Handshake between ATCs

[ming1000]

I got this question because of MH370. I still hope a miracle.

As stated by regulation, once a flight plan is activated, it is pilot duty to close by calling FAA, or FAA would call local law enforcement to knock my door at the destination of that flight plan. I've never done a ATC transition, the question is what would happen between if one ATC hand off, and I didn't call the next ATC while in the air. Would they still wait for the longest time my fuel permits? Is there a procedure between ATC for handling plane between ATC.

thank you

[MovingOn]

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[drseti]

Unlike VFR flight plans (which are voluntary and optional), all planes flying under Instrument Flight Rules (which includes all operations at the Flight Levels) are required to operate under an IFR flight plan. IFR procedures for lost communications (which failing to complete a handoff would constitute) are very specific. The pilot would be expected to continue executing the last clearance, fly to the filed destination, and execute an approach at a specified time. Thus, the route being flown, altitude, and time enroute would be known to ATC. If unable to complete the approach, the pilot would continue to the filed alternate, and execute an approach there. If the plane doesn't appear at the destination or alternate airport within the specified time window, SAR is immediately initiated.

[Jack Tyler]

Back to what appears to be a question about using VFR Flight Following from an ATC facility:

"...the question is what would happen between if one ATC hand off, and I didn't call the next ATC while in the air."

Sometimes a busy controller will fail to do the handoff to the next ATC facility before you are out of radio range with that busy controller. If you haven't been given the new frequency and you fail to look it up (easily done with a program like Foreflight), the next controller will see your assigned squawk on his/her screen, call you a few times and 'may' choose to call the previous ATC facility and ask about who you are. But unless you come up on the subsequent frequency, your service will be terminated.

If you switch to the new assigned freq but forget to check in, you will likely be called by that next controller.