Safety

Benoît DUVAL
Safety Enhancement Manager
Aircraft Architecture and Integration

Transient Loss
of Communication
due to Jammed
Push-To-Talk
A320 and A330/A340 Families
2. Transmitting
1. Introduction with Vhf or Hf
At the end of 2011, the crew of a In order to transmit on VHF or HF devices: side stick radio selec-
cruising A320 was unable to transmit radio, the flight crew uses one of tor, hand mike PTT, or INT/RAD
on any radio, but reported that it was the Audio Control Panels (ACP) switch on the ACP (fig.2).
still possible to receive ATC com- (fig.1).
munications. A few months before, SELCAL CALL
on another A320, the crew reported
after landing that it was not possible Figure 1 TRANSMISSION
Audio Control Panel KEYS
to contact the tower via either VHF (ACP)
CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL MECH ATT
VHF1 VHF2 VHF3 HF1 HF2 INT CAB
system. Investigations attributed both RECEPTION KNOBS
events to Push-To-Talk (PTT) selec- VOICE PASSENGER
tors jammed in the transmit position. FILTER V INT R ADDRESS
O E
I
I M S FUNCTION
INT/RAD L K
As illustrated by these examples, C
E S R
CALL CALL E
T
SWITCH RAD SELCAL/CALL
jammed PTT selectors generate 1 VOR 2 1 ADF 2 1 SAT 2 PA RESET KEY
events of transient loss of commu-
nication with ATC every year. RECEPTION
KNOBS
This kind of failure might be dif-
ficult to identify for the crew, and
might lead to the feeling that all In the normal configuration, three
ACP are available. They are lo-
3. Impacts
communications have been lost
with ATC. In reality, a correct iden- cated on the Captain side (ACP1), of a Jammed
tification of the situation and the im- on the F/O side (ACP2), and on
the overhead panel (ACP3). The
Push-To-Talk
plementation of a few simple steps
will, in most cases, allow the crew ACP3 allows reconfiguration in 3.1 vhf
to recover full communications. case of failure of ACP1 or ACP2. When a Push-To-Talk device is
This article will outline the effects jammed in the transmit position,
of a jammed PTT and will explain Initially, the pilot has to press one the VHF transceiver transmits
how to restore communications. It of the ACP transmission keys in continuously as soon as it is se-
will also describe a new ECAM order to select a VHF or HF trans- lected, and no reception is possi-
caution and procedure that will be ceiver. Then, in order to actually ble on the tuned frequency.
introduced in the next Flight Warning transmit on the selected radio, In order to limit such a continuous
Computer (FWC) standards. he uses one of the Push-To-Talk and unintentional transmission

Safety first #14 June 2012 - 1/5

that could disturb the ATC fre- Figure 2 Side Stick Hand INT/RAD switch on Figure 3
Push-To-Talk Audio Switching
Transient
quency, an internal Loss
protection is of Com devicesdue to jammed PTT - Draft 04
radio Selector Mike Audio Control Panel
rotary switch
implemented inside each VHF,
limiting theTransient
transmissionLoss
time of Com due to jammed PTT - Draft 04 INT AUDIO

Figure
to 35s. After 30s of4transmis-
– FCOM Volume 3 – Abnormal NEUTRAL and Emergency (3.02.23)
CAPT
ON 3
NORM
F/O
ON 3
sion, the crew is warned of this Radio

imminent Figure
automatic 4transmis-
– FCOM Volume 3 – Abnormal and Emergency RAD (3.02.23)
sion cut-off through an inter-
rupted tone that sounds for 5 Single Aisle Family
seconds (5 audio “beeps”, one
per second). Single Aisle Family
In normal operation, on hearing
the 5 audio “beeps” the crew has
to release and press again the PTT
selector/button to continue the
transmission. But if the Push-To-
Talk device is jammed the trans-
mission may not be resumed on
the selected radio, which will be
limited to reception only. In this
case, an ECAM COM VHF (1 or
2 or 3) EMITTING caution is also
triggered after 60s.
Figure 4
A320 Family FCOM information associated to the A330/A340
3.2 HF COM VHF/HF EMITTING caution
There is no automatic transmis- A330/A340
sion cut-off after 35s on the
HF transceivers, but an ECAM
COM HF (1 or 2) EMITTING
caution is triggered as well if
the HF transmission duration
exceeds 60s.

