Narrative:

After landing at lax at XA58L on dec/thu/96, we experienced severe radio frequency saturation. Ground control was using a single frequency for all work vice split frequency normal operation. The controller was doing a superb job despite numerous aircraft movements and several language accent drawbacks. However, the sheer volume of xmissions caused excessive delays for all aircraft (over 30 mins for our aircraft). This, however, is only part of the problem. In an effort to move traffic expeditiously, all users (controller and pilots) were forced to speak rapidly and sometimes abbreviated phraseology. The confusion caused by this situation caused additional time consuming requests for clarification and repeats. Several aircraft were forced to stop until verification of clearance could be accomplished. I realize tight budgets cause the need to reduce manpower when appropriate. This particular reduction makes no sense and is potentially dangerous. This particular evening was no isolated instance. On previous evenings at the same time of day, the same consolidation has occurred. The result has also been the same. I have the highest respect for the lax controllers, but this situation that they are forced into is setting up a potential violation at best or a mishap.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B737 FO COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FREQ CONGESTION AND CONFUSION CAUSED BY HAVING ONLY 1 GND CTL FREQ IN USE AT THE LATE HR OF THE DAY. RPTR ALLEGES THAT REGARDLESS OF FUNDING THE TWR SHOULD BE STAFFED WITH MORE CTLRS TO ALLEVIATE THE DELAYS AND FREQ CONGESTION.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG AT LAX AT XA58L ON DEC/THU/96, WE EXPERIENCED SEVERE RADIO FREQ SATURATION. GND CTL WAS USING A SINGLE FREQ FOR ALL WORK VICE SPLIT FREQ NORMAL OP. THE CTLR WAS DOING A SUPERB JOB DESPITE NUMEROUS ACFT MOVEMENTS AND SEVERAL LANGUAGE ACCENT DRAWBACKS. HOWEVER, THE SHEER VOLUME OF XMISSIONS CAUSED EXCESSIVE DELAYS FOR ALL ACFT (OVER 30 MINS FOR OUR ACFT). THIS, HOWEVER, IS ONLY PART OF THE PROB. IN AN EFFORT TO MOVE TFC EXPEDITIOUSLY, ALL USERS (CTLR AND PLTS) WERE FORCED TO SPEAK RAPIDLY AND SOMETIMES ABBREVIATED PHRASEOLOGY. THE CONFUSION CAUSED BY THIS SIT CAUSED ADDITIONAL TIME CONSUMING REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION AND REPEATS. SEVERAL ACFT WERE FORCED TO STOP UNTIL VERIFICATION OF CLRNC COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. I REALIZE TIGHT BUDGETS CAUSE THE NEED TO REDUCE MANPOWER WHEN APPROPRIATE. THIS PARTICULAR REDUCTION MAKES NO SENSE AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THIS PARTICULAR EVENING WAS NO ISOLATED INSTANCE. ON PREVIOUS EVENINGS AT THE SAME TIME OF DAY, THE SAME CONSOLIDATION HAS OCCURRED. THE RESULT HAS ALSO BEEN THE SAME. I HAVE THE HIGHEST RESPECT FOR THE LAX CTLRS, BUT THIS SIT THAT THEY ARE FORCED INTO IS SETTING UP A POTENTIAL VIOLATION AT BEST OR A MISHAP.

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.