Narrative:

While VFR south of albuquerque near socorro, NM, I attempted to call ZAB for flight following through the area (I was planning on landing at 4AC north of ZAB). At about XA50 pm I called, waited, got no response. Tried again every few mins, finally becoming convinced I was being deliberately ignored. (Aside: I don't mind when they are 'too busy,' or 'unable' or whatever to provide flight following, or even 'aircraft calling, you are unintelligible' or anything, just the courtesy of some response.) after the better part of 10 mins I became frustrated with what seemed like rudeness, and came to the realization that, in well over a 1000 hours of flight with ATC, I could only remember a similar situation once, it was at albuquerque, and probably the same voice (last october). (Since as I recall I was the only GA aircraft on frequency smaller than a learjet, I couldn't help but wonder if some 'selective hearing' was in effect). I asked for a radio check on frequency (loud and clear), only when I made a note of the time and said on frequency 'I can take a hint' did I hear the expected 'someone calling? You're very broken.' for the first time in my flying career, I called ATC when I landed and asked to speak to the shift supervisor. (I wondered what the tape sounded like). They eventually called me back after listening to the tape and talking to the controller on duty. I indicated I did not want to file a complaint, but did want the word passed. Now satisfied, I figure this form hopefully completes the paperwork.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA IGNORED BY ZAB FOR FLT FOLLOWING.

Narrative: WHILE VFR S OF ALBUQUERQUE NEAR SOCORRO, NM, I ATTEMPTED TO CALL ZAB FOR FLT FOLLOWING THROUGH THE AREA (I WAS PLANNING ON LNDG AT 4AC N OF ZAB). AT ABOUT XA50 PM I CALLED, WAITED, GOT NO RESPONSE. TRIED AGAIN EVERY FEW MINS, FINALLY BECOMING CONVINCED I WAS BEING DELIBERATELY IGNORED. (ASIDE: I DON'T MIND WHEN THEY ARE 'TOO BUSY,' OR 'UNABLE' OR WHATEVER TO PROVIDE FLT FOLLOWING, OR EVEN 'ACFT CALLING, YOU ARE UNINTELLIGIBLE' OR ANYTHING, JUST THE COURTESY OF SOME RESPONSE.) AFTER THE BETTER PART OF 10 MINS I BECAME FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT SEEMED LIKE RUDENESS, AND CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT, IN WELL OVER A 1000 HRS OF FLT WITH ATC, I COULD ONLY REMEMBER A SIMILAR SIT ONCE, IT WAS AT ALBUQUERQUE, AND PROBABLY THE SAME VOICE (LAST OCTOBER). (SINCE AS I RECALL I WAS THE ONLY GA ACFT ON FREQ SMALLER THAN A LEARJET, I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF SOME 'SELECTIVE HEARING' WAS IN EFFECT). I ASKED FOR A RADIO CHK ON FREQ (LOUD AND CLR), ONLY WHEN I MADE A NOTE OF THE TIME AND SAID ON FREQ 'I CAN TAKE A HINT' DID I HEAR THE EXPECTED 'SOMEONE CALLING? YOU'RE VERY BROKEN.' FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY FLYING CAREER, I CALLED ATC WHEN I LANDED AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SHIFT SUPVR. (I WONDERED WHAT THE TAPE SOUNDED LIKE). THEY EVENTUALLY CALLED ME BACK AFTER LISTENING TO THE TAPE AND TALKING TO THE CTLR ON DUTY. I INDICATED I DID NOT WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT, BUT DID WANT THE WORD PASSED. NOW SATISFIED, I FIGURE THIS FORM HOPEFULLY COMPLETES THE PAPERWORK.

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.