Narrative:

We were informed by ATC that we were issued a clearance several times but failed to respond. We heard nothing until the controller called us in a stern voice to inform us that he could not reach us. Again; we did not hear any such transmission until his rather abrupt call. Only after I queried the controller did he inform me that a clearance was issued due to other air traffic. I have noticed that the west texas; forth worth frequencys are becoming a bit problematic recently. Controllers using multiple frequencys; pilots and controllers talking over one another; poor communication due to barely readable frequencys; and in my opinion; controllers that seem very stressed and overworked compared to other ctrs. To be honest; the controllers at ft worth seem to be having problems with their temper recently. If we missed a call; I will accept the responsibility; but I do not appreciate the increasing level of hostility by forth worth center toward my flight crews.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW MISSES CLRNC ISSUED BY ARTCC CTLR.

Narrative: WE WERE INFORMED BY ATC THAT WE WERE ISSUED A CLRNC SEVERAL TIMES BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. WE HEARD NOTHING UNTIL THE CTLR CALLED US IN A STERN VOICE TO INFORM US THAT HE COULD NOT REACH US. AGAIN; WE DID NOT HEAR ANY SUCH XMISSION UNTIL HIS RATHER ABRUPT CALL. ONLY AFTER I QUERIED THE CTLR DID HE INFORM ME THAT A CLRNC WAS ISSUED DUE TO OTHER AIR TFC. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE WEST TEXAS; FORTH WORTH FREQS ARE BECOMING A BIT PROBLEMATIC RECENTLY. CTLRS USING MULTIPLE FREQS; PLTS AND CTLRS TALKING OVER ONE ANOTHER; POOR COM DUE TO BARELY READABLE FREQS; AND IN MY OPINION; CTLRS THAT SEEM VERY STRESSED AND OVERWORKED COMPARED TO OTHER CTRS. TO BE HONEST; THE CTLRS AT FT WORTH SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBS WITH THEIR TEMPER RECENTLY. IF WE MISSED A CALL; I WILL ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY; BUT I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE INCREASING LEVEL OF HOSTILITY BY FORTH WORTH CTR TOWARD MY FLT CREWS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.