A B777 flight crew in atlantic airspace finds the satcom preset number for shanwick is incorrect.

Attributes
ACN	721095
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eggx.artcc
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : eggx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110
ASRS Report	721095
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

An attempt to contact shanwick ATC via satcom resulted in an unassigned 'num' status message. Further investigation with the involvement of dispatch disclosed that the preset number of abcdef should be acbdef. This issue was submitted in a write-up for the aircraft. I am concerned that this is a B777 fleet issue; not merely this aircraft. A check of the satcom on a different aircraft has shown same result. We have been encouraged during training to rely on the satcom as a primary means of contacting ATC when in oceanic control in the event of irregular operation or emergency requiring ATC coordination. It is not the time to try to interpretation an unfamiliar status message resulting in a failure to make an urgent contact in this environment. I am requesting a check of the accuracy of all preset satcom numbers in the B777 fleet for accuracy. This error appears merely to be a transposition of 2 digits; but it reminds us that unless verified and checked; these preset numbers can result in confusion at best during a critical time of need to communicate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B777 FLT CREW IN ATLANTIC AIRSPACE FINDS THE SATCOM PRESET NUMBER FOR SHANWICK IS INCORRECT.

Narrative: AN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT SHANWICK ATC VIA SATCOM RESULTED IN AN UNASSIGNED 'NUM' STATUS MESSAGE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF DISPATCH DISCLOSED THAT THE PRESET NUMBER OF ABCDEF SHOULD BE ACBDEF. THIS ISSUE WAS SUBMITTED IN A WRITE-UP FOR THE ACFT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A B777 FLEET ISSUE; NOT MERELY THIS ACFT. A CHK OF THE SATCOM ON A DIFFERENT ACFT HAS SHOWN SAME RESULT. WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED DURING TRAINING TO RELY ON THE SATCOM AS A PRIMARY MEANS OF CONTACTING ATC WHEN IN OCEANIC CTL IN THE EVENT OF IRREGULAR OP OR EMER REQUIRING ATC COORD. IT IS NOT THE TIME TO TRY TO INTERP AN UNFAMILIAR STATUS MESSAGE RESULTING IN A FAILURE TO MAKE AN URGENT CONTACT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. I AM REQUESTING A CHK OF THE ACCURACY OF ALL PRESET SATCOM NUMBERS IN THE B777 FLEET FOR ACCURACY. THIS ERROR APPEARS MERELY TO BE A TRANSPOSITION OF 2 DIGITS; BUT IT REMINDS US THAT UNLESS VERIFIED AND CHKED; THESE PRESET NUMBERS CAN RESULT IN CONFUSION AT BEST DURING A CRITICAL TIME OF NEED TO COMMUNICATE.

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.