A300 flight crew reports ZLC failed to hand them off to ZMP on a late night flight.

Attributes
ACN	692566
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mlp.vor
State Reference	ID
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 4318 flight time type : 1769
ASRS Report	692566
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000
ASRS Report	692564
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

While on a routine cargo flight from seattle; wa; to dayton; oh; we encountered a communication problem with ATC. After takeoff from sea; we were handed off to ZSE who later passed us on to ZLC. Upon checking in with ZLC; we were given direct nodine (odi). After 35-40 mins; we called ZLC to see if they were still on frequency because things were quiet and there was no response. Checking over the en route charts; we tried numerous ZLC frequencys to no avail. We then tried ZMP and made contact on 124.2 at or before dupree (dpr) while still flying direct to nodine on course. When discussing this problem with other crew members; it became apparent that this is an ongoing problem. Many crew members have stories about ZLC not handing them off to the next controller which causes momentary panic while trying numerous frequencys off the en route charts until radio communications are re-established. Most of the occurrences happen when traveling eastbound late at night and when switching from ZLC to either ZDV or ZMP. In conclusion; I suggest that while traveling on light traffic rtes (quiet) that guide lines be established that either ATC or the aircraft check with each other every 10-15 mins to ensure that communications are adequate and not lost.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 FLT CREW RPTS ZLC FAILED TO HAND THEM OFF TO ZMP ON A LATE NIGHT FLT.

Narrative: WHILE ON A ROUTINE CARGO FLT FROM SEATTLE; WA; TO DAYTON; OH; WE ENCOUNTERED A COM PROB WITH ATC. AFTER TKOF FROM SEA; WE WERE HANDED OFF TO ZSE WHO LATER PASSED US ON TO ZLC. UPON CHKING IN WITH ZLC; WE WERE GIVEN DIRECT NODINE (ODI). AFTER 35-40 MINS; WE CALLED ZLC TO SEE IF THEY WERE STILL ON FREQ BECAUSE THINGS WERE QUIET AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. CHKING OVER THE ENRTE CHARTS; WE TRIED NUMEROUS ZLC FREQS TO NO AVAIL. WE THEN TRIED ZMP AND MADE CONTACT ON 124.2 AT OR BEFORE DUPREE (DPR) WHILE STILL FLYING DIRECT TO NODINE ON COURSE. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS PROB WITH OTHER CREW MEMBERS; IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROB. MANY CREW MEMBERS HAVE STORIES ABOUT ZLC NOT HANDING THEM OFF TO THE NEXT CTLR WHICH CAUSES MOMENTARY PANIC WHILE TRYING NUMEROUS FREQS OFF THE ENRTE CHARTS UNTIL RADIO COMS ARE RE-ESTABLISHED. MOST OF THE OCCURRENCES HAPPEN WHEN TRAVELING EBOUND LATE AT NIGHT AND WHEN SWITCHING FROM ZLC TO EITHER ZDV OR ZMP. IN CONCLUSION; I SUGGEST THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON LIGHT TFC RTES (QUIET) THAT GUIDE LINES BE ESTABLISHED THAT EITHER ATC OR THE ACFT CHK WITH EACH OTHER EVERY 10-15 MINS TO ENSURE THAT COMS ARE ADEQUATE AND NOT LOST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.