An apology
Sorry...
when I said that this happens too often - I meant pilots merrilly plodding on without contact - I wasnt suggesting that they were falling asleep too often!
However, I can see that my comment was easliy interpreted as such - so, sorry again.
Mind you, my point still stands - long periods of no contact should at least prompt a "radio check". Particularly when crossing FIR boundaries.
And it really shouldnt be a scramble to find a frequency. Don't you have relevant charts for each flight to hand? Dont they have frequencies on them? If you are stuck - any London frequency will do and you can ask what the correct one should be.