ATC communication problem frequency 120 pt 9 overlap between dpa and ind towers.

Attributes
ACN	279584
Time
Date	199408
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dpa
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dpa tower : syr
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Experience	controller non radar : 5
ASRS Report	279584
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We received ind ATCT arrival aircraft land and clear on local frequency. Both dpa and ind have the same local control frequency, 120.9. Numerous times we had to delay control instructions due to ind ATCT traffic blocking the frequency. We tried transmitting over the ind arrival traffic but aircraft here asked for the instructions over again and again. The confusion with who is actually calling us during busy times is in my opinion a major problem. Several local pilots have complained as well. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: facility manager stated the only problem with frequency 120.9 frequency overlap he is aware of is when there is WX at ind some acrs at ft levels will call and ask ind tower for WX. Manager called back and stated he had gone through the facility logs and found no entries about frequency overlap. Reporter stated 2 days in a row the frequency 120.9 was interfered with by aircraft in the pattern at ind tower and also by ind local control position. Reporter stated he informed supervisor. Reporter stated he had not heard of any more problems after the second day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC COM PROB FREQ 120 PT 9 OVERLAP BTWN DPA AND IND TWRS.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED IND ATCT ARR ACFT LAND AND CLR ON LCL FREQ. BOTH DPA AND IND HAVE THE SAME LCL CTL FREQ, 120.9. NUMEROUS TIMES WE HAD TO DELAY CTL INSTRUCTIONS DUE TO IND ATCT TFC BLOCKING THE FREQ. WE TRIED XMITTING OVER THE IND ARR TFC BUT ACFT HERE ASKED FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE CONFUSION WITH WHO IS ACTUALLY CALLING US DURING BUSY TIMES IS IN MY OPINION A MAJOR PROB. SEVERAL LCL PLTS HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: FACILITY MGR STATED THE ONLY PROB WITH FREQ 120.9 FREQ OVERLAP HE IS AWARE OF IS WHEN THERE IS WX AT IND SOME ACRS AT FT LEVELS WILL CALL AND ASK IND TWR FOR WX. MGR CALLED BACK AND STATED HE HAD GONE THROUGH THE FACILITY LOGS AND FOUND NO ENTRIES ABOUT FREQ OVERLAP. RPTR STATED 2 DAYS IN A ROW THE FREQ 120.9 WAS INTERFERED WITH BY ACFT IN THE PATTERN AT IND TWR AND ALSO BY IND LCL CTL POS. RPTR STATED HE INFORMED SUPVR. RPTR STATED HE HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY MORE PROBS AFTER THE SECOND DAY.

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.