Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Procedure; Human Factors; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
We were handed off to New York Approach and they began vectoring us to the ILS Runway 4R into EWR. After several vectors we were less than 10 miles from the localizer of Runway 4R; 90 degrees from the localizer inbound heading (130 degree heading); and traveling at 220 KTS assigned. Approach at this point gave us a frequency change to 128.80. After switching; we heard the aircraft ahead of us attempting to contact the same frequency with no luck. We also attempted to make contact with the Approach with no success. We returned to our last frequency and heard the first aircraft inform ATC that there was no reply. Approach gave him instructions and continued to give other aircraft instructions without taking a breath. We attempted several times to inform him that we were unable to contact the new frequency; but the channel was very congested and we were 'stepped on' every time. By this point we were well past the localizer and still on our 130 heading. I began slowing so that we would not get to much farther out and interfere with LGA or JFK traffic. When he finally did understand that we were back with him; he issued us a heading to intercept the localizer from the now east side; and told us to fly at 230 KTS. He then gave us another frequency for the next approach control of 125.50. We contacted them; intercepted the LOC; and concluded the flight uneventfully. The choice by ATC to change our frequency so close to the localizer; traveling at a speed that put us through it with a quickness; without instructions that included we should intercept the localizer was not a good one. We could have easily strayed into the flow of traffic for another large airport. I was about 10 seconds from turning towards EWR without clearance and squawking 7600; which would have required a whole other bunch of paperwork; and no one wants that.
An air carrier inbound to EWR ILS 4R lost contact with ATC and flew through the LOC; eventually re-establishing contact with ATC; a high and fast vector by ATC only added to the LOC transition.