Narrative:

While en route to istanbul at the krk VOR, I was given a clearance to climb to FL130 and continue down G-12 to thessaloniki VOR. As I neared ynn it was apparent that the mountain pass was obscured with cloud and I was at this time, at FL12.4 and absolutely unable to climb any further. The temperature was below freezing so I anticipated icing if I continued, I did not have any de-icing equipment, and additionally, I had a very big problem to maintain radio contact with any ATC facility in this area, but I radioed my need for a rerte to kerkira ATC at which time I was instructed to contact athens on 124.9, which I did and was given a clearance to pick up A-14, and at this time, I lost radio contact. I could not again reach athens but in a few mins I was able to contact kerkira again. When I told him my position, the controller had a never-ending stream of unpleasant things to say. I told him that I had been given this clearance from athens, but apparently, these people are not in contact with one another. Apparently, he forgot that he had handed me over to athens. Soon, I was able to maintain radio contact and then the excitement was over, but I believe there is a serious problem with ATC facs in this area and I would like to see an ICAO investigation into the equipment and or personnel problems there. As an additional note -- prior to this incident, the controller had asked of my destination to confirm I would land in istanbul. After I confirmed it the attitude seemed different on the part of the controllers. This question was posed prior to all other problems I believe the long- standing feud between greece and turkey was a factor in this incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT GOT INTO A COM PROBLEM WITH A FOREIGN ATC.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE TO ISTANBUL AT THE KRK VOR, I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO CLB TO FL130 AND CONTINUE DOWN G-12 TO THESSALONIKI VOR. AS I NEARED YNN IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE MOUNTAIN PASS WAS OBSCURED WITH CLOUD AND I WAS AT THIS TIME, AT FL12.4 AND ABSOLUTELY UNABLE TO CLB ANY FURTHER. THE TEMP WAS BELOW FREEZING SO I ANTICIPATED ICING IF I CONTINUED, I DID NOT HAVE ANY DE-ICING EQUIP, AND ADDITIONALLY, I HAD A VERY BIG PROBLEM TO MAINTAIN RADIO CONTACT WITH ANY ATC FAC IN THIS AREA, BUT I RADIOED MY NEED FOR A RERTE TO KERKIRA ATC AT WHICH TIME I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT ATHENS ON 124.9, WHICH I DID AND WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO PICK UP A-14, AND AT THIS TIME, I LOST RADIO CONTACT. I COULD NOT AGAIN REACH ATHENS BUT IN A FEW MINS I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT KERKIRA AGAIN. WHEN I TOLD HIM MY POS, THE CTLR HAD A NEVER-ENDING STREAM OF UNPLEASANT THINGS TO SAY. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD BEEN GIVEN THIS CLRNC FROM ATHENS, BUT APPARENTLY, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER. APPARENTLY, HE FORGOT THAT HE HAD HANDED ME OVER TO ATHENS. SOON, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN RADIO CONTACT AND THEN THE EXCITEMENT WAS OVER, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ATC FACS IN THIS AREA AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ICAO INVESTIGATION INTO THE EQUIP AND OR PERSONNEL PROBLEMS THERE. AS AN ADDITIONAL NOTE -- PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE CTLR HAD ASKED OF MY DEST TO CONFIRM I WOULD LAND IN ISTANBUL. AFTER I CONFIRMED IT THE ATTITUDE SEEMED DIFFERENT ON THE PART OF THE CTLRS. THIS QUESTION WAS POSED PRIOR TO ALL OTHER PROBLEMS I BELIEVE THE LONG- STANDING FEUD BTWN GREECE AND TURKEY WAS A FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.