DC10 crew flew out of VHF radio range in ZAB class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	486610
Time
Date	200009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fmn.vortac
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	486610
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance ATC Facility
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We departed afw for sjc. We were given vectors for traffic followed by clearance on a heading direct to ilc. We noted after approximately 20 mins that we had not talked to center in a while but all xmissions from center were loud and clear. We flew the assigned heading and monitored the frequency, and flight path using the farmington VOR. At approximately 168 DME on the 285 degree radial of farmington VOR we could hear other aircraft but not center. We attempted to contact other aircraft for a relay with no luck. We referenced our charts and after trying several frequencys contacted ZLC. We were receiving the ilc VOR and proceeded inbound on a heading of 275 degrees. It appears that the handoff from ZAB to denver was somehow missed. We monitored the assigned communication frequency and company SELCAL at all times. After we landed, we were informed that the center had lost contact with us and was considering diverting aircraft because we were not on course. We flew assigned heading until we picked up ilc VOR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC10 CREW FLEW OUT OF VHF RADIO RANGE IN ZAB CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED AFW FOR SJC. WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS FOR TFC FOLLOWED BY CLRNC ON A HDG DIRECT TO ILC. WE NOTED AFTER APPROX 20 MINS THAT WE HAD NOT TALKED TO CTR IN A WHILE BUT ALL XMISSIONS FROM CTR WERE LOUD AND CLR. WE FLEW THE ASSIGNED HDG AND MONITORED THE FREQ, AND FLT PATH USING THE FARMINGTON VOR. AT APPROX 168 DME ON THE 285 DEG RADIAL OF FARMINGTON VOR WE COULD HEAR OTHER ACFT BUT NOT CTR. WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT OTHER ACFT FOR A RELAY WITH NO LUCK. WE REFED OUR CHARTS AND AFTER TRYING SEVERAL FREQS CONTACTED ZLC. WE WERE RECEIVING THE ILC VOR AND PROCEEDED INBOUND ON A HDG OF 275 DEGS. IT APPEARS THAT THE HDOF FROM ZAB TO DENVER WAS SOMEHOW MISSED. WE MONITORED THE ASSIGNED COM FREQ AND COMPANY SELCAL AT ALL TIMES. AFTER WE LANDED, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CTR HAD LOST CONTACT WITH US AND WAS CONSIDERING DIVERTING ACFT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ON COURSE. WE FLEW ASSIGNED HDG UNTIL WE PICKED UP ILC VOR.

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.