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An elp controller suggested that their handsets operate intermittently and should be replaced.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 918192 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201011 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ELP.Airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Supervisor / CIC Departure Approach |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
Our handsets tend to work intermittently; many times we have to repeat our transmissions two or three times. Then when; or if; that doesn't help we have to use the foot pedal for that position in order for our transmissions to be heard by the pilot. On this occasion I was working a late night shift when air carrier was inbound. After clearing the air carrier for the visual approach I tried switching the aircraft to the tower. After a couple of tries I heard the tower local controller clearing the aircraft to land. I did not realize at this time that the aircraft had been having trouble hearing my transmissions. When the same aircraft departed the local controller switched the aircraft to departure. The aircraft called me I tried to answer but he did not hear me and switched back to the tower. The local controller gave him a different frequency; he switched back and realizing what had happened I utilized the foot pedal to answer the pilot; who heard my transmission. If we could get new handsets this would cure most of these issues.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An ELP Controller suggested that their handsets operate intermittently and should be replaced.
Narrative: Our handsets tend to work intermittently; many times we have to repeat our transmissions two or three times. Then when; or if; that doesn't help we have to use the foot pedal for that position in order for our transmissions to be heard by the pilot. On this occasion I was working a late night shift when Air Carrier was inbound. After clearing the Air Carrier for the visual approach I tried switching the aircraft to the Tower. After a couple of tries I heard the Tower Local Controller clearing the aircraft to land. I did not realize at this time that the aircraft had been having trouble hearing my transmissions. When the same aircraft departed the Local Controller switched the aircraft to departure. The aircraft called me I tried to answer but he did not hear me and switched back to the Tower. The Local Controller gave him a different frequency; he switched back and realizing what had happened I utilized the foot pedal to answer the pilot; who heard my transmission. If we could get new handsets this would cure most of these issues.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.