Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 148; Flight Crew Total 2456; Flight Crew Type 2456
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Aircraft
This report is being filed to document current long range HF communication challenges on the X area route system. On Aircraft X; Date; ZZZ1 to ZZZ2; and several others over late December and early January; the ZZZ1 AIRINC HF radio station in use has been overwhelmed at times. The radio operators are doing a good job; but the volume of aircraft trying to use the primary frequency is often excessive. The X area route HF frequency impacted is X (secondary Y). I believe that pre COVID ZZZ1 AIRINC was using two frequency pairs for X area flights to the X Islands (relief by using [frequency] Z and A to avoid saturation). It appears that they have cut back to a single frequency pair for the X area structure.The root problem however is not the AIRINC reduction; but rather the failure of Company Airlines to properly equip the [aircraft X type] fleet for this flying. The [aircraft X type] fleet has delayed installing SATCOM capability for mainland aircraft; and claims by the fleet to equip the [aircraft X type] fleet properly have not materialized. Report filed [month] 2019 documented an excessive delay of 47 minutes in getting critical medical information for an inflight medical emergency. The [aircraft X type] Fleet responded to the report by stating 'We are currently evaluating a solution for the [aircraft X type] fleet. It is currently installed on a [aircraft type] and will be in service in approximately 2-3 weeks. The intent is just as the report indicates; to provide better communications on our [Oceanic] routes.' Yet here we are today.As a result of the reduction in demand due to COVID; many airline flights operating to the X Islands are using the [aircraft X type]. All of these [aircraft X type] flights are limited to HF communications unlike the Company [aircraft X type] aircraft in [US territory] that have been using SATCOM; CPDLC and ADS for over X years. Operators like Airline Y; Airline Z and even Airline A are a few of the airlines currently using SATCOM and CPDLC. Company [aircraft X type] flights are often getting updated flight safety information relayed from these other aircraft as we do not have timely access to updated weather and turbulence information.
Air carrier Captain reported problems associated with the HF equipment on specific oceanic flights.