Gulfstream V / G500 / G550
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 126; Flight Crew Total 18850; Flight Crew Type 1100
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
We departed HOU at XA15Z and the flight continued uneventfully for the first hour and ten minutes. At that time we noticed the radio traffic was quiet and queried ATC (FTW CTN) and received no response. We then attempted to return to the previous assigned frequency; still with no results. We then attempted contact on 121.5 (Guard) which we were monitoring and was able to obtain a frequency for Albuquerque Center; which we contacted and reported our altitude of FL430. Shortly thereafter ABQ passed a message to us from FTW CTN with a request to call them upon landing; rather than wait; we immediately called from the aircraft using our SAT Phone. I spoke with the sector chief and responded to his question of why we did not check in with FTW once we were passed off (presumably sometime shortly prior to XB10Z). The controller seemed upset that we had not checked in and asked for my pilot's license number and phone number; which I gave without hesitation.There were no distractions in the cockpit during the time we lost communications. The FTW sector chief indicated that we were given a frequency to check in on and we did not do that. I disagree. Both crew members recollect that we did check in and were acknowledged. What we did was to follow appropriate procedures. There was no altitude deviation; there was no course deviation; there was simply a loss of communications with a busy center while we were at cruising altitude of FL430.Lesson Learned: Do not let too much time pass when the radio is quiet. Observe better diligence. Question ATC sooner.
GLF5 Captain experienced a loss of communication with ATC while in cruise at FL430. ZAB is eventually contacted and the crew is instructed to call ZFW upon landing. The Sector Chief believes the crew did not comply with a clearance to contact the next sector on a new frequency and the crew believes they did.