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Airline dispatcher reports repeated inability to contact enroute flights as required by fars.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 840476 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200906 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | VUZ.VORTAC |
| State Reference | AL |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Dispatcher |
| Qualification | Dispatch Dispatcher |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
I was given instructions to make contact with flight 1234. I knew through the computer it was in the air; climbing to cruise altitude. I contacted company radio at approximately XA08Z; who was unable to contact the crew. After relaying this information; I was then given instructions to use a commercial radio operator to attempt contact. I did so. Shortly thereafter I received a company radio call from the crew of flight 1234; which was passing over vuz VOR at the time. Apparently; they had received the communication from the commercial radio operator; and decided to contact me through company radio; or company radio had finally made contact. After receiving a PIREP from the crew; I told them to disregard the communication from the commercial radio operator. The flight continued without incident. I believe this is the third report I've completed regarding the inability to contact an in-flight aircraft through company radio. This is a huge concern; since far 121.99 requires a fast and reliable means of communication with its enroute flights. As stated in previous statements; this occurrence (unfortunately) does not indicate that company radio is fast or reliable. I believe that ACARS system would be faster and more reliable.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Airline Dispatcher reports repeated inability to contact enroute flights as required by FARs.
Narrative: I was given instructions to make contact with Flight 1234. I knew through the computer it was in the air; climbing to cruise altitude. I contacted Company Radio at approximately XA08Z; who was unable to contact the crew. After relaying this information; I was then given instructions to use a commercial radio operator to attempt contact. I did so. Shortly thereafter I received a Company Radio call from the crew of Flight 1234; which was passing over VUZ VOR at the time. Apparently; they had received the communication from the commercial radio operator; and decided to contact me through Company Radio; or Company Radio had finally made contact. After receiving a PIREP from the crew; I told them to disregard the communication from the commercial radio operator. The flight continued without incident. I believe this is the third report I've completed regarding the inability to contact an in-flight aircraft through Company Radio. This is a huge concern; since FAR 121.99 requires a fast and reliable means of communication with its enroute flights. As stated in previous statements; this occurrence (unfortunately) does not indicate that Company Radio is fast or reliable. I believe that ACARS system would be faster and more reliable.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.