Small Transport
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55; Flight Crew Total 4000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airport; Procedure
For years IFR clearances were available on the ground at SSI by calling JAX center on 126.75. Recently a change was made to the communication equipment so that it is now very difficult to reach JAX on the ground on 126.75. The controllers know this and local pilots like myself are aware. However; there is a significant amount of transient traffic at SSI. They don't know about the current problem. As a result we have some people calling Macon Radio on 122.2; some are calling on their mobile phones; and some larger aircraft from the north end of the field are still able to reach JAX on 126.75. So what we now have is a circus on the ground of pilots taxiing around and calling on 126.75 - usually not heard by JAX; but heard by all the airborne aircraft on the frequency. Other pilots are calling Macon on 122.2 and finally some pilots are on the phone.For instance I was able to get a clearance from JAX [recently in November] on 126.75. I was asked if I was number 1 for the runway. I was at the north end of the field where 126.75 has a chance of working. There were no aircraft between me and the departure end of RWY 4 - so I said yes. By the time I switched to CTAF (123.05) another aircraft coming from an area I could not see had gotten in front of me. They wanted to try to get their clearance and go first. Of course; from where they were; they could not raise JAX on 126.75. So I was able to convince them to pull off onto another taxiway so I could depart before my clearance expired. At best; the loss of this communication link is resulting in a lot of confusion; lost time and conflicts on the ground. At worst an aircraft on final may break out and find an aircraft on the runway. There has already been an instance of an aircraft on the ground getting clearance to depart over the phone; broadcasting their intentions on CTAF and having an aircraft in IMC on relatively short final advise them of their position. Fortunately the landing aircraft was able to broadcast quickly so the departing aircraft held short of the runway. SSI departing IFR aircraft need good direct communication with JAX on 126.75 to manage the flow of departures.
A general aviation pilot reported ongoing communication difficulties with Jacksonville Center on frequency 126.75 while on the ground at the McKinnon St. Simons Airport (SSI). Reporter stated this problem inhibits pilots from obtaining a takeoff clearance in a timely manner.