Orion (P3)
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Aircraft; Procedure
Accepted hand off on a P-3 from sector R3. Workload was becoming heavy during inbound rush from mainland. The P-3 came up on frequency no problems with communications; after clear of traffic climbed him to altitude and observed him level FL270. I then noticed his transponder was becoming intermittent and was getting a primary only. I advised him to recycle transponder and it came up again no problem. This was the last transmission I recall hearing. I tried my back up frequencies as well. I tried getting confirmation that he could hear me using 'ident' however his transponder had become to intermittent as I never once witnessed an 'ident'. Other aircraft relayed for me that he had received the necessary information to transition oceanic and I decided to terminate RADAR with him thru another aircraft and the P-3 accepted the frequency change thru another aircraft. I was becoming very busy and I noticed his target deviate from his flight plan immediately after APACK. I was very busy on the RADAR so I instructed my D-Side to coordinate with the necessary facilities and advised management. Other aircraft began to tell me that the P-3 was trying to call me and thru the other aircraft; I advised the P-3 that I showed him off course and advised them of the routing they should be on. The other aircraft advised that the P-3 copied and I witnessed the aircraft changing their course back toward APACK. I advised the other aircraft to tell them to communicate with ARINC and to change frequencies as I was too busy. I do not know what caused the aircraft to deviate from their course and I did not have time to inquire about it either thru other aircraft or thru ARINC which did have communication with the P-3. Recommendation; military aircraft in general have terrible radios and equipment; especially the P-3s. I recommend new flight standards for military communications and transponder equipment immediately as it has caused many dangerous situations almost daily; or perhaps increased coverage for our own radio transmitters and receivers.
HCF Controller described a loss of communications event with a military aircraft; expressing concern regarding military aircraft and their inoperable communications equipment; many of these aircraft having been in operation for a very long time.