Mem controller described an arrival aircraft frequency problem that complicated a combined position ...

Attributes
ACN	809241
Time
Date	200810
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : gqe3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 6.5 controller radar : 13 controller time certified in position1 : 5.8
ASRS Report	809241
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was working both east and west arrival position when air carrier X called inbound from the northwest on the GQE3 arrival. I assigned air carrier X runway 18L and asked if they had ATIS information. Air carrier X responded that my transmission was broken. I attempted to make my initial transmission again; and air carrier X responded again that my transmission was broken. I had 4 other arrs inbound for mem and 2 aircraft inbound for a satellite airport (olv) and another aircraft trying to check in off another satellite airport (awm) and a VFR overflt. I went to clean up some of that traffic; but each time I transmitted to another aircraft; air carrier X responded that my xmissions were broken. My aircraft were split among 2 different frequencys; so some of the readbacks were stepped on; and others were difficult to hear because of air carrier X. Finally; air carrier X's xmissions caused enough of a disturbance that I asked the supervisor to split the arrs and get me some help. By the end of the briefing to the other controller taking the other arrival; air carrier X had figured out that it was their radio causing the problem and they had fixed the problem. I understand that equipment problems will happen; but pilots need to realize that they are likely not the only aircraft on a given frequency. Air carrier X's attempts to establish communication without any regard for other aircraft made my traffic situation much more difficult than it needed to be.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM CONTROLLER DESCRIBED AN ARRIVAL AIRCRAFT FREQUENCY PROBLEM THAT COMPLICATED A COMBINED POSITION OPERATION WHEN A FLIGHT CREW MADE REPEATED CALLS TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING BOTH E AND W ARR POS WHEN ACR X CALLED INBOUND FROM THE NW ON THE GQE3 ARR. I ASSIGNED ACR X RWY 18L AND ASKED IF THEY HAD ATIS INFO. ACR X RESPONDED THAT MY XMISSION WAS BROKEN. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE MY INITIAL XMISSION AGAIN; AND ACR X RESPONDED AGAIN THAT MY XMISSION WAS BROKEN. I HAD 4 OTHER ARRS INBOUND FOR MEM AND 2 ACFT INBOUND FOR A SATELLITE ARPT (OLV) AND ANOTHER ACFT TRYING TO CHK IN OFF ANOTHER SATELLITE ARPT (AWM) AND A VFR OVERFLT. I WENT TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THAT TFC; BUT EACH TIME I XMITTED TO ANOTHER ACFT; ACR X RESPONDED THAT MY XMISSIONS WERE BROKEN. MY ACFT WERE SPLIT AMONG 2 DIFFERENT FREQS; SO SOME OF THE READBACKS WERE STEPPED ON; AND OTHERS WERE DIFFICULT TO HEAR BECAUSE OF ACR X. FINALLY; ACR X'S XMISSIONS CAUSED ENOUGH OF A DISTURBANCE THAT I ASKED THE SUPVR TO SPLIT THE ARRS AND GET ME SOME HELP. BY THE END OF THE BRIEFING TO THE OTHER CTLR TAKING THE OTHER ARR; ACR X HAD FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS THEIR RADIO CAUSING THE PROB AND THEY HAD FIXED THE PROB. I UNDERSTAND THAT EQUIP PROBS WILL HAPPEN; BUT PLTS NEED TO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE LIKELY NOT THE ONLY ACFT ON A GIVEN FREQ. ACR X'S ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH COM WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR OTHER ACFT MADE MY TFC SITUATION MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT NEEDED TO BE.

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.

Mem controller described an arrival aircraft frequency problem that complicated a combined position operation when a flight crew made repeated calls to establish communications.