A320 was off frequency.

Attributes
ACN	281575
Time
Date	199408
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	281575
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Inbound on janesville approach to ord. I realized we were hearing a center frequency, and immediately changed back to approach control. Estimate off frequency less than 2 mins. Contributing factors: A320 radio management panel. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the A320 radio panel can be very difficult. Most of the problems that the flcs have with it are of their own making because they get into a hurry and don't make changes deliberately. This is another case where the engineers have tried to improve something and have made it more difficult to use. Many crews have found themselves off frequency, or have lost a frequency because of this 'improvement.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 WAS OFF FREQ.

Narrative: INBOUND ON JANESVILLE APCH TO ORD. I REALIZED WE WERE HEARING A CTR FREQ, AND IMMEDIATELY CHANGED BACK TO APCH CTL. ESTIMATE OFF FREQ LESS THAN 2 MINS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: A320 RADIO MGMNT PANEL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE A320 RADIO PANEL CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT. MOST OF THE PROBS THAT THE FLCS HAVE WITH IT ARE OF THEIR OWN MAKING BECAUSE THEY GET INTO A HURRY AND DON'T MAKE CHANGES DELIBERATELY. THIS IS ANOTHER CASE WHERE THE ENGINEERS HAVE TRIED TO IMPROVE SOMETHING AND HAVE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO USE. MANY CREWS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES OFF FREQ, OR HAVE LOST A FREQ BECAUSE OF THIS 'IMPROVEMENT.'

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.