Narrative:

This aircraft had continuous static interference noise on both radios when flying in clouds at high altitude while using the radar to avoid thunderstorms. The static was present whether the radar was on or off. The static was loud enough to drown out almost all ATC communications. Dispatch was notified and an early maintenance alert was made. The airplane was grounded for repairs on arrival. I understand that some static wicks and flap track canoe fairing bonding straps were replaced. The VHF antenna were also checked. I was assigned to reposition the aircraft empty back to a maintenance base later in the day. On the reposition flight we had the same static issue as before while flying in cloud avoiding thunderstorms with radar; except that the static happened only when a radio transition was made either by ATC or another aircraft; where before the static was continuous when flying in clouds. As before; radar on or off made no difference. On both days ATC reported that our radio transmissions were ok. Another maintenance early alert was made for this static issue. The static also appeared to be kicking the ACARS in and out of standby. An additional early alert maintenance write-up was made for the ACARS as well. This is not the first time I have encountered this type of static problem on the airbus A320. It is very disconcerting situation as it will usually only make itself apparent during thunderstorm season when we encounter clouds with higher static electricity. Going around thunderstorms at night in the clouds is not the time to find out that you can't communicate with ATC due to radio static. I would like to know how often the static wicks and binding straps are checked by maintenance. The pilots do a visual check that they are in position on the walk around but I understand that there are additional checks for proper grounding and connections that maintenance performs? I would like to know how often the static wicks and binding straps are checked by maintenance. The pilots do a visual check that they are in position on the walk around but I understand that there are additional checks for proper grounding and connections that maintenance performs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A320 had VHF radio static so loud it blocked ATC communications when the aircraft was flying in clouds and avoiding thunderstorms.

Narrative: This aircraft had continuous static interference noise on both radios when flying in clouds at high altitude while using the radar to avoid thunderstorms. The static was present whether the radar was on or off. The static was loud enough to drown out almost all ATC communications. Dispatch was notified and an early maintenance alert was made. The airplane was grounded for repairs on arrival. I understand that some static wicks and flap track canoe fairing bonding straps were replaced. The VHF antenna were also checked. I was assigned to reposition the aircraft empty back to a maintenance base later in the day. On the reposition flight we had the same static issue as before while flying in cloud avoiding thunderstorms with radar; except that the static happened only when a radio transition was made either by ATC or another aircraft; where before the static was continuous when flying in clouds. As before; radar on or off made no difference. On both days ATC reported that our radio transmissions were OK. Another maintenance early alert was made for this static issue. The static also appeared to be kicking the ACARS in and out of standby. An additional early alert maintenance write-up was made for the ACARS as well. This is not the first time I have encountered this type of static problem on the Airbus A320. It is very disconcerting situation as it will usually only make itself apparent during thunderstorm season when we encounter clouds with higher static electricity. Going around thunderstorms at night in the clouds is not the time to find out that you can't communicate with ATC due to radio static. I would like to know how often the static wicks and binding straps are checked by maintenance. The pilots do a visual check that they are in position on the walk around but I understand that there are additional checks for proper grounding and connections that maintenance performs? I would like to know how often the static wicks and binding straps are checked by maintenance. The pilots do a visual check that they are in position on the walk around but I understand that there are additional checks for proper grounding and connections that maintenance performs.

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.