Originally Posted by
atldc9
I've got to say, I've been based in ATL for 13 years, and am in and out of there a couple legs a day, 3 days a week. I've never once experienced what you guys are discussing.
Are you sure you had the monitor frequency dialed in and not another tower frequency? There are 5 tower frequencies in ATL, 2 on the north, 2 on the middle, and 1 on 28. There are also separate Monitor freq's for the PRM approaches.
Definitely had the correct frequencies, as that's one of the first things we checked when we started hearing it.
My best guess as to what it is:
You know how a controller can broadcast on more than one frequency at once. I don't have first hand knowledge, but I'm guessing it's just a series of buttons that they push. ...i.e. I'm going to broadcast on this frequency, and this one, aaannnnddd this one. Pushing the respective button for each freq that they want.
Well what if someone working say 123.85 (basically 27R takeoff and crossing traffic for those unfamiliar), had a couple or even a few freqs active, including one or more of the monitor freqs. No biggie, they're not doing PRMs, and maybe that guy likes to broadcast on as many freqs as possible just in case someone green to ATL is on the wrong tower freq., they'll still hear him.
OK, now they switch to PRMs, and the guy forgets to de-select the monitor freqs. Would explain why sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't.
Just a theory, I'm sure it's got some holes.