Air carrier large transport experiences loss of communication with ARTCC controller.

Attributes
ACN	156804
Time
Date	199009
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mcb
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j22
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	156804
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	156508
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

In cruise noticed memphis center xmissions breaking up on 134.9. Unable to contact center directly, we relayed via another flight and obtained frequency for houston center. Last contact with memphis center on 134.9 was within 15 mins of relay. Houston center controller was irate and involved. The duty supervisor. Suggest timely and proper handoffs by ATC to avoid recurrence. Initial controller with houston (who was irate) said they had been trying to call us for 80 mi. The duty officer said 270 mi?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT EXPERIENCES LOSS OF COM WITH ARTCC CTLR.

Narrative: IN CRUISE NOTICED MEMPHIS CTR XMISSIONS BREAKING UP ON 134.9. UNABLE TO CONTACT CTR DIRECTLY, WE RELAYED VIA ANOTHER FLT AND OBTAINED FREQ FOR HOUSTON CTR. LAST CONTACT WITH MEMPHIS CTR ON 134.9 WAS WITHIN 15 MINS OF RELAY. HOUSTON CTR CTLR WAS IRATE AND INVOLVED. THE DUTY SUPVR. SUGGEST TIMELY AND PROPER HDOFS BY ATC TO AVOID RECURRENCE. INITIAL CTLR WITH HOUSTON (WHO WAS IRATE) SAID THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO CALL US FOR 80 MI. THE DUTY OFFICER SAID 270 MI?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.