ZOA controller described land line communication problem with adjacent international facilities.

Attributes
ACN	682840
Time
Date	200512
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zoa.artcc
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 22.5 controller radar : 22.5
ASRS Report	682840
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zoa.artcc

Narrative:

I am an oceanic ATC controller at oak ARTCC. Today while controling traffic on oceanic position OC5; I attempted to call port moresby for a transfer on air carrier X. I initially dialed the primary line on the vscs panel (801 line). I received a prompt on the screen that advised me that the line was 'OTS.' I immediately tried the backup line; which requires a dial of '*5;' followed by the number '10.' this repeatedly gave me a busy signal. I then tried the third option of pabx; followed by commercial telephone numbers. These all gave me a busy signal as well. I then called the adjacent ATC facility; brisbane. I asked them to try and reach moresby so as to transfer air carrier X. After a few minutes; brisbane acc called me back and said they could not reach port moresby. This all occurred during a busy traffic period; and could have contributed to an operational incident. This is a recurring problem/distraction in the south ocean for 800; 801; and 802 lines (new zealand; port moresby; and brisbane) and needs to be fixed immediately!!! This problem is ongoing and has been reported to local management several times in the past. The lines remain unreliable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZOA CTLR DESCRIBED LAND LINE COM PROBLEM WITH ADJACENT INTL FACILITIES.

Narrative: I AM AN OCEANIC ATC CTLR AT OAK ARTCC. TODAY WHILE CTLING TFC ON OCEANIC POSITION OC5; I ATTEMPTED TO CALL PORT MORESBY FOR A TRANSFER ON ACR X. I INITIALLY DIALED THE PRIMARY LINE ON THE VSCS PANEL (801 LINE). I RECEIVED A PROMPT ON THE SCREEN THAT ADVISED ME THAT THE LINE WAS 'OTS.' I IMMEDIATELY TRIED THE BACKUP LINE; WHICH REQUIRES A DIAL OF '*5;' FOLLOWED BY THE NUMBER '10.' THIS REPEATEDLY GAVE ME A BUSY SIGNAL. I THEN TRIED THE THIRD OPTION OF PABX; FOLLOWED BY COMMERCIAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS. THESE ALL GAVE ME A BUSY SIGNAL AS WELL. I THEN CALLED THE ADJACENT ATC FACILITY; BRISBANE. I ASKED THEM TO TRY AND REACH MORESBY SO AS TO TRANSFER ACR X. AFTER A FEW MINUTES; BRISBANE ACC CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REACH PORT MORESBY. THIS ALL OCCURRED DURING A BUSY TFC PERIOD; AND COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN OPERATIONAL INCIDENT. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM/DISTRACTION IN THE S OCEAN FOR 800; 801; AND 802 LINES (NEW ZEALAND; PORT MORESBY; AND BRISBANE) AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY!!! THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND HAS BEEN RPTED TO LOCAL MANAGEMENT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. THE LINES REMAIN UNRELIABLE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.