4. VHF/HF
Communication
Recovery In Case Figure 5
A330/A340 FCOM information associated to the
of a Jammed COMconfidentiel.
© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. Tous droits réservés. Document VHF/HF EMITTING caution
4.2 Recovery
Push-To-Talk© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. Tous droits réservés. Document confidentiel.
The way to handle the situation
4.1 Typical scenario in this case, is to first check the
Consider, for example, an attempt If the crew tries to select another PTT transmission selector and
of VHF1 communication with a VHF on the same ACP, for example try to release it. Then, if this does
side-stick PTT jammed on the VHF2, the same scenario will occur not work, isolate the jammed PTT
Capt side. As soon as the VHF1 as the side-stick PTT is still jammed: and the associated Audio Control
transmission key is selected on the the VHF2 will be automatically in- Panel by deselecting all the VHF
Audio Control Panel located on the terrupted after 35s and the COM transmission keys on the ACP1. It
Capt side (ACP1), a continuous VHF2 EMITTING alert will trigger is then possible to use the ACP2
VHF1 transmission is initiated. 25s later. and the associated PTT devices,
Selection of “CAPT ON 3” by on the F/O side, to establish a
The VHF1 transmission will be
automatically interrupted after means of the Audio Switching rotary new VHF transmission.
35s (VHF internal protection). switch (fig. 3), to use the ACP3 (over- Such a procedure is available to-
25s later, the Flight Warning head panel) on the Captain side, will day in the FCOM, as expanded
System (FWS) will trigger the not solve the problem as the jammed information associated to the
ECAM COM VHF1 EMITTING PTT will request a permanent trans- COM VHF/HF EMITTING cau-
caution. mission through the ACP3. tion (fig.4 & 5).

Safety first #14 June 2012 - 2/5

 Safety
Transient Loss of Com due to jammed PTT - Draft 04
Transient Loss of Com due to jammed PTT - Draft 04
Figure 5 – New Ecam caution with associated procedure in case of PTT stuck
Figure 5 – New Ecam caution with associated procedure in case of PTT stuck

Configuration : one PTT jammed, VHF1

Configuration and
transmission, : oneAudioPTT jammed,
SwitchingVHF1 rotary switch
transmission,
on NORMAL position. and Audio Switching rotary switch
COM SINGLE PTT STUCK on NORMAL position.
COM SINGLE
- ACP1 PTT STUCK
VHF1 TX..DESELECT Configuration: one PTT jammed, VHF1 transmission, and
1st part of the procedure : identification of the
- ACP1
.IFVHF1 TX..DESELECT
UNSUCCESSFUL: 1 partSwitching
Audio
st of rotary switch
the procedure on NORMAL position.
: identification of the
affected side
.IFVHF1
- ACP2 UNSUCCESSFUL:
TX..DESELECT affected side
These 5 procedures lines disappear as
1 part of the procedure: identification of the affected
st soon as side
- ACP2 VHF1 TX..DESELECT
.IF UNSUCCESSFUL: These
the 5 procedures
VHF1 lines disappear as soon as
.IF UNSUCCESSFUL: These 5 transmission
procedure lineskey has been
disappear as soon as the VHF1
- ACP3 VHF1 TX..DESELECT the VHF1 transmission
deselected
transmission onkey the beenkey
hasaffected has (the
side
deselectedbeenonside where side (the
the affected
- ACP3 VHF1 TX..DESELECT deselected
the
side PTT on PTT
is jammed).
where the the affected
is jammed). side (the side where
the
ForPTT
For is jammed).
example,
example, ifif the
theF/OF/Oside
sidestick
stick
PTTPTT is
is jammed, these lines
For
willexample,
jammed, theseifaslines
disappear the
soonF/Oas side
will sticktransmission
disappear
the VHF1 PTT is
as soon as
key has been
jammed,
the VHF1these
deselected lines
transmission
on the ACP2.willkey
disappear
y has been as soon as
the VHF1 transmission
deselected on the ACP2. key y has been
deselected on the ACP2.

COM SINGLE PTT STUCK 2nd part of the procedure : reconfiguration on the
COM SINGLE
- AUDIO PTT STUCK
SWTG...DO NOT USE 2nd part
other of the procedure : reconfiguration on the
side
- AUDIO
.ONSWTG...DO
AFFECTEDNOT ACP:USE other
Once side
nd the VHF1 has been deselected on all
2 part of the procedure: reconfiguration on the other side
- ALL .ON AFFECTED ACP: Once the
ACPs, VHF1
theVHF1 has been deselected
procedure ontoallnot
TX KEYS.DO NOT USE Once the has beenrequests theoncrew
deselected all ACPs, the procedure
- ALL .ON
TX KEYS.DO ACPs,
use thethe procedure
audio switching,requests
nor anythe crew to not
transmission
OTHER ACP: USE
NOT requests the crew to not use the audio switching, nor any trans-
.ON OTHER ACP: use
keys the
on audio
mission the onswitching,
keysaffected ACP.nor
the affected any
Then,
ACP. transmission
thethe
Then, procedure
procedure requests
- VHF1 TX....RESELECT keys
- VHF1 TX....RESELECT to reselect the VHF1 transmission keythe
on
requests the
to affected
reselect ACP.
the Then,
VHF1 on procedure
transmission
the otherkey
ACP.
requests
on to reselect
the other ACP. the VHF1 transmission key
on the other ACP.

