Narrative:

Normal operation between ZNY and wilkes barre approach (avp) include using the '51' line; a direct voice communications line; to coordinate information on aircraft exchanged between the 2 facilities. In past practice; a second or redundant communication line would be available should the primary communication line be OTS. On this date the '51' line was OTS and no replacement line was available. Controllers were told that if we needed to coordinate any control actions or information; to tell the supervisor and he would telephone avp via commercial telephone. Unacceptable. Had any unusual or emergency condition occurred; the delay in going through the supervisor could have been disastrous.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING LACK OF BACK UP LAND LINES FOR COM WITH AVP TRACON.

Narrative: NORMAL OP BTWN ZNY AND WILKES BARRE APCH (AVP) INCLUDE USING THE '51' LINE; A DIRECT VOICE COMS LINE; TO COORDINATE INFO ON ACFT EXCHANGED BTWN THE 2 FACILITIES. IN PAST PRACTICE; A SECOND OR REDUNDANT COM LINE WOULD BE AVAILABLE SHOULD THE PRIMARY COM LINE BE OTS. ON THIS DATE THE '51' LINE WAS OTS AND NO REPLACEMENT LINE WAS AVAILABLE. CTLRS WERE TOLD THAT IF WE NEEDED TO COORDINATE ANY CTL ACTIONS OR INFO; TO TELL THE SUPVR AND HE WOULD TELEPHONE AVP VIA COMMERCIAL TELEPHONE. UNACCEPTABLE. HAD ANY UNUSUAL OR EMER CONDITION OCCURRED; THE DELAY IN GOING THROUGH THE SUPVR COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS.

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.