Air carrier has difficulty with ARTCC controller when communication was finally established.

Attributes
ACN	445011
Time
Date	199908
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pxv.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	445011
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Given frequency change. Called 3 times with no reply although controller conversed back and forth with another aircraft or two. When he finally answered us, he used the call sign of 'XXXX.' I asked if he was calling, and he emotionally told me turn to a 270 degree heading, called it a 'communication vector' 45 degree right turn way off course. As I turned I asked about this as I had never heard anything like this before. He apparently calmed down, and turned us back direct to pxv. No answer after 3 calls, then wrong call sign and flight number, then a punitive vector.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR HAS DIFFICULTY WITH ARTCC CTLR WHEN COM WAS FINALLY ESTABLISHED.

Narrative: GIVEN FREQ CHANGE. CALLED 3 TIMES WITH NO REPLY ALTHOUGH CTLR CONVERSED BACK AND FORTH WITH ANOTHER ACFT OR TWO. WHEN HE FINALLY ANSWERED US, HE USED THE CALL SIGN OF 'XXXX.' I ASKED IF HE WAS CALLING, AND HE EMOTIONALLY TOLD ME TURN TO A 270 DEG HDG, CALLED IT A 'COM VECTOR' 45 DEG R TURN WAY OFF COURSE. AS I TURNED I ASKED ABOUT THIS AS I HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. HE APPARENTLY CALMED DOWN, AND TURNED US BACK DIRECT TO PXV. NO ANSWER AFTER 3 CALLS, THEN WRONG CALL SIGN AND FLT NUMBER, THEN A PUNITIVE VECTOR.

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.