Narrative:

I was flying the airplane, on the BDF3 arrival to ord, last cleared to cross benky at 11000 ft, 320 KTS assigned, which I did. Captain was momentarily off frequency talking to operations. As he came back on-line with ATC, we both remarked that we were surprised that the center controller had not issued us further instructions, as we were nearing the end of the arrival over ord. Captain asked their intentions, and it was apparent they had forgotten about us. I was monitoring center the whole time. We were never out of radio contact. Center somewhat confusedly switched us to approach, and we were cleared for a different runway than originally planned. Around 5000 ft we received, late, an ACARS message advising us to contact center on 128.45, which we had earlier done. At no time was there any danger, but we were concerned that the system had apparently dropped synch with us. I do not believe we missed any radio calls. Lesson, inquire earlier if ATC isn't doing what you expect.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE RPTR WAS FLYING THE B767 AS FO. THE CAPT WAS MOMENTARILY OFF ATC FREQ TALKING TO OPS. AS HE CAME BACK ON LINE WITH ATC THE RPTR AND CAPT REMARKED THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THE CTLR HAD NOT ISSUED FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. AFTER A LITTLE DELAY THE CAPT ASKED ATC FOR THEIR INTENTIONS. BY CTR'S RESPONSE IT WAS APPARENT CTR HAD FORGOTTEN THE HDOF TO APCH. THE CREW WAS SWITCHED TO APCH AND CLRED FOR A DIFFERENT RWY THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE, ON THE BDF3 ARR TO ORD, LAST CLRED TO CROSS BENKY AT 11000 FT, 320 KTS ASSIGNED, WHICH I DID. CAPT WAS MOMENTARILY OFF FREQ TALKING TO OPS. AS HE CAME BACK ON-LINE WITH ATC, WE BOTH REMARKED THAT WE WERE SURPRISED THAT THE CTR CTLR HAD NOT ISSUED US FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, AS WE WERE NEARING THE END OF THE ARR OVER ORD. CAPT ASKED THEIR INTENTIONS, AND IT WAS APPARENT THEY HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT US. I WAS MONITORING CTR THE WHOLE TIME. WE WERE NEVER OUT OF RADIO CONTACT. CTR SOMEWHAT CONFUSEDLY SWITCHED US TO APCH, AND WE WERE CLRED FOR A DIFFERENT RWY THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. AROUND 5000 FT WE RECEIVED, LATE, AN ACARS MESSAGE ADVISING US TO CONTACT CTR ON 128.45, WHICH WE HAD EARLIER DONE. AT NO TIME WAS THERE ANY DANGER, BUT WE WERE CONCERNED THAT THE SYS HAD APPARENTLY DROPPED SYNCH WITH US. I DO NOT BELIEVE WE MISSED ANY RADIO CALLS. LESSON, INQUIRE EARLIER IF ATC ISN'T DOING WHAT YOU EXPECT.

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.