Controller complaint about radio equipment problem.

Attributes
ACN	172640
Time
Date	199103
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dal
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 4 controller radar : 3
ASRS Report	172640
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

The following situation had occurred at least 7 times that I'm aware of however, this is the first time I've chosen to report on it as it had occurred more frequently in recent weeks. I work at dallas love tracab in dallas, tx. While working the local control east (lce) position, for no apparent reason all frequencys went dead on all positions. We couldn't hear or speak to the pilots. All returned to normal after switching to standby transmitters receivers. Then after about 10 or 15 min the main transmitters receivers worked normally once again. Each time this had happened in the past maintenance was notified but no problem was detected. This time, however, nothing was done to remedy the situation (probably because it is becoming 'routine') thus prompting this report. Thus far, this situation has occurred at non critical times when we have time to change to standbys and make radio checks (approximately 45-60 second) however, the potential for losing contact with an aircraft at a critical moment does exist. No one, including maintenance, seems to know what's causing the radio failures nor can they be predicted. Part of the problems is that by the time the technicians arrive the radios are all working properly again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR COMPLAINT ABOUT RADIO EQUIPMENT PROBLEM.

Narrative: THE FOLLOWING SITUATION HAD OCCURRED AT LEAST 7 TIMES THAT I'M AWARE OF HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE CHOSEN TO RPT ON IT AS IT HAD OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN RECENT WKS. I WORK AT DALLAS LOVE TRACAB IN DALLAS, TX. WHILE WORKING THE LCL CTL EAST (LCE) POS, FOR NO APPARENT REASON ALL FREQS WENT DEAD ON ALL POSITIONS. WE COULDN'T HEAR OR SPEAK TO THE PLTS. ALL RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER SWITCHING TO STANDBY XMITTERS RECEIVERS. THEN AFTER ABOUT 10 OR 15 MIN THE MAIN XMITTERS RECEIVERS WORKED NORMALLY ONCE AGAIN. EACH TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED IN THE PAST MAINT WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO PROB WAS DETECTED. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS DONE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION (PROBABLY BECAUSE IT IS BECOMING 'ROUTINE') THUS PROMPTING THIS RPT. THUS FAR, THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AT NON CRITICAL TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TIME TO CHANGE TO STANDBYS AND MAKE RADIO CHKS (APPROX 45-60 SEC) HOWEVER, THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSING CONTACT WITH AN ACFT AT A CRITICAL MOMENT DOES EXIST. NO ONE, INCLUDING MAINT, SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING THE RADIO FAILURES NOR CAN THEY BE PREDICTED. PART OF THE PROBS IS THAT BY THE TIME THE TECHNICIANS ARRIVE THE RADIOS ARE ALL WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.