 127.52 BECAUSE 125.57 WITH OTS. 127.52 WAS MY BACK-UP. FREQ AND CRACKLED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A 30 MIN PERIOD AND THEN FINALLY COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS UNABLE TO SELECT STANDBY OR MAIN; IT WAS LIKE THE FREQ DID NOT EXIST. I HAD NO OTHER FREQ TO USE; SINCE I WAS ALREADY ON THE BACK-UP FREQ. I HAD NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ACFT FOR SEVERAL MINS. WHEN AIRWAYS FACILITIES WAS NOTIFIED 125.57 WAS MIRACULOUSLY RELEASED BACK TO US. I WAS TOLD THAT 125.57 WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING EARLIER IN THE DAY AND WAS UNUSABLE. 125.57 HAS ALSO FAILED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO; BUT JUST FOR 10-15 SECONDS AT A TIME. WHEN WE HAVE FREQS THAT ARE MAIN; STANDBY AND BUEC (FOR THE SITUATIONES THAT HAVE BUEC); FAILS; THERE IS NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ACFT; THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

A frequency outage at ZTL ARTCC on 127.52 caused loss of communications with all aircraft for several mins. There were no other frequencys available for use during this period.