MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
While enroute RPLC; Manila Control failed to switch us to Hong Kong control at SABNO. We began attempting contact with Hong Kong and were then contacted on guard by another company flight to contact Hong Kong on their active frequency. We switched to this frequency and regained contact with Control within 8 minutes from SABNO. The Controller seemed satisfied with our quick response to the call on guard and gave us vectors. We discussed techniques for better FIR boundary awareness; including inserting the point in the fix page so that it is more prominent on the ND; and the need to be proactive in switching to the next Control despite release from the previous Controller. This might include using another radio to make such contact although in this case leaving #2 on guard allowed us to receive the guard call from Company aircraft.
[Narrative 2 contains no additional information.]
An MD-11 enroute from the Philippines to mainland China temporarily lost contact with control as they approached the Hong Kong FIR. An assist from a company flight restored contact.