Narrative:

Checked in with ZTL, who said air carrier Y had a message for us. Please switch to another ZTL frequency for it. On that frequency, ZTL told us to contact 'button 1, 123.45' and report back up center. On 123.45, air carrier Y PIC said hello, in and amongst xmissions of other pilots conversing. After several mins we reported back up ZTL and proceeded as normal. We realize now it was probably improper to talk personal business on the radio even if offered by center. Supplemental information from acn 246663: I asked ZTL if he was working air carrier X. He said no but he'd check where they were. He said they were 40 min behind us, is there a message? I said, 'tell him not to be late for dinner.' he asked is there a code to give him -- he cannot give non ATC messages. Later, he told me to monitor 123.45 on a backup radio -- he'd get him to come up that frequency. I did as instructed and chit-chatted with my husband, an first officer on air carrier X, very briefly. I later realized I probably shouldn't be talking personal on FAA frequencys (center or 123.45).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HUSBAND (FO, ACR X) AND WIFE (CAPT, ACR Y) TEAM USE ATC FREQ FOR PERSONAL CONVERSATION. HAD PSEUDO-AUTHORITY FROM ARTCC RADAR CTLR. ERROR ADMITTED.

Narrative: CHKED IN WITH ZTL, WHO SAID ACR Y HAD A MESSAGE FOR US. PLEASE SWITCH TO ANOTHER ZTL FREQ FOR IT. ON THAT FREQ, ZTL TOLD US TO CONTACT 'BUTTON 1, 123.45' AND RPT BACK UP CTR. ON 123.45, ACR Y PIC SAID HELLO, IN AND AMONGST XMISSIONS OF OTHER PLTS CONVERSING. AFTER SEVERAL MINS WE RPTED BACK UP ZTL AND PROCEEDED AS NORMAL. WE REALIZE NOW IT WAS PROBABLY IMPROPER TO TALK PERSONAL BUSINESS ON THE RADIO EVEN IF OFFERED BY CTR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 246663: I ASKED ZTL IF HE WAS WORKING ACR X. HE SAID NO BUT HE'D CHK WHERE THEY WERE. HE SAID THEY WERE 40 MIN BEHIND US, IS THERE A MESSAGE? I SAID, 'TELL HIM NOT TO BE LATE FOR DINNER.' HE ASKED IS THERE A CODE TO GIVE HIM -- HE CANNOT GIVE NON ATC MESSAGES. LATER, HE TOLD ME TO MONITOR 123.45 ON A BACKUP RADIO -- HE'D GET HIM TO COME UP THAT FREQ. I DID AS INSTRUCTED AND CHIT-CHATTED WITH MY HUSBAND, AN FO ON ACR X, VERY BRIEFLY. I LATER REALIZED I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE TALKING PERSONAL ON FAA FREQS (CTR OR 123.45).

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.