A320 crew lost communication with ATC in caribbean international airspace.

Attributes
ACN	540891
Time
Date	200203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tnca.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mdsd.artcc artcc : tncf.artcc tower : tnca.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	540891
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : repair
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on ATC flight plan, we tried to call curacao radio while en route to aua. We tried several times to contact curacao on 127.1 and called our last controller from santo domingo who never handed us off or reestablished communications. After several calls, we finally established contact with curacao. No conflicts, just lack of communication for about 100 or so mi. Aircraft was dispatched without speed brakes and we had to let curacao know we could not meet descent requirements because of no brakes. Aircraft should not be allowed to be dispatched to an environment as the caribbean without such a necessary aircraft tool.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW LOST COM WITH ATC IN CARIBBEAN INTL AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE ON ATC FLT PLAN, WE TRIED TO CALL CURACAO RADIO WHILE ENRTE TO AUA. WE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT CURACAO ON 127.1 AND CALLED OUR LAST CTLR FROM SANTO DOMINGO WHO NEVER HANDED US OFF OR REESTABLISHED COMS. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS, WE FINALLY ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH CURACAO. NO CONFLICTS, JUST LACK OF COM FOR ABOUT 100 OR SO MI. ACFT WAS DISPATCHED WITHOUT SPD BRAKES AND WE HAD TO LET CURACAO KNOW WE COULD NOT MEET DSCNT REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE OF NO BRAKES. ACFT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE DISPATCHED TO AN ENVIRONMENT AS THE CARIBBEAN WITHOUT SUCH A NECESSARY ACFT TOOL.

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.