ZBW controller reports lost comm with a uav pilot; with none of the phone numbers filed with the fli...

Narrative:

Aircraft 1 was a remotely piloted aircraft. I was taking over as controller in charge and was briefed by the person I was taking over for that aircraft 1 was NORDO. The only way we had to communicate with aircraft 1 was a line at the watch desk; because none of the phone numbers filed with the flight plan worked. Later; the OM told me that there was some kind of issue with water damage at the base where the pilot of aircraft 1 was located; and that's why none of the phone numbers worked. So; had there been an emergency or something; we would've had to go through the OM to issue any kind of clearance. I'm not even sure what the procedure for that would be... Would we say 'ATC clears' to the OM since the OM isn't certified in our area? Many of us as controllers are uncomfortable with the lack of procedures for remotely piloted aircraft. At least in this instance we figured out a way to communicate with the pilot; but it still was an unsafe situation. We need to be better briefed on how to handle NORDO with a remotely piloted aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW Controller reports lost comm with a UAV pilot; with none of the phone numbers filed with the flight plan working. Eventually communication is established through a line at the watch desk; but Controller suggests that better procedures should be in place.

Narrative: Aircraft 1 was a remotely piloted aircraft. I was taking over as CIC and was briefed by the person I was taking over for that Aircraft 1 was NORDO. The only way we had to communicate with Aircraft 1 was a line at the watch desk; because none of the phone numbers filed with the flight plan worked. Later; the OM told me that there was some kind of issue with water damage at the base where the pilot of Aircraft 1 was located; and that's why none of the phone numbers worked. So; had there been an emergency or something; we would've had to go through the OM to issue any kind of clearance. I'm not even sure what the procedure for that would be... would we say 'ATC clears' to the OM since the OM isn't certified in our area? Many of us as controllers are uncomfortable with the lack of procedures for remotely piloted aircraft. At least in this instance we figured out a way to communicate with the pilot; but it still was an unsafe situation. We need to be better briefed on how to handle NORDO with a remotely piloted aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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	1163221
Time
Date	201404
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZBW.ARTCC
State Reference	NH
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

ZBW controller reports lost comm with a uav pilot; with none of the phone numbers filed with the flight plan working. Eventually communication is established through a line at the watch desk; but controller suggests that better procedures should be in place.