An A310 flight crew; in proximity to a large convective area; lost ATC communications capability at ...

Attributes
ACN	945750
Time
Date	201104
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A310
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Communication Systems
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75 Flight Crew Total 6000 Flight Crew Type 1450
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

While in precipitation; severe static prevented us from hearing all ATC transmissions. ACARS also became unusable. We were in the process of picking our way around a large system of storms. We were able to see on our weather radar that ZZZ was briefly usable for landing and declared an emergency while squawking 7600. We also broadcast; in the blind; our intentions to center and later to approach. We vectored ourselves direct to the FAF for an approach at ZZZ and descended on a 3:1 glide path using egpws and known safe sector altitudes. At around 12;000 MSL; while broadcasting to ZZZ approach; the radios began to work again. A normal approach and landing ensued.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A310 flight crew; in proximity to a large convective area; lost ATC communications capability at FL380. They squawked 7600 and diverted to a nearby airport while broadcasting the position and intentions in the blind. Communications was re-established as they descended through 12;000 FT.

Narrative: While in precipitation; severe static prevented us from hearing all ATC transmissions. ACARS also became unusable. We were in the process of picking our way around a large system of storms. We were able to see on our weather radar that ZZZ was briefly usable for landing and declared an emergency while squawking 7600. We also broadcast; in the blind; our intentions to Center and later to Approach. We vectored ourselves direct to the FAF for an approach at ZZZ and descended on a 3:1 glide path using EGPWS and known safe sector altitudes. At around 12;000 MSL; while broadcasting to ZZZ Approach; the radios began to work again. A normal approach and landing ensued.

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.

An A310 flight crew; in proximity to a large convective area; lost ATC communications capability at FL380. They squawked 7600 and diverted to a nearby airport while broadcasting the position and intentions in the blind. Communications was re-established as they descended through 12;000 ft.