I'm wondering what would happen if say your flying from LHR-HKG and just before making your first contact with Russian airspace you have a total radio failure? What would you do? I'm quite sure the Russians would panic if you aren't replying maybe send in their Migs to intercept you?
I have had just that.
The outcome was that the SatPhone went bong, and London Ops asked if all was well. They then relayed a message to Khabarovsk (sp) via the phone, as the Russian controller had phoned London to ask BA to phone me.....
With some messing about with switches we sorted communications out and we continued on our way.