Narrative:

All controllers at sct were issued new headsets. These headsets were supposed to reduce background noise. The pilots are complaining about not being able to hear us and that our xmissions fade in and out. I have tried 4 new headsets and these problems still exist. To date, the FAA has not come up with any corrective action. Needless to say, our workload increases with each additional transmission. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated a ucr has been filed. All controller's in TRACON are having the same problem at all position. Headset company says the controllers don't know how to work the headsets. Callback #2 conversation with socal TRACON revealed the following information: called socal TRACON to ascertain the model numbers of the headsets being tested. A staff specialist advised that the headsets are 2 styles, muffin #SHS1646 and regular #SHS1862. The specialist also confirmed that there is a problem regarding the transmission quality and did not know if any other facilities are testing this style headset.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB COM NEW CTLR HEADSETS.

Narrative: ALL CTLRS AT SCT WERE ISSUED NEW HEADSETS. THESE HEADSETS WERE SUPPOSED TO REDUCE BACKGROUND NOISE. THE PLTS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR US AND THAT OUR XMISSIONS FADE IN AND OUT. I HAVE TRIED 4 NEW HEADSETS AND THESE PROBS STILL EXIST. TO DATE, THE FAA HAS NOT COME UP WITH ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. NEEDLESS TO SAY, OUR WORKLOAD INCREASES WITH EACH ADDITIONAL XMISSION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED A UCR HAS BEEN FILED. ALL CTLR'S IN TRACON ARE HAVING THE SAME PROB AT ALL POS. HEADSET COMPANY SAYS THE CTLRS DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK THE HEADSETS. CALLBACK #2 CONVERSATION WITH SOCAL TRACON REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CALLED SOCAL TRACON TO ASCERTAIN THE MODEL NUMBERS OF THE HEADSETS BEING TESTED. A STAFF SPECIALIST ADVISED THAT THE HEADSETS ARE 2 STYLES, MUFFIN #SHS1646 AND REGULAR #SHS1862. THE SPECIALIST ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A PROB REGARDING THE XMISSION QUALITY AND DID NOT KNOW IF ANY OTHER FACILITIES ARE TESTING THIS STYLE HEADSET.

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.