Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 128.95; Flight Crew Total 4418.93; Flight Crew Type 3074.03
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Crew both inbound to EWR and outbound had to switch off guard frequency (121.5) with distraction of frequent inappropriate transmissions taking place (meowing sounds; political utterances; etc). Transmissions occurred throughout New York airspace. Safety was obviously diminished with the inability of crew to monitor frequency for potential safety related information. Absent switching off frequency; crew was unable to appropriately hear and monitor primary ATC frequencies.
Air Carrier Captain reported inappropriate radio transmissions on guard frequency interfered with their ability to hear ZNY ATC instructions.