Main and standby transmitters fail while controller has heavy traffic on frequency. No loss of separ...

Attributes
ACN	215735
Time
Date	199207
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 11
ASRS Report	215735
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

On wed, 7/92, at approximately AM15 local, both the main and standby VHF transmitters failed, during 'heavy' traffic (17-21 aircraft on frequency). Safety was compromised when a clearance to 'turn right' for traffic was not acknowledge. The affected sector (33) attempted backup transmitter, which also failed. The situation was complicated by training in progress, and was allowed to continue too long. There are procedures and some training for lost communications with a single aircraft, but there is no training for line traffic other than when it happens on the job, for employees including first and second line supervisors. There are any number of solutions that have been suggested over the yrs. I suppose the saying is true that action is taken only after safety is compromised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MAIN AND STANDBY XMITTERS FAIL WHILE CTLR HAS HVY TFC ON FREQ. NO LOSS OF SEPARATION.

Narrative: ON WED, 7/92, AT APPROX AM15 LCL, BOTH THE MAIN AND STANDBY VHF XMITTERS FAILED, DURING 'HVY' TFC (17-21 ACFT ON FREQ). SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED WHEN A CLRNC TO 'TURN R' FOR TFC WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. THE AFFECTED SECTOR (33) ATTEMPTED BACKUP XMITTER, WHICH ALSO FAILED. THE SITUATION WAS COMPLICATED BY TRAINING IN PROGRESS, AND WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TOO LONG. THERE ARE PROCS AND SOME TRAINING FOR LOST COMS WITH A SINGLE ACFT, BUT THERE IS NO TRAINING FOR LINE TFC OTHER THAN WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE JOB, FOR EMPLOYEES INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND LINE SUPVRS. THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED OVER THE YRS. I SUPPOSE THE SAYING IS TRUE THAT ACTION IS TAKEN ONLY AFTER SAFETY IS COMPROMISED.

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.

Main and standby transmitters fail while controller has heavy traffic on frequency. No loss of separation.