Inadvertent use of wrong radio frequency.

Attributes
ACN	287582
Time
Date	199410
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	287582
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

This report concerns problems with the automated, highly engineered cockpit on the A320. This is the umpteenth time this has occurred to me, but the first time that it caused a potential problem. It has to do with the inadvertent changing of frequency wherein the pilot 'thinks' he is changing communication 2 frequency, but actually changes communication 1. (At our company, communication 1 is used for ATC, communication 2 for ATIS, company.) in this instance, I (captain) was flying. On final approach to runway 25R the other pilot tried to preset company frequency on communication 2 and inadvertently changed communication 1, which was on approach control at a somewhat critical time. I noticed the sudden 'quiet' and questioned the other pilot and the error was noticed and rectified. This is a common occurrence on the A320. Unfortunately, I think the only solution is increased vigilance because the airspace design is obviously finalized.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADVERTENT USE OF WRONG RADIO FREQ.

Narrative: THIS RPT CONCERNS PROBS WITH THE AUTOMATED, HIGHLY ENGINEERED COCKPIT ON THE A320. THIS IS THE UMPTEENTH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME, BUT THE FIRST TIME THAT IT CAUSED A POTENTIAL PROB. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INADVERTENT CHANGING OF FREQ WHEREIN THE PLT 'THINKS' HE IS CHANGING COM 2 FREQ, BUT ACTUALLY CHANGES COM 1. (AT OUR COMPANY, COM 1 IS USED FOR ATC, COM 2 FOR ATIS, COMPANY.) IN THIS INSTANCE, I (CAPT) WAS FLYING. ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 25R THE OTHER PLT TRIED TO PRESET COMPANY FREQ ON COM 2 AND INADVERTENTLY CHANGED COM 1, WHICH WAS ON APCH CTL AT A SOMEWHAT CRITICAL TIME. I NOTICED THE SUDDEN 'QUIET' AND QUESTIONED THE OTHER PLT AND THE ERROR WAS NOTICED AND RECTIFIED. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE A320. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THE ONLY SOLUTION IS INCREASED VIGILANCE BECAUSE THE AIRSPACE DESIGN IS OBVIOUSLY FINALIZED.

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.