EMB ERJ 135 ER/LR
Flight Crew Commercial
Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On departure we received unbearable static briefly over our communication radios; which soon dissipated. We consulted manuals; switched to alternate radios and tried to determine source but were unable to determine the problem's source. The noise then returned even louder; affecting communications in the cockpit. Fearing that we might lose communication all together; we advised ATC that we were electing to return to the field and of the possibility of lost communication while doing so. All other systems and indications were normal so we did not declare an emergency.We were later advised by Maintenance that the situation has happened before - where ground personnel plug in underneath the aircraft and sometimes on disconnect pieces break off in side the panel. Ground personnel should carefully disconnect and or inspect headsets prior to releasing the aircraft from guidance.
Intermittent static on the communication radios caused the flight crew of a commuter jet to return to their departure airport for maintenance.