A321
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft
During cruise at FL370; we got a '[Circuit Breaker] CB popped overhead panel' ECAM [Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor] message. We were in VMC conditions on top with negative icing but there was a possibility of encountering icing conditions on the descent and approach into ZZZ so we elected to contact Maintenance to get more information about the failed component. I tried to contact Dispatch using the air cell phone and crew phone app. Both were unsuccessful. I then tried Dispatch direct and was also unsuccessful. I sent a free text message to Dispatch and asked them to try to contact me on the Dispatch direct frequency. They were unsuccessful. I tried ARINC but the frequency was tied up by another aircraft. I tried the adjacent ARINC frequency but was out of range. I then tried a phone patch through ZZZ OPS and was told they no longer have the capability to do that. By that point we were in the descent into ZZZ and it became apparent that we would not enter into icing conditions. If icing conditions had been present we would have had to divert to remain clear of icing conditions. The approach and landing were normal and uneventful. After landing we contacted Maintenance and informed them of the popped circuit breaker. A mostly innocuous circuit breaker that popped caused distraction and a possible divert due to the fact that we were unable to establish voice contact with Dispatch or Maintenance. We need to be able to contact Dispatch and Maintenance. ARINC frequencies can be congested and Dispatch direct did not work. Consideration should be given to keeping air cell capability.
A321 Captain reported a communication problem while dealing with a circuit breaker that popped in-flight causing an increased workload.