B747-400 crew had delayed contact with russian ATC at the fir boundary between china and russia.

Attributes
ACN	520981
Time
Date	200108
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zysh.artcc
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zysh.artcc artcc : uhhh.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time type : 1305
ASRS Report	520981
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time type : 1644
ASRS Report	520983
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Had been cleared to russian airspace by chinese controller, forwarded arguk estimate to him when he gave us the russian frequency. The frequency was very noisy and had to have him repeat several times. That frequency didn't work, went back and this time we could understand the frequency. By the time we got the call made we had passed arguk by an estimate less than 1-2 mins. The controller seemed upset but handed us off to another frequency. In moderate chop, passenger and flight attendants seated. Dispatch called later to inform us that our flight number was listed as a breach. Communication for remainder of flight was normal. Supplemental information from acn 520983: crossing fir from china into russia, we were talking to harbin control and told to switch frequencys. Due to language problems it was several mins before we obtained the correct frequency. By the time we called russia on the correct frequency we had just arrived at the fir of arguk and the russian controller asked why we had not called. We explained the problem. Several hours later, dispatch called up and discussed the situation, which was resolved to his satisfaction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747-400 CREW HAD DELAYED CONTACT WITH RUSSIAN ATC AT THE FIR BOUNDARY BTWN CHINA AND RUSSIA.

Narrative: HAD BEEN CLRED TO RUSSIAN AIRSPACE BY CHINESE CTLR, FORWARDED ARGUK ESTIMATE TO HIM WHEN HE GAVE US THE RUSSIAN FREQ. THE FREQ WAS VERY NOISY AND HAD TO HAVE HIM REPEAT SEVERAL TIMES. THAT FREQ DIDN'T WORK, WENT BACK AND THIS TIME WE COULD UNDERSTAND THE FREQ. BY THE TIME WE GOT THE CALL MADE WE HAD PASSED ARGUK BY AN ESTIMATE LESS THAN 1-2 MINS. THE CTLR SEEMED UPSET BUT HANDED US OFF TO ANOTHER FREQ. IN MODERATE CHOP, PAX AND FLT ATTENDANTS SEATED. DISPATCH CALLED LATER TO INFORM US THAT OUR FLT NUMBER WAS LISTED AS A BREACH. COM FOR REMAINDER OF FLT WAS NORMAL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 520983: XING FIR FROM CHINA INTO RUSSIA, WE WERE TALKING TO HARBIN CTL AND TOLD TO SWITCH FREQS. DUE TO LANGUAGE PROBS IT WAS SEVERAL MINS BEFORE WE OBTAINED THE CORRECT FREQ. BY THE TIME WE CALLED RUSSIA ON THE CORRECT FREQ WE HAD JUST ARRIVED AT THE FIR OF ARGUK AND THE RUSSIAN CTLR ASKED WHY WE HAD NOT CALLED. WE EXPLAINED THE PROB. SEVERAL HRS LATER, DISPATCH CALLED UP AND DISCUSSED THE SIT, WHICH WAS RESOLVED TO HIS SATISFACTION.

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.