Narrative:

On reaching runway 04L at ewr, the tower cleared us into position to hold. After a short delay, he cleared us into position a second time. When we stated that we had already been cleared into position, there was no response from the tower. When we queried the tower, he responded that we should be more patient. Runway 04L at ewr is known to have a dead spot. We selected both main radios to tower so as to use both the upper and lower antennas. We weren't sure if we were sitting in position and missing calls. It would have helped if the controller had responded that it would be a few minutes until release. I do not like holding in position for too long as it is an uncomfortable place. A few years back on runway 04L I remember 1 B727 landing over the top of another. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated he flies a B727 and has noticed that the radio dead spot problem seems to occur most of the time when he is holding in position. He said at one time there was a large sign near runway 04L that requested pilots to use their top antenna to receive. Since the runway was extended 1000 to 1500 ft, the sign was removed. He said the problem at times can be a real nuisance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE HOLDING IN POS ON RWY 04L AT EWR BECAUSE OF A KNOWN RADIO DEAD SPOT IN THAT AREA.

Narrative: ON REACHING RWY 04L AT EWR, THE TWR CLRED US INTO POS TO HOLD. AFTER A SHORT DELAY, HE CLRED US INTO POS A SECOND TIME. WHEN WE STATED THAT WE HAD ALREADY BEEN CLRED INTO POS, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE TWR. WHEN WE QUERIED THE TWR, HE RESPONDED THAT WE SHOULD BE MORE PATIENT. RWY 04L AT EWR IS KNOWN TO HAVE A DEAD SPOT. WE SELECTED BOTH MAIN RADIOS TO TWR SO AS TO USE BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER ANTENNAS. WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE SITTING IN POS AND MISSING CALLS. IT WOULD HAVE HELPED IF THE CTLR HAD RESPONDED THAT IT WOULD BE A FEW MINUTES UNTIL RELEASE. I DO NOT LIKE HOLDING IN POS FOR TOO LONG AS IT IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE. A FEW YEARS BACK ON RWY 04L I REMEMBER 1 B727 LNDG OVER THE TOP OF ANOTHER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED HE FLIES A B727 AND HAS NOTICED THAT THE RADIO DEAD SPOT PROB SEEMS TO OCCUR MOST OF THE TIME WHEN HE IS HOLDING IN POS. HE SAID AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A LARGE SIGN NEAR RWY 04L THAT REQUESTED PLTS TO USE THEIR TOP ANTENNA TO RECEIVE. SINCE THE RWY WAS EXTENDED 1000 TO 1500 FT, THE SIGN WAS REMOVED. HE SAID THE PROB AT TIMES CAN BE A REAL NUISANCE.

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.