Narrative:

I (PF) was off #1 communication on #2. PNF wished to communicate on #2 and without establishing my return to #1 she started transmitting on #2 and switched off #2. Naturally, exactly at that time, ATC called traffic to us and for 1 min we did not respond. When I realized we were off (both of us) I switched on in time to hear center calling. I responded to center and he said that he was calling us in reference to traffic, but that he had already turned. He (center) also wondered why he couldn't reach us for a min or so. Pilots should always be cognizant of who is monitoring a certain assigned frequency and who is not. Crew coordination demands that crew members remain vigilant during assigned duties, particularly when monitoring an ATC frequency. A simple way to accomplish this is a healthy mix of common sense and the ability to follow company guidelines for this purpose.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLT LOST COM WITH CENTER AT MOMENT CENTER TRIED TO GIVE TA.

Narrative: I (PF) WAS OFF #1 COM ON #2. PNF WISHED TO COMMUNICATE ON #2 AND WITHOUT ESTABLISHING MY RETURN TO #1 SHE STARTED XMITTING ON #2 AND SWITCHED OFF #2. NATURALLY, EXACTLY AT THAT TIME, ATC CALLED TFC TO US AND FOR 1 MIN WE DID NOT RESPOND. WHEN I REALIZED WE WERE OFF (BOTH OF US) I SWITCHED ON IN TIME TO HEAR CENTER CALLING. I RESPONDED TO CENTER AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS CALLING US IN REF TO TFC, BUT THAT HE HAD ALREADY TURNED. HE (CENTER) ALSO WONDERED WHY HE COULDN'T REACH US FOR A MIN OR SO. PLTS SHOULD ALWAYS BE COGNIZANT OF WHO IS MONITORING A CERTAIN ASSIGNED FREQ AND WHO IS NOT. CREW COORD DEMANDS THAT CREW MEMBERS REMAIN VIGILANT DURING ASSIGNED DUTIES, PARTICULARLY WHEN MONITORING AN ATC FREQ. A SIMPLE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IS A HEALTHY MIX OF COMMON SENSE AND THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW COMPANY GUIDELINES FOR THIS PURPOSE.

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.