'Uncontrolled Rest' again? Virgin 206
VIRGIN 206 lost or never made contact with Ulaanbatur control Mongolia for at least 30 minutes from around 0315 UTC on 5th March flying eastwards on B330 between Nigor and Silus. Perhaps, for some time previously on the Russian sector. Multiple attempts by ULaanbatur ATC and another aircraft ahead on the route, which was requested to contact them on control frequencies, the Emergency guard and the air to air frequencies failed. There was genuine concern that if they entered Chinese airspace without regaining contact that there would be an unfortunate response from the PLA AF. Luckily, probably due to the intervention of their cabin crew, they responded about 40 minutes prior to the handover. Another more wide awake voice later took over the R/T duties.
Is this another case of reduced manning on late night Long Haul flights resulting in insufficient in flight rest on back of the clock sectors? Are Virgin operating Four or only Three man crew to the Far East?
Had this continued or happened thirty minutes later, it could have been much more interesting - in the Chinese way..........