ARTCC controller complaint about high altitude sector frequency problems at ZKC.

Attributes
ACN	99843
Time
Date	198812
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zkc
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 43000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Route In Use	enroute airway : zkc
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	99843
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

Frequency 128.1 has been unreliable and or unusable for months. After repeated attempts to get maintenance to correct the problem, we were finally given tracking forms (enclosed) to record the problem for maintenance. After numerous entries, they have still not corrected the problem. On or about 12/mon/88, we at sector 91 found ourselves with a situation where one aircraft was 40 KTS faster than the aircraft he was following. This required immediate action, but we were unable to talk to either aircraft. Fortunately the trailing aircraft returned to his previous frequency when he could not hear us. When this was discovered, we were able to have the other controller descend the aircraft, and thus avert a potentially hazardous occurrence. It is only a matter of time until this, or some other dangerous situation occurs again, and next time we may not be so lucky. The well being of the flying public, and the abilities of the air traffic controllers should not be left to chance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC CTLR COMPLAINT ABOUT HIGH ALT SECTOR FREQ PROBLEMS AT ZKC.

Narrative: FREQ 128.1 HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE AND OR UNUSABLE FOR MONTHS. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET MAINT TO CORRECT THE PROB, WE WERE FINALLY GIVEN TRACKING FORMS (ENCLOSED) TO RECORD THE PROB FOR MAINT. AFTER NUMEROUS ENTRIES, THEY HAVE STILL NOT CORRECTED THE PROB. ON OR ABOUT 12/MON/88, WE AT SECTOR 91 FOUND OURSELVES WITH A SITUATION WHERE ONE ACFT WAS 40 KTS FASTER THAN THE ACFT HE WAS FOLLOWING. THIS REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ACTION, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO TALK TO EITHER ACFT. FORTUNATELY THE TRAILING ACFT RETURNED TO HIS PREVIOUS FREQ WHEN HE COULD NOT HEAR US. WHEN THIS WAS DISCOVERED, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE OTHER CTLR DSND THE ACFT, AND THUS AVERT A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS OCCURRENCE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS, OR SOME OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURS AGAIN, AND NEXT TIME WE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE WELL BEING OF THE FLYING PUBLIC, AND THE ABILITIES OF THE AIR TFC CTLRS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT TO CHANCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.