Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
While on right base to Runway 36R; heading 270 assigned vector by Approach Control; we began flying through extended center line of RWYs 36R/36C. Attempted to contact Approach several times for clearance to final with no response. Contacted Tower on 119.7 and was given vector back to airport and clearance for visual approach to 36R. Tower then said to switch back to Approach as 'he wants to talk to you.' We switched back to 125.8 and Approach gave us a clearance for visual approach to 36R. When we asked if there had been a problem with the transmitter; explaining that that is why we contacted Tower; the response was 'you shouldn't have done that; we were in a briefing.' We were then instructed to contact Tower again. There was no conflict with any other air traffic during this incident.Unknown cause. We only know that we attempted to contact Approach on 125.8 with no response; then later Approach implied that there was never a problem with their communications.
We were flying downwind vector for Runway 36R. Approach Controller had us turn to heading 270 for a right base. We were about 9 miles from the field and 3000 ft. MSL. We continued on our heading and realized we were going to fly through approach course. We attempted to contact the controller numerous times with no answer. As we continued on the heading; we completely passed the airfield. We finally called tower on 118.7 and told the controller our situation. The tower controller gave us a turn and we proceeded back to the field. Tower then handed us to approach again. We told approach we switched due to no contact with them; despite numerous attempts. We then were passed back to tower and cleared to land on 36R. We could not get a reply from approach after numerous attempts.
Air carrier flight crew reported of flying through the approach course; attempting to contact Approach. No response; so they changed to Tower frequency and got vectored back on to final. Approach Controller told pilots they should not have switched to Tower frequency. Controllers stated they were in a briefing.