Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Aircraft
During flight; we asked for; and received from ATL Center; direct MOL. Following a frequency change; we were recleared via our original routing. The comment from the new sector controller was I can't have you over MOL. As we were reprogramming the FMS; the FMS failed. I selected HDG and had the FO contact ATL Center telling them of the FMS failure. The first thing they asked was what our new equipment code was. I told them that was not one of my primary concerns at the moment. Then we were asked if we could continue on the PAATS2 arrival. We answered negative. Then we were switched to Washington Center and they were advised of the problem. We contacted Washington Center and they were aware of the problem. The first Washington Center controller asked if we could go direct PXT and the DUPONT FIVE arrival. We accepted it. We dialed it in but didn't receive it. We were switched to another controller and were assigned a heading until receiving PXT. We never received it. We did receive another signal and could pick up some Morse code but couldn't hear it clearly. I elected to begin the turn. Stopped the turn and our controller turned me to a 100 heading. We were asked; again; if we were receiving PXT and we said negative. We were switched to another controller. I had the FO dial in SWL (112.4) and he did receive that. When we checked in with the third Washington Center controller; we asked if PXT was off the air. This controller said PXT was off the air. We then asked if we could intercept the ENO 226 radial inbound and pick up the DUPONT FIVE at HEDGE. Eventually; that's what we did and flew the remainder of the arrival and landed on 27L.Detection was immediate and very clear due to the FMS failure. I do wonder why two different controllers tried to clear us to PXT when it wasn't usable.
Air carrier Captain reported ZDC controllers tried to clear them with a failed FMS to a VORTAC (PXT) that was out of service.