FAA radio outage halts flights in West

[kg4kww]

<span style='color:red'><span style='font-size:15pt;line-height:100%'>FAA radio outage halts flights in West</span></span>

Click below to go to CNN for the story.

FAA radio outage halts flights in West (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/09/14/lax.stoppage/index.html)

How can Hams assist the FAA when something like this happens or can we?

Post your 2 cents

[KC7UP]

As an excontroller of 30 yrs I don't see how hams can in the real world as the frequencies at protected, you must have postive identification of source, be famaliar with procedures and protocols.
Curt

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ Sep. 14 2004,23:36)]How can Hams assist the FAA when something like this happens or can we?

Post your 2 cents
Basically, I would urge every trained ARES/ECOMM within the ARS to STFU.


I don't want WA5KRP or any other big fat white guy with an HT helping some poor bastard flying a fully loaded 737 find his final approach to a SAT, LAX, DFW, or KMA terminal.



WA5KRP
Texas

[k9kjm]

Amateur operators (And SWL & scanner listeners)
might be able to help by listening to the bands and reporting via email or landline any interference signals
heard, Along with directions from the listening station to
help authorities locate any interference sources.
They dont seem to indicate what caused the problem
in this instance, But deliberate interference issues can
be located by those who listen and report what they hear.
As mentioned, NO transmitting should be done on any non authorized band. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[kg6saj]

Three cents worth okay?

First - 'can hams assist'? A very simple no. Does anyone think that they don't have back-up procedures already in place?

Second - (kjm) The article says nothing about interferring signals.

Third - I was scrolling down through the article to see if there was a reference to old or outdated radio equipment. No mention of it, but something does catch my eye.
"...travelers were evacuated from four terminals for three hours after two incidents -- in one a flashlight battery exploded, in the other a man ran past security officers."
Exploding flashlight battery ?? How weird is that?

73, Tim

[kf4lne]

If the system were to go down and hams were to provide backup comms, whats to stop Joe Terrorist or for that matter some twisted kid from stopping by Radio Shack and directing planes into each other while hams are providing back up comms? Its not hard to find a scanner that will listen to ATC and anyone who can listen to ATC and then listen to hams doing backup comms for ATC can figure out what to say to sound convincing, and if you are told to adjust course by X amount and another plane on another freqency is told to adjust course by X amount by someone who has all the correct ID and terminiology and sounds like they know what they are doing, whats to say those pilots are going to see the error in time to avoid a collision or something? It is much easier to get my 2M gear than it would be to get a aircraft radio, so the hard to find goodies already provide a certian level of security that the average ham band cant.

[W5HTW]

We already have wannabe cops and firemen "helping" society with their beltfull of HTs. If they ever get involved in commercial aviation radio, I hope all flights get grounded until ham radio dies a natural death.

How can hams help? By staying the hell away, that's how. By forgetting about it and going to find a new light bar for their car. Or sitting at the coffee klatch and adding another HT to the belt. Or drinking another beer and going and taking a nap till it's over.

Ed

[K4JSR]

I quit flying years ago. My arms got tired!
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

The best plan for any ham is to stay out of
the way, unless assistance is requested.
When the authorities are up past their arm
pits in problems, the least welcome sight is
some jerk screaming, "I can help you" and
waving a talkie in their faces.

73, Cal K4JSR EC Barrow County, Ga.

[K7JBQ]

We can help by wondering out loud why -- assuming they had redundant systems out the yingyang -- it took 4 hours to get back on the air.

73,
Bill

[kg4kww]

Guys, you all are right to a degree but, the thing that you missed is who or what caused the proble and why.
As KF4LNE put it, Could Joe Terrorist be the cause? I don't know but, it makes me a little nervious about flying until the problem is fixed.

How about you?

What if your plane was going down for the count and a busty blonde setting next to you needed comfort, would you be able to hold her in your arms and give her what she wants?

[ai4ep]

---and you folks BELIEVE everything that you read ? ---

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ Sep. 15 2004,11:45)]Guys, you all are right to a degree but, the thing that you missed is who #or what caused the proble and why.
Believe it or not (it did come from CBS), i just read where the FAA has blamed it on a failure to do routine maintenance on the system.

Quote[/b] ]The FAA said Wednesday that workers failed to perform a regular 30-day maintenance check on the radio system. Officials said if the system is not checked, it turns off automatically.

I've heard a few other reports that mention a "computer problem" without going into any detail. #I'm sure we'll hear more on it in the next few days.

Ok, Reuters is carrying the story now too...

Maintenance Lapse (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=6248582)

73
Chuck

[W7DJM]

"""The FAA said Wednesday that workers failed to perform a regular 30-day maintenance check on the radio system. Officials said if the system is not checked, it turns off automatically."""


I find that "answer" real, real, REAL tough to swallow.



I cannot imagine ANY system of ANY kind that has anything to do with life and safety, that "shuts off automatically."

[ka5s]

Having worked on FAA systems at Fort Hood ("Killeen Center") I have some idea how much trouble a single backhoe operator can create. Seriously now, it would take a lot of planning, and perfect execution, for Amateurs to relieve this kind of outage; we aren't set up for this.

Cortland
KA5S

[kg4kww]

What if your plane was going down for the count and a busty blonde setting next to you needed comfort, would you be able to hold her in your arms and give her what she wants?

Is The Plane Going To Crash? Oh Please Hold Me And Tell Me It Isn't So!!!!!

Ok, It Isn't So!!!!

[W5MEJ]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ Sep. 15 2004,21:20)]What if your plane was going down for the count and a busty blonde setting next to you needed comfort, would you be able to hold her in your arms and give her what she wants?
OK, you got me, KWW. I thought you were posting because you had a legitimate concern about airline safety.

Turns out to be just some kind of juvenile fantasy.

[ai4ep]

she can be in one of my fantasies...but without so much clothing

[KD7WHQ]

Add in that the backup system didn't actuate, and it only gets better.
Heck of a way to run a railroad, and I go by rail if I travel.
You actually see the country that way, as an aside..

[ai4ep]

plus the " rhythm of the tracks " can be great timing for certain situations

[kg4kww]

Look guys I think that the terrorist are trying to see if they can knock out communication systems. This is serious and we need to ask our leaders on thehill, why the flip something lik this could be allowed to happen.

As for the babe I agree with AI4EP.

Later dudes, the babe is calling!!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif