Narrative:

Air carrier flight to hpn. Checked on ZNY at FL190. Controller acknowledged us. Several mins later, and approximately 40 mi from hpn at FL190, we asked same controller for lower altitude. Controller replied that we were on frequency in error, and to return to previous assigned. We told him he had acknowledged our initial call up. He said he didn't know anything about us, and suggested another frequency. Attempted several frequencys with no success. About 20 mi (still at FL190) from hpn, received ACARS message from company to contact ZBW. We did so and told them what had happened. He gave us vectors for descent, and then handed us off to ny approach, but not before giving us a telephone number to call operations manager. Captain called operations manager on the ground, explaining situation. Operations manager said there was not a problem, but to exercise extra vigilance. Supplemental information from acn 534959: as we asked for lower, the controller responded he had never heard of us, to return to our previous frequency. No response on that frequency. Took us approximately 3-4 mins to reestablish radio contact with ZBW. When I check-in after a frequency change, and the controller acknowledges it, I assume I have the correct frequency (controller said he thought we were another flight he was expecting). Even though this was not the problem, radio congestion seems to be getting worse. Controllers are constantly being blocked while trying to issue approach clrncs, descent clrncs, etc.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: F100 FLC QUESTION ZNY'S NON RESPONSE FOR ALT DSCNT AS THEY RECEIVE AN ACARS MESSAGE ALERTING THE CREW TO CHANGE TO A ZBW FREQ.

Narrative: ACR FLT TO HPN. CHKED ON ZNY AT FL190. CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED US. SEVERAL MINS LATER, AND APPROX 40 MI FROM HPN AT FL190, WE ASKED SAME CTLR FOR LOWER ALT. CTLR REPLIED THAT WE WERE ON FREQ IN ERROR, AND TO RETURN TO PREVIOUS ASSIGNED. WE TOLD HIM HE HAD ACKNOWLEDGED OUR INITIAL CALL UP. HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT US, AND SUGGESTED ANOTHER FREQ. ATTEMPTED SEVERAL FREQS WITH NO SUCCESS. ABOUT 20 MI (STILL AT FL190) FROM HPN, RECEIVED ACARS MESSAGE FROM COMPANY TO CONTACT ZBW. WE DID SO AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HE GAVE US VECTORS FOR DSCNT, AND THEN HANDED US OFF TO NY APCH, BUT NOT BEFORE GIVING US A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO CALL OPS MGR. CAPT CALLED OPS MGR ON THE GND, EXPLAINING SIT. OPS MGR SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROB, BUT TO EXERCISE EXTRA VIGILANCE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 534959: AS WE ASKED FOR LOWER, THE CTLR RESPONDED HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF US, TO RETURN TO OUR PREVIOUS FREQ. NO RESPONSE ON THAT FREQ. TOOK US APPROX 3-4 MINS TO REESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT WITH ZBW. WHEN I CHK-IN AFTER A FREQ CHANGE, AND THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGES IT, I ASSUME I HAVE THE CORRECT FREQ (CTLR SAID HE THOUGHT WE WERE ANOTHER FLT HE WAS EXPECTING). EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS NOT THE PROB, RADIO CONGESTION SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. CTLRS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING BLOCKED WHILE TRYING TO ISSUE APCH CLRNCS, DSCNT CLRNCS, ETC.

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.