A CRJ700 first officer reports interference on ZID center frequency; apparently from a commercial br...

Attributes
ACN	757719
Time
Date	200710
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 4900 flight time type : 3800
ASRS Report	757719
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zid.artcc

Narrative:

On departure we were instructed to switch from cincinnati departure to indy center on frequency 135.57. After switching I immediately believed we switched to the wrong frequency because it sounded almost like ATIS. After confirming frequency I returned to hear the same distinct transmissions. I transmitted over the frequency; over the distinct strong signal (never turned the squelch off) and received a reply from indy center; though it was difficult to understand over the broadcast. It became apparent the signal was coming from a commercial broadcast station as they were asking for money donations. I believe the broadcast was possibly from an npr radio or perhaps wcet channel 48 (tv pbs) in cincinnati due to the signal strength near cincinnati. I requested a different frequency from indy center but they were unable to issue one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ700 FO REPORTS INTERFERENCE ON ZID CENTER FREQUENCY; APPARENTLY FROM A COMMERCIAL BROADCAST FACILITY.

Narrative: ON DEPARTURE WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO SWITCH FROM CINCINNATI DEPARTURE TO INDY CENTER ON FREQUENCY 135.57. AFTER SWITCHING I IMMEDIATELY BELIEVED WE SWITCHED TO THE WRONG FREQUENCY BECAUSE IT SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE ATIS. AFTER CONFIRMING FREQUENCY I RETURNED TO HEAR THE SAME DISTINCT TRANSMISSIONS. I TRANSMITTED OVER THE FREQUENCY; OVER THE DISTINCT STRONG SIGNAL (NEVER TURNED THE SQUELCH OFF) AND RECEIVED A REPLY FROM INDY CENTER; THOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND OVER THE BROADCAST. IT BECAME APPARENT THE SIGNAL WAS COMING FROM A COMMERCIAL BROADCAST STATION AS THEY WERE ASKING FOR MONEY DONATIONS. I BELIEVE THE BROADCAST WAS POSSIBLY FROM AN NPR RADIO OR PERHAPS WCET CHANNEL 48 (TV PBS) IN CINCINNATI DUE TO THE SIGNAL STRENGTH NEAR CINCINNATI. I REQUESTED A DIFFERENT FREQUENCY FROM INDY CENTER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ISSUE ONE.

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 CRJ700 first officer reports interference on ZID center frequency; apparently from a commercial broadcast facility.