Narrative:

After assuming control of the local control one (LC1) position this morning for the arrival push; I began testing and setting up all of the equipment associated with my position. During this process I discovered that the orange bypass jack was not operating properly. This headset jack is used when the etvs system fails; and allows the controller to 'bypass' the etvs system and transmit/receive directly through the tx/rx site at the airport. Aircraft could hear my xmissions; but I was unable to hear aircraft respond to me. The bypass jack is currently OTS at local control one (LC1); local control two (LC2); final monitor west (fmw) and final monitor east (fme). The bypass jack at LC1 has been OTS for over 4 weeks now.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM TWR CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE EXTENDED FAILURE OF THE BACK-UP BY-PASS JACK FOR RADIO COM.

Narrative: AFTER ASSUMING CTL OF THE LCL CTL ONE (LC1) POS THIS MORNING FOR THE ARR PUSH; I BEGAN TESTING AND SETTING UP ALL OF THE EQUIP ASSOCIATED WITH MY POS. DURING THIS PROCESS I DISCOVERED THAT THE ORANGE BYPASS JACK WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS HEADSET JACK IS USED WHEN THE ETVS SYS FAILS; AND ALLOWS THE CTLR TO 'BYPASS' THE ETVS SYS AND XMIT/RECEIVE DIRECTLY THROUGH THE TX/RX SITE AT THE ARPT. ACFT COULD HEAR MY XMISSIONS; BUT I WAS UNABLE TO HEAR ACFT RESPOND TO ME. THE BYPASS JACK IS CURRENTLY OTS AT LCL CTL ONE (LC1); LCL CTL TWO (LC2); FINAL MONITOR W (FMW) AND FINAL MONITOR E (FME). THE BYPASS JACK AT LC1 HAS BEEN OTS FOR OVER 4 WKS NOW.

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.