Narrative:

ATC was using frequency 128.55 in the sector for the approach to smq near new york class B airspace. This frequency is very congested with arrs into newark. In addition, this frequency cannot hear xmissions below approximately 1500 ft nor can pilots hear this frequency below 1500 ft near solberg VOR. There is another frequency 132.80 which has excellent coverage. On certain days ATC does not use 132.80. This causes communication problems while on approach to numerous airports that use the sbj VOR. I was cleared for the VOR 8 approach at smq. I was instructed to report procedure turn inbound. While trying to make this report the frequency was very congested. I was unable to make the report. Because I turned procedure turn close to the VOR, I had to descend before making the requested report with ATC. Nor was ATC able to instruct me to change to local frequency. Another aircraft relayed my IFR cancellation when I entered VFR conditions. There was no incident. This inadequate frequency 128.55 and its congestion can be a threat to aviation safety. I would urge ATC to use 132.80 for any approach to satellite airports that use sbj VOR. Additionally, adequate staffing should be available to provide adequate coverage. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: analyst spoke with the procedures office at N90. Analyst was told that the normal procedure for arrs to smq is they are usually worked on 128.55 initially and changed to 132.8 later. The facility is aware of the coverage limitations of 128.55. The reason for the change to 132.8 later is the sector uses both frequencys and would prefer to have everyone on one frequency until smq arrival(south) get closer to the airport.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR CONTENDS THAT THE FREQ USED BY N90 FOR ARRS TO THE SMQ ARPT WAS CONGESTED. RPTR WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER FREQ WHICH IS USED ON OCCASION, USED ALL OF THE TIME.

Narrative: ATC WAS USING FREQ 128.55 IN THE SECTOR FOR THE APCH TO SMQ NEAR NEW YORK CLASS B AIRSPACE. THIS FREQ IS VERY CONGESTED WITH ARRS INTO NEWARK. IN ADDITION, THIS FREQ CANNOT HEAR XMISSIONS BELOW APPROX 1500 FT NOR CAN PLTS HEAR THIS FREQ BELOW 1500 FT NEAR SOLBERG VOR. THERE IS ANOTHER FREQ 132.80 WHICH HAS EXCELLENT COVERAGE. ON CERTAIN DAYS ATC DOES NOT USE 132.80. THIS CAUSES COM PROBS WHILE ON APCH TO NUMEROUS ARPTS THAT USE THE SBJ VOR. I WAS CLRED FOR THE VOR 8 APCH AT SMQ. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO RPT PROC TURN INBOUND. WHILE TRYING TO MAKE THIS RPT THE FREQ WAS VERY CONGESTED. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RPT. BECAUSE I TURNED PROC TURN CLOSE TO THE VOR, I HAD TO DSND BEFORE MAKING THE REQUESTED RPT WITH ATC. NOR WAS ATC ABLE TO INSTRUCT ME TO CHANGE TO LCL FREQ. ANOTHER ACFT RELAYED MY IFR CANCELLATION WHEN I ENTERED VFR CONDITIONS. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT. THIS INADEQUATE FREQ 128.55 AND ITS CONGESTION CAN BE A THREAT TO AVIATION SAFETY. I WOULD URGE ATC TO USE 132.80 FOR ANY APCH TO SATELLITE ARPTS THAT USE SBJ VOR. ADDITIONALLY, ADEQUATE STAFFING SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE COVERAGE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ANALYST SPOKE WITH THE PROCS OFFICE AT N90. ANALYST WAS TOLD THAT THE NORMAL PROC FOR ARRS TO SMQ IS THEY ARE USUALLY WORKED ON 128.55 INITIALLY AND CHANGED TO 132.8 LATER. THE FACILITY IS AWARE OF THE COVERAGE LIMITATIONS OF 128.55. THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE TO 132.8 LATER IS THE SECTOR USES BOTH FREQS AND WOULD PREFER TO HAVE EVERYONE ON ONE FREQ UNTIL SMQ ARR(S) GET CLOSER TO THE ARPT.

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.