Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 1000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
I was acting as pilot monitoring (PM) while First Officer was the pilot flying (PF).At our cruise altitude of FL380 a HYD Y RSVR LO LVL; ECAM appeared on our screen.After completing the actions required by the ECAM and checking in the QRH; I contacted dispatch via ACARS.Two attempts were made on two different frequencies suggested by dispatch; to talk to dispatch. Both attempts were unsuccessful. We completed communication via ACARS.Dispatch decided that the best thing to do would be to return to [our departure airport and] I concurred.Center was advised that we wanted to return and a new clearance was received.At this time I called; via interphone the Purser and requested her presence in the cockpit. I explained the situation; advised her that an evacuation or cabin preparation was not necessary; that we had approximately 40 minutes flight time until landing and that at this point we had no idea what was going to happen in regard to the passengers; gate information; clearing customs or the continuation of the flight. An attempt was made to send [an equipment code report] as to the loss of yellow hydraulic system fluid to maintenance but we received an ACARS message stating ''' INIT ERROR; ACARS INIT ISSUE; PLEASE CHECK 'FLIGHT NUMBER' DEPT STATION 'DEST STATION' FLIGHT DATE. SUGGEST AUTO INITALIZATION TO CORRECT.'A message was sent directly to MAINT via ACARS as to the write up; no response was received for approximately 20 minutes. A message was sent to dispatch asking if they had notified [the airport] of our return and no response was received. A message to airport operations via ACARS was sent directly and no message was received.There is an issue here; we as pilots are doing our best with a damaged aircraft and expecting support that has been promised to us; to provide us some information; the passengers some information and nothing comes back to us.This is the second time in two years that I have been the pilot in command of [one of our] aircraft that experienced a problem in flight and was unable to contact or be contacted by dispatch in a timely manner. I realize that dispatch is busy; understaffed and over worked but a little help would go a long way.
An A320 Captain; after suffering the loss of yellow system hydraulic quantity; opted to return to their departure airport but found himself unable to communicate reliably with either Dispatch or Maintenance. The reporter expressed in strong terms his conviction that the company was not providing the communications capabilities required by their flight crews and required by regulation.