Center controller described failed sat phone contact event; allegedly because the FAA failed to pay ...

Narrative:

The aircraft was coordinated on routing from a foreign air traffic control center to our center; oceanic to another foreign air traffic control center. On initial coordination from the first foreign center; the controller advised that the aircraft had no HF radios; but was equipped with sat phone and provided our center with the number. Our center coordinated the fight with the next foreign ATC and relayed the information about the sat phone and the no HF radio status of the flight. ATC requested that our center reroute the flight. We copied the reroute and attempted to contact the flight. Our center controller attempted to call the flight using our sat phone; he was unsuccessful. The on-duty supervisor attempted to use the sat phone; so the controller could focus on his other aircraft. After several minutes the supervisor approached the controller working the flight and informed him that the reason he was unable to contact the flight was that the FAA had failed once again to pay the sat phone bill. This is at least the third time this has occurred over the last several years.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Center controller described failed SAT phone contact event; allegedly because the FAA failed to pay the SAT phone bill; reported adding; this was not the first instance of inoperable SAT phones because of government non-payment.

Narrative: The Aircraft was coordinated on routing from a foreign Air Traffic Control Center to our Center; Oceanic to another foreign Air Traffic Control Center. On initial coordination from the first foreign Center; the controller advised that the aircraft had no HF radios; but was equipped with SAT Phone and provided our Center with the number. Our Center coordinated the fight with the next foreign ATC and relayed the information about the SAT Phone and the no HF radio status of the flight. ATC requested that our Center reroute the flight. We copied the reroute and attempted to contact the flight. Our Center Controller attempted to call the flight using our SAT Phone; he was unsuccessful. The on-duty Supervisor attempted to use the SAT Phone; so the Controller could focus on his other aircraft. After several minutes the Supervisor approached the Controller working the flight and informed him that the reason he was unable to contact the flight was that the FAA had failed once again to pay the SAT Phone bill. This is at least the third time this has occurred over the last several years.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	839789
Time
Date	200906
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Other
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Oceanic Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Non Radar 19 Air Traffic Control Radar 16 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 00 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 20
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Center controller described failed sat phone contact event; allegedly because the FAA failed to pay the sat phone bill; reported adding; this was not the first instance of inoperable sat phones because of government non-payment.