Narrative:

Recently ATC (mem center) communication frequency (128.05) was pulled from use at ucy. It was and is now still on the published let down procedures for ucy airport. The frequency was changed (via NOTAM) to 133.65. The problem is that aircraft on departure or approach cannot establish radio contact with the IFR controling agency (mem center) under about 2500 ft MSL. The published missed approach altitude at ucy is 2000 ft MSL. Ucy needs a dedicated communication frequency both for approachs and departures. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the pilot stated radio contact in the ucy area had become very limited because the remote frequency 128.05 was pulled and assigned to a high altitude sector. ATC communications are not possible below 2500 ft and this fact has downgraded three critical flight phases: departures, canceling flight plans following arrival, and ATC notification following gars. The frequency restoration plans are unknown at this time and no alternatives to handle the airborne communications deficiencies are offered. In cases that the reporter knows of, pilots have had a 10 minute IMC departure window following a phone call.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C340 PLT RPTS THAT THE MEMPHIS CTR FREQ IN THE UCY AREA WAS RECENTLY CHANGED. THE NEW FREQ IS UNUSABLE BELOW ABOUT 2500 FT.

Narrative: RECENTLY ATC (MEM CTR) COM FREQ (128.05) WAS PULLED FROM USE AT UCY. IT WAS AND IS NOW STILL ON THE PUBLISHED LET DOWN PROCS FOR UCY ARPT. THE FREQ WAS CHANGED (VIA NOTAM) TO 133.65. THE PROB IS THAT ACFT ON DEP OR APCH CANNOT ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT WITH THE IFR CTLING AGENCY (MEM CTR) UNDER ABOUT 2500 FT MSL. THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH ALT AT UCY IS 2000 FT MSL. UCY NEEDS A DEDICATED COM FREQ BOTH FOR APCHS AND DEPS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE PLT STATED RADIO CONTACT IN THE UCY AREA HAD BECOME VERY LIMITED BECAUSE THE REMOTE FREQUENCY 128.05 WAS PULLED AND ASSIGNED TO A HIGH ALT SECTOR. ATC COMS ARE NOT POSSIBLE BELOW 2500 FT AND THIS FACT HAS DOWNGRADED THREE CRITICAL FLT PHASES: DEPS, CANCELING FLT PLANS FOLLOWING ARR, AND ATC NOTIFICATION FOLLOWING GARS. THE FREQUENCY RESTORATION PLANS ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME AND NO ALTERNATIVES TO HANDLE THE AIRBORNE COMMUNICATIONS DEFICIENCIES ARE OFFERED. IN CASES THAT THE RPTR KNOWS OF, PLTS HAVE HAD A 10 MINUTE IMC DEP WINDOW FOLLOWING A PHONE CALL.

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.