A300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Troubleshooting; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Procedure; Aircraft; Weather
During cruise flight at FL360 there was a line of thunderstorms ahead and to our left about 100 miles ahead of us. ATC even advised of us the weather. We asked for and received clearance to deviate right (east) of the line of weather. At this point we were VMC. At some point we entered IMC conditions. We were not in any rain or precipitation; had a nice smooth ride. The radios both comm 1 and comm 2 both began to squeal and have very loud static. At this point we could not communicate to ATC or hear ATC. We tried both comm one and comm two. We were able to relay a couple of messages thru another plane on guard frequency; which included a frequency change. The new frequency gave us a descent and we could communicate reliably at this point; the static and squeal remained however. It has been years ago since I have had something similar to this. The Airbus had a tendency to have scratchy radios if you were in moisture. I suspect some static dischargers (static wicks) are not bonded properly or blown out. Regularly checking the static dischargers.
A300 Captain reported severe VHF radio static at FL360 in the vicinity of thunderstorms while IMC. ATC relayed the flight a new frequency through guard to clear communications.