Stratolifter (C-135 / 717)
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
Night interfacility flight: Aircraft was just procured as a spare the previous day. Unfortunately; the radio was not programmed for our area; unable to obtain required cable needed for programming. As a workaround we were to talk to our communicators on the portable using an adapter. I was told by those familiar with said workaround that I would be able to hear the person transmit and then hear the reply. After startup the flight plan was given by the flight medic and I realized I could not hear him or the reply. I was already skeptical of the process but when this occurred I made it clear that it was not adequate; the flight nurse in the back said he really didn't like it-- made decision to abortAircraft came with a full load of equipment but not included was a cable which is used to program the radio- this is a spare aircraft so should be the most important piece of equipment included. Also; there was no effort program our aircraft with our usual Dispatcher; Flightwatch. So we could not talk to our Dispatcher and they could not track us. Workaround was to use portables to plug into the aircraft. We had no operating frequency for Aircom; our other Dispatcher; they could track us. Before the aborted flight Aircom had called and advised me that due to the problem that they would not be dispatching us. When we finally did get a flight assigned to us I could not get a risk approval because each agency thought the other was going to do it. Bottom line: all of this could have been avoided if the cable was included in the Aircraft. Mechanic says he has called around and can't find one. Also; it is important to have the Aircraft programmed into our area's sky connect so they can track us.
ECD-EC135 pilot reported canceling mission due to communication cable missing and unable to make workaround operable.