Figure 6
New ECAM COM SINGLE PTT STUCK caution with associated procedure

5. New Ecam
© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. Tous droits réservés. Document confidentiel. triggered simultaneously with the
audio “beeps”, i.e. 30s after the
PTT is detected continuously acti-
Caution and vated during 180s.
© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. Tous droits réservés. Document confidentiel.

start of the transmission, to rein-

Procedure in Case force the awareness that the trans-
mission will be cut-off.
note
of a Jammed As for the VHF associated alert, the

Push-To-Talk note COM HF (1 or 2) EMITTING caution

The introduction of the COM SINGLE (level 2) will likewise be downgraded
5.1 VHF PTT STUCK caution will lead to the to a level 1 caution.
To assist the crew to recover cor- downgrading of the COM VHF 1 (2)
rect communication in case of a (3) EMITTING alert from a level 2 to a The differences between the pre-
jammed PTT, a new amber COM level 1 caution, which implies that sent and future ECAM definitions
SINGLE PTT STUCK caution there will be no associated Single for the HF transceivers are summa-
has been developed. This alert will Chime nor Master Caution light. rized in fig. 8.
trigger when a PTT is detected
continuously activated during 40s The differences between the pre-
and will provide a new procedure sent and future ECAM definitions 5.3 Calender
to guide the crew through the two for the VHF radios are summarized On the A320 Family, these im-
following steps : in fig. 7. provements will be implemented
q Identification of the side affec- on the Flight Warning Computer
ted by the jammed Push-To-Talk. (FWC) H2-F7 standard (availabil-
5.2 HF
q Reconfiguration on the non ity planned in December 2012).
affected side. The COM SINGLE PTT STUCK
caution described above will trig- On the A330/A340, these improve-
An illustration of this procedure for ger as well for HF communication. ments will be implemented on
a jammed PTT using a VHF1 radio The only difference will lie in the the FWC T5 standard (planned in
is given in fig. 6. delay of activation: to take into ac- January 2013) for the A330 and
In association with the introduction count the longer average length of A340-500/600, and from the L13
of this new alert, the COM VHF messages of HF transmissions, the standard (planned in August 2013)
1 (2) (3) EMITTING alert will be caution will trigger only when a for the A340-200/300.

Safety first #14 June 2012 - 3/5

 Transient Loss of Com due to jammed PTT - Draft 04

Figure 6 - Former and New Ecam definition in case of PTT stuck (example for VHF1)
Figure 7
Current and future VHF Transmission mode selected Side stick PTT or
ACP Arinc discrete PTT
ECAM definition in or ACP INT/RAD PTT Hand mike PTT
case of PTT stuck
(example for VHF1)
AMU
The AMU (Audio Management
VHF transmission mode selected Unit) collects the microphone
AND inputs of the various crew
PTT activated stations and directs them to
the communication system

Former Definition New Definition

System status Cockpit effects System status Cockpit effects

VHF1 VHF1
5 “beeps” (5s) then 5 “beeps” (5s) then
 timer 30s VHF1 emission cut-off  timer 30s VHF1 emission cut-off

Key event discrete

ECAM level 1 caution
COM VHF1 EMITTING
FWS FWS

 timer 30s
ECAM level 2 caution
 timer 60s ECAM level 2 caution  timer 40s COM SINGLE PTT
COM VHF1 EMITTING STUCK
Transient Loss of Com due to jammed PTT - Draft 04 + associated
procedure

Figure 7 - Former and New Ecam definition in case of PTT stuck (example for HF1)

HF Transmission mode selected or

© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. Tous droits réservés. Document confidentiel. ACP Arinc discrete PTT Side stick PTT or
Figure 8 ACP INT/RAD PTT Hand mike PTT
Current and future
ECAM definition in AMU
case of PTT stuck The AMU (Audio Management
(example for HF1) HF transmission mode selected Unit) collects the microphone
AND inputs of the various crew
PTT activated stations and directs them to
the communication system

Former Definition New Definition

System status Cockpit effects System status Cockpit effects

HF1 HF1

Key event discrete

ECAM level 1 caution
COM HF1 EMITTING
FWS FWS

 timer 60s
ECAM level 2 caution
 timer 60s ECAM level 2 caution  timer 180s COM SINGLE PTT
COM HF1 EMITTING STUCK
+ associated
procedure

6. Conclusion
© AIRBUS Operations S.A.S. Tous droits réservés. Document confidentiel.

On the A320 and A330/A340 families, when a transient loss of VHF communication is experienced in asso-
ciation with the triggering of the alert COM VHF EMITTING, the root cause can almost always be attributed
to a jammed PTT device.
In this case, it is necessary to isolate the jammed Push-To-Talk device by deselecting all the transmission
keys of the Audio Control Panel on the affected side, then to use a Push-To-Talk device and Audio Control
Panel on the other side to recover the transmission.
A new ECAM COM SINGLE PTT STUCK caution and associated procedure will be introduced in the next
standards of FWC to assist the crew to recover both ways communications.

Safety first #14 June 2012 - 4/5

 Safety

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SafetyEdition July 2012
The Airbus Safety Magazine
Formation of five
CONTENT:
q Thrust Reverser Selection
Means Full-Stop
q Transient Loss of Communication
due to Jammed Push-To-Talk
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