Narrative:

Radio static severe to the point unable to communicate with ATC for a period of 5-10 mins while in precipitation (green echo returns) as we were deviating north of level 4-5 WX/thunderstorms. The static began immediately after entering precipitation; even though we were at least 40 mi north of the large cells. The static continued until in the clear. We advised ATC that we were receiving heavy static and that we could barely hear their instructions. At one point we heard nothing but static and we asked for another frequency when the static was only moderate. We barely heard him give us 125.57 and when we switched over; the static conditions were the same -- 'moderate to severe' and unable to communicate. We returned to 135.97 and after about 1 min we were able to barely get his xmissions and we asked for the next frequency as a precaution. The airbus has an inherent problem developing on some airplanes with static interference to the point there is loss of ATC communication for lengthy periods while operating in precipitation! Supplemental information from acn 802230: this was a hazardous situation due to the possibility of missing or not understanding a possible important ATC communication. When we were out of the precipitation; the radios worked fine for the rest of the flight to ZZZ. It looked like it was a problem with the radio antennae in the precipitation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 FLT CREW EXPERIENCED HEAVY VHF COM STATIC IN CRUISE FLT NEAR THUNDERSTORMS. THE CAPT STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE AIRBUS FLEET.

Narrative: RADIO STATIC SEVERE TO THE POINT UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ATC FOR A PERIOD OF 5-10 MINS WHILE IN PRECIP (GREEN ECHO RETURNS) AS WE WERE DEVIATING N OF LEVEL 4-5 WX/TSTMS. THE STATIC BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTERING PRECIP; EVEN THOUGH WE WERE AT LEAST 40 MI N OF THE LARGE CELLS. THE STATIC CONTINUED UNTIL IN THE CLR. WE ADVISED ATC THAT WE WERE RECEIVING HVY STATIC AND THAT WE COULD BARELY HEAR THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. AT ONE POINT WE HEARD NOTHING BUT STATIC AND WE ASKED FOR ANOTHER FREQ WHEN THE STATIC WAS ONLY MODERATE. WE BARELY HEARD HIM GIVE US 125.57 AND WHEN WE SWITCHED OVER; THE STATIC CONDITIONS WERE THE SAME -- 'MODERATE TO SEVERE' AND UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE. WE RETURNED TO 135.97 AND AFTER ABOUT 1 MIN WE WERE ABLE TO BARELY GET HIS XMISSIONS AND WE ASKED FOR THE NEXT FREQ AS A PRECAUTION. THE AIRBUS HAS AN INHERENT PROB DEVELOPING ON SOME AIRPLANES WITH STATIC INTERFERENCE TO THE POINT THERE IS LOSS OF ATC COM FOR LENGTHY PERIODS WHILE OPERATING IN PRECIP! SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 802230: THIS WAS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MISSING OR NOT UNDERSTANDING A POSSIBLE IMPORTANT ATC COM. WHEN WE WERE OUT OF THE PRECIP; THE RADIOS WORKED FINE FOR THE REST OF THE FLT TO ZZZ. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A PROB WITH THE RADIO ANTENNAE IN THE PRECIP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.