A pilot reported lost communications because of poor ATC communications facilities after after reque...

Narrative:

While en route (northeast bound) along a course running along pwm and bhb I was given a handoff to bangor approach. The new frequency was almost non readable. Shortly after contact I requested an IFR clearance to bhb from approach as conditions ahead were observed to be IFR. I received a communication from approach that they could approve the IFR. The radio then went quiet and I thought they were working on my clearance. Since I did not receive the clearance and to avoid IMC I started to orbit to the left in the vicinity of iwi which was in view and could be used if needed if IFR was not approved. I made a couple of attempts to contact ATC then made a call in the blind that I was going to return to the previous frequency. After returning to the previous frequency the controller informed me they had been trying to contact me; and gave me another frequency to try. The new frequency was satisfactory and I had no further communication issues. I can not recall which controller actually gave me the IFR clearance. From the loss of radio contact until communication was re-established I made one 360 degree turn with approximately a 2 mile radius around iwi. The flight continued to destination IFR with no further issues. This situation could be resolved with improved communication facilities in the area this problem occurred. The aircraft flown has relatively new radio equipment in good working order so it appears to be more of a ground based radio problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot reported lost communications because of poor ATC communications facilities after after requesting IFR clearance on a BGR TRACON frequency between PWM and BHB.

Narrative: While en route (northeast bound) along a course running along PWM and BHB I was given a handoff to Bangor Approach. The new frequency was almost non readable. Shortly after contact I requested an IFR clearance to BHB from Approach as conditions ahead were observed to be IFR. I received a communication from Approach that they could approve the IFR. The radio then went quiet and I thought they were working on my clearance. Since I did not receive the clearance and to avoid IMC I started to orbit to the left in the vicinity of IWI which was in view and could be used if needed if IFR was not approved. I made a couple of attempts to contact ATC then made a call in the blind that I was going to return to the previous frequency. After returning to the previous frequency the Controller informed me they had been trying to contact me; and gave me another frequency to try. The new frequency was satisfactory and I had no further communication issues. I can not recall which Controller actually gave me the IFR clearance. From the loss of radio contact until communication was re-established I made one 360 degree turn with approximately a 2 mile radius around IWI. The flight continued to destination IFR with no further issues. This situation could be resolved with improved communication facilities in the area this problem occurred. The aircraft flown has relatively new radio equipment in good working order so it appears to be more of a ground based radio problem.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1034472
Time
Date	201209
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	BGR.TRACON
State Reference	ME
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Air/Ground Communication
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55 Flight Crew Total 1983 Flight Crew Type 261
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

A pilot reported lost communications because of poor ATC communications facilities after after requesting IFR clearance on a bgr TRACON frequency between pwm and bhb.