ACARS is used to obtain ATC clearance after all attempts to regain lost communication fail.

Attributes
ACN	257043
Time
Date	199311
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nkt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zkc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	257043
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On flight from stl to pit after level off at FL290 upon mci frequency change we lost radio contact with center, on #1 VHF communication. We tried all available frequencys and #2 and #3 VHF communication radios. Flight was continued after squawking 7600 and receiving further clearance from center through company ACARS messages for descent and arrival into pit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACARS IS USED TO OBTAIN ATC CLRNC AFTER ALL ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN LOST COM FAIL.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM STL TO PIT AFTER LEVEL OFF AT FL290 UPON MCI FREQ CHANGE WE LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH CTR, ON #1 VHF COM. WE TRIED ALL AVAILABLE FREQS AND #2 AND #3 VHF COM RADIOS. FLT WAS CONTINUED AFTER SQUAWKING 7600 AND RECEIVING FURTHER CLRNC FROM CTR THROUGH COMPANY ACARS MESSAGES FOR DSCNT AND ARR INTO PIT.

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.