ZFW controller's concern with multiple rcag (remote communication air/ground) failure.

Attributes
ACN	524389
Time
Date	200109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zfw.artcc
State Reference	TX
Environment
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dtw.tower
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 10 controller non radar : 11 controller radar : 10 flight time total : 133
ASRS Report	524389
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 10 controller non radar : 11 controller radar : 10 flight time total : 133
ASRS Report	524389
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance ATC Facility
Primary Problem	ATC Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zfw.artcc procedure or policy : zfw.artcc staffing : zfw.artcc

Narrative:

At approximately XA20L, the telephone line to the dublin rcag site failed. This site contains the only frequencies for hicoe-hi, ednas-I, and acton-lo sectors. We have been operating with only buec (one j-bue for one frequency) all day today. The radios are reported as '2 by 2' at best in the west and south areas of hicoe-hi, and there have been constant miscoms. The FAA has been advised of this weakness of these three arrival sectors sharing a single rcag site, but has taken no action. None of the buec's are located within the attached sectors, and all are located north or east of the sectors. This seriously compromises our ability to work traffic in the south and west areas of all these sectors. Supplemental information from acn 524696: aqn-lo (+100), ednas-int (110-230) & hicoe-hi (+240) lost main and standby radios for all three sectors. I recommend the buec radios be moved to separate site from the primary radio site. The buec radios should also be sited so they will cover the entire airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZFW CTLR'S CONCERN WITH MULTIPLE RCAG (REMOTE COM AIR/GND) FAILURE.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA20L, THE TELEPHONE LINE TO THE DUBLIN RCAG SITE FAILED. THIS SITE CONTAINS THE ONLY FREQUENCIES FOR HICOE-HI, EDNAS-I, AND ACTON-LO SECTORS. WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH ONLY BUEC (ONE J-BUE FOR ONE FREQUENCY) ALL DAY TODAY. THE RADIOS ARE REPORTED AS '2 BY 2' AT BEST IN THE WEST AND SOUTH AREAS OF HICOE-HI, AND THERE HAVE BEEN CONSTANT MISCOMS. THE FAA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THIS WEAKNESS OF THESE THREE ARRIVAL SECTORS SHARING A SINGLE RCAG SITE, BUT HAS TAKEN NO ACTION. NONE OF THE BUEC'S ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE ATTACHED SECTORS, AND ALL ARE LOCATED N OR E OF THE SECTORS. THIS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISES OUR ABILITY TO WORK TRAFFIC IN THE S AND W AREAS OF ALL THESE SECTORS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 524696: AQN-LO (+100), EDNAS-INT (110-230) & HICOE-HI (+240) LOST MAIN AND STANDBY RADIOS FOR ALL THREE SECTORS. I RECOMMEND THE BUEC RADIOS BE MOVED TO SEPARATE SITE FROM THE PRIMARY RADIO SITE. THE BUEC RADIOS SHOULD ALSO BE SITED SO THEY WILL COVER THE ENTIRE AIRSPACE.

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.