Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 6300; Flight Crew Type 4500
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors
On our flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1; we were at a cruising altitude of FL340. With everything slowed down with the pandemic; it was the first flight I had with this particular co-worker in a few months. So naturally we had plenty to chat about enroute. I'm not for sure if we missed a call from ATC; or if we just got out of range before they tried to hand us off; but nonetheless we were unaware we were supposed to be on another frequency. About 100 miles from destination; I asked the SIC to request a lower altitude for our descent into the arrival airport. Upon transmission; we received no response and I immediately went to XYX.Z [frequency]; which we had not been monitoring. About a minute after his initial attempt; I heard ATC on XYX.Z calling our tail number with a frequency. We called ATC on the new frequency and were given a lower altitude. Upon readback of the new altitude; ATC asked what was our last assigned frequency. When we gave the Controller the answer; the response was 'You have been NORDO for about 150 miles.' The remainder of the flight was uneventful with a normal descent and landing into our destination.We fell into this situation for a few reasons:-One; we weren't monitoring XYX.Z. If we had been; this most likely wouldn't have happened.-Second; going out west sometimes there are longer periods of flight without a handoff then going east. Also; with the pandemic and the few flights I have done I have noticed less radio communications in general with fewer aircraft in the air. I let myself fall into the trap of thinking 'well I'm going west and not as many planes' so I didn't feel it to be that unusual that we hadn't directly corresponded with ATC in a while.-Third; engaging in conversation without occasionally questioning 'when was the last time we talked to someone.'I plan to be more aware of communications while enroute and to constantly monitor XYX.Z.
Pilot reported contacting ATC on guard and being advised they were NORDO for 150 miles.