Power lines and a substation just a few of the culprits that interfered with Lubbock's airport ILS. You can now add radio signals to that list.
Mix 100, KLLL, and Rock 101 named in an FCC claim that those radio station frequencies crossing over the ILS signal in February.
Tee Thomas an engineer at Ramar Communications works on radio frequencies like that daily and says it could have been any radio station at fault.
"You know it could have happened to me just as well as it did them. I don't blame anybody, I don't hold anyone it's something that does happen on a routine bases. You just have to be pro-active in resolving issues before it becomes an issue," says Thomas.
Radio towers are sensitive, many different factors could be to blame for the frequency interfering with the ILS.
"What happens is in a point of failure it could be corrosion, it could be moisture, there is a number of things that could create problems. Ice and snow is a variable that is very hard on broadcast stations," says Thomas.
The FCC holds every station accountable for their frequency and here at Ramar it's Thomas's job to maintain and monitor the frequencies making sure they don't interfere.
"Whenever you start adding and subtracting multiple frequencies that's how this happens everybody in town basically has equipment in place to keep this from happening and to try to stay on frequency," says Thomas.
The disruption canceled numerous flights costing the airport thousands. The radio stations have 20 days to draft a detailed report explaining how the problems occurred and what actions they took to resolve the problem before the FCC takes action.
Statement by Randy Neugebauer's Office:
Congressman Neugebauer’s primary goal was to ensure that the City of Lubbock and Preston Smith International Airport had the support they required to restore confidence in their equipment and more importantly continue providing reliable air services to travelers and commercial users in West Texas.
Upon determining that Preston Smith's landing system was functioning properly and that radio signals were causing the problem, the Federal Aviation Administration elected to include the Federal Communications Commission in the investigation in order to pinpoint the origin of these signals.
The Congressman appreciates the efforts of the FAA, working alongside the FCC, to identify and address this problem in order to restore essential services to Lubbock Preston Smith and the surrounding community. In the event that further disruptions persist, Congressman Neugebauer stands ready to assist the airport and the City of Lubbock in engaging with the appropriation federal agencies to find a solution.
