B777 flight crew reports not receiving a VHF frequency for ZNY via CPDLC prior to departing the WATRS area northbound. It is discovered that they are not logged onto CPDLC and have not been since entering BDA TMA.
Synopsis
B777 flight crew reports not receiving a VHF frequency for ZNY via CPDLC prior to departing the WATRS area northbound. It is discovered that they are not logged onto CPDLC and have not been since entering BDA TMA.
Narrative
I took the third break on this leg of the trip. Just prior to going on break we logged on to NY (KZWY) CPDLC and I checked in with New York on VHF in the vicinity of NEYDU Intersection prior to entering WATRS northbound. I received the HF assignments. I also received the HF assignment for the section of WATRS north of Bermuda. I then got the SELCAL check on HF. When the First Officer came back from his break I briefed the required items along with the frequencies and their location on my flight progress sheet on the clipboard. When I came back from break; three hours later; I noticed we were still on HF just north of MARIG Intersection which is the exit point for WATRS. I questioned why we hadn't received the VHF assignment via CPLDC. The First Officer and Relief Pilot said that we hadn't received it through CPDLC. I tried to send a message through a CPDLC free text message. I was unable to send it because we weren't logged on. The Relief Pilot then questioned if we had to log on again re-entering WATRS at BOVIC. It turns out that they had not logged on again north of Bermuda. By the frequencies in the number 1 HF; it appeared that they had talked to NY Radio and gotten a SELCAL check when they entered WATRS. I Called NY Radio on VHF to get a NY Center frequency just as another flight was calling us on 121.5 with the frequency for us. Part of my briefing will be the requirement to re-log on to KZWY CPDLC after transiting Bermuda airspace.
Second reporter narrative
As First Officer (pilot flying) northbound; I returned from my break and resumed my duties as pilot flying after receiving the brief from the Captain on radio frequencies and communication. The Relief Pilot (pilot not flying) contacted New York on VHF frequency prior to entering BDA TMA. Prior to BOVIC the Relief Pilot contacted NY on HF and received a SELCAL check and advised NY that we were CPDLC equipped. The FMC showed that the BOVIC position report had been sent. Prior to MARIG the Captain returned from his break and resumed his duties as pilot not flying. He inquired if we had received our VHF frequency for New York. We had not received the frequency. He tried to send a message via CPDLC and we realized that we were not logged on. He made contact with New York using a charted frequency. Contact was made at the same time that another flight was attempting to pass us the frequency on radio #2. As pilot flying I will ensure in the future that anytime a SELCAL check is made and we are logging onto CPDLC that I double check that we are in fact logged onto CPDLC.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.