PC12 captain at FL250 reported lost communications with ATC. Once communications were reestablished ...

Narrative:

I was in level cruise flight in my pilatus pc-12. The flight conditions were VMC at FL250. I was currently in contact with seattle center during this time period. I was direct to the navaid (mbw) VOR with a continuation to [the destination]. During the flight there was a long span of time in which I was hearing chatter with ATC but no direct contact with my aircraft. Seattle center handed me off to salt lake center but was not able to contact me directly. Salt lake center stated that I had flown for at least 30 minutes without contact. ATC contacted another aircraft in which to contact me. This was how I had found out that they were trying to reach me. During the flight I was noticing other aircraft were losing contact with ATC as well. A citation was trying to contact seattle center as well as a commercial flight at the time. I was given a phone number to contact salt lake center to discuss what had happened. They told me that due to the excessive time span of loss of contact that there was a report to be filed against me. I felt that I was not responsible due to the lack of communication between my aircraft and center. I was trying to be aware of my communications with ATC during this time. ATC asked if I were monitoring guard on 121.5 at this time I was not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PC12 Captain at FL250 reported lost communications with ATC. Once communications were reestablished the reporter was advised that communications were lost for over 30 minutes.

Narrative: I was in level cruise flight in my Pilatus PC-12. The flight conditions were VMC at FL250. I was currently in contact with Seattle Center during this time period. I was direct to the Navaid (MBW) VOR with a continuation to [the destination]. During The flight there was a long span of time in which I was hearing chatter with ATC but no direct contact with my aircraft. Seattle Center handed me off to Salt Lake Center but was not able to contact me directly. Salt Lake Center stated that I had flown for at least 30 minutes without contact. ATC contacted another aircraft in which to contact me. This was how I had found out that they were trying to reach me. During the flight I was noticing other aircraft were losing contact with ATC as well. A Citation was trying to contact Seattle center as well as a Commercial flight at the time. I was given a phone number to contact Salt Lake Center to discuss what had happened. They told me that due to the excessive time span of loss of contact that there was a report to be filed against me. I felt that I was not responsible due to the lack of communication between my aircraft and center. I was trying to be aware of my communications with ATC during this time. ATC asked if I were monitoring Guard on 121.5 at this time I was not.

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	1459673
Time
Date	201706
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZLC.ARTCC
State Reference	UT
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PC-12
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

PC12 captain at FL250 reported lost communications with ATC. Once communications were reestablished the reporter was advised that communications were lost for over 30 minutes.