ZDC controller voiced concern regarding continuing radio problems at SBV22 sector.

Attributes
ACN	765348
Time
Date	200712
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dan.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tower : zzz.tower
Make Model Name	Caravan Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 6 controller non radar : 6 controller radar : 4 controller time certified in position1 : 1 controller time certified in position2 : 6
ASRS Report	765348
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : zdc.artcc

Narrative:

OJT was being conducted on south boston (SBV22) at the time and the aircraft was on frequency 124.05 at the time. Due to poor or non existent frequency coverage; the sector was also using a borrow ultra high sector frequency 134.62. Aircraft X was on a vector for the ILS runway 2 at danville (dan) municipal airport. When the aircraft reached 15 mi southeast of dan the controller tried to give the aircraft a turn and altitude clearance to intercept the localizer. The aircraft never responded to any instruction; as well as attempts to have the aircraft 'identify' if it heard the controller with no response. The controller was also experiencing numerous problems with both frequencys from other aircraft. Another aircraft was used to relay to aircraft X to vector to the ILS and place the aircraft on 134.62. This frequency was still very poor for most aircraft; and it took several xmissions to issue clrncs. These frequencys have been written up numerous times. To date there has been nothing to resolve the issues with these frequencys and if they are not resolved as they have worsened; this could result in a fatal situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING CONTINUING RADIO PROBLEMS AT SBV22 SECTOR.

Narrative: OJT WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON S BOSTON (SBV22) AT THE TIME AND THE ACFT WAS ON FREQ 124.05 AT THE TIME. DUE TO POOR OR NON EXISTENT FREQ COVERAGE; THE SECTOR WAS ALSO USING A BORROW ULTRA HIGH SECTOR FREQ 134.62. ACFT X WAS ON A VECTOR FOR THE ILS RWY 2 AT DANVILLE (DAN) MUNICIPAL ARPT. WHEN THE ACFT REACHED 15 MI SE OF DAN THE CTLR TRIED TO GIVE THE ACFT A TURN AND ALT CLRNC TO INTERCEPT THE LOC. THE ACFT NEVER RESPONDED TO ANY INSTRUCTION; AS WELL AS ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE ACFT 'IDENT' IF IT HEARD THE CTLR WITH NO RESPONSE. THE CTLR WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS PROBS WITH BOTH FREQS FROM OTHER ACFT. ANOTHER ACFT WAS USED TO RELAY TO ACFT X TO VECTOR TO THE ILS AND PLACE THE ACFT ON 134.62. THIS FREQ WAS STILL VERY POOR FOR MOST ACFT; AND IT TOOK SEVERAL XMISSIONS TO ISSUE CLRNCS. THESE FREQS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN UP NUMEROUS TIMES. TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES WITH THESE FREQS AND IF THEY ARE NOT RESOLVED AS THEY HAVE WORSENED; THIS COULD RESULT IN A FATAL SITUATION.

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.