16
votes
Accepted
Lost radio communication after take-off in IMC - what are my options?
The answers to these questions can be found in the AIM in section 6-4-1. All quotes are from that page.
To the first question, you should expect to receive a clearance to 8,000 feet twenty minutes ...
- 6,105
14
votes
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Is there a solution to radio interference?
Firstly, it is worth noting that the blocked radio transmission is only one point on a very long list of factors that caused the horrible accident on Tenerife. There is enough redundancy in aviation ...
- 36.2k
10
votes
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Navigate to the final approach course after radio failure under IFR
First, squawk 7600 to let ATC know you have lost two way radio communications and to clear traffic out of your way.
Then, from the AIM, Section 4. Two-way Radio Communication Failure
Section 6-4-1....
- 19.4k
10
votes
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How to start an approach in IMC loss of communication under IFR?
The FAA says (per 14 CFR 91.185):
If the clearance limit is not a fix from which an approach begins,
leave the clearance limit at the expect-further-clearance time if one
has been received, or ...
- 3,113
10
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How should a loss of communications in VFR be dealt with?
should I blindly continue in
First, never do anything "blindly".
The FAR and the AIM address the Class D question, so this part is the most easily answerable:
FAR 91.129 (d) Communications ...
- 2,819
10
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When can I start an approach if I lose comms and my clearance limit is not an initial approach fix?
Note: this may be a dupe of this question. However, you seem to be saying that you've read and understood the regulations on what to do, you just don't believe that ATC or the FAA really expects you ...
- 71.6k
8
votes
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How to check if (small) aircraft's radio is working properly?
Here are some things you can do, there are probably more. I'm assuming you're mainly interested in checking COM, not NAV.
Controlled airport
Check if you can hear the ATIS, Ground or Tower; if you ...
- 71.6k
8
votes
Does an airline have to pay if fighters intercept one of its aircraft?
Probably not very likely. In 1978 Soviet Union asked US\$100,000 (\$375,200 today) for "caretaking passengers" after their interceptors forced to land KAL 902 on the frozen lake (has never been paid). ...
- 12k
8
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Is it okay to divert to another airport in IFR lost comms situations?
AIM 6−4−1. Two-way Radio Communications Failure
a. It is virtually impossible to provide regulations and procedures applicable to all possible situations associated with two-way radio communications ...
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8
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In lost comms situations, when and where do the pilots of big commercial jets expect to get green light from tower?
In the US, for VFR, the answer to both of your questions (when and where) is when you are established on downwind. You may not be able to see the light signal if you circle above. I don't think it ...
- 8,532
7
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With radio not working, why it is more important to stay away from exactly class D airspace?
I think you are mis-interpreting the answer, you should remain outside Class-D until the flow of traffic can be acertained. If you lose comms outside of a Class-B or Class-C, you should not enter that ...
- 36k
6
votes
Is there a solution to radio interference?
This isn't really an answer, but it got to be far too long to put in the comments...
Two paragraphs later in the same Wiki:
After the KLM plane had started its takeoff roll, the tower instructed ...
- 15.6k
6
votes
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How did aircraft flying in formation use flares to communicate with each other?
This break down of a B24 Missions seems to outline the usage of flare on a mission well:
Assembly
After takeoff, a pilot usually kept on a straight course for about two
minutes, in part because the B-...
- 100k
6
votes
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Is Flight Service Station the same as En Route Flight Advisory Service?
To start, no, "En Route Flight Advisory Service" and "Flight Service Station" are not the same thing. They can never be the same thing because they are entirely separate categories ...
- 13.4k
5
votes
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Does two-way communication failure include one-way communication failure?
7600 means a loss of two way communications, it's a way of letting ATC know you have a problem sending or receiving, or both.
- 52.9k
5
votes
Is there a solution to radio interference?
Yes, this is possible with technology, but there is a big problem too. How do you decide which radio has priority?
Right now the system is "whoever has the strongest signal, wins", but both will ...
- 36k
5
votes
What route should I fly in this lost comms scenario?
Rule of thumb: Whenever a clearance has an instruction to proceed from point X to point Y, where the path between those points is at the controller's discretion (such as vectors), and you have ...
- 126k
4
votes
Accepted
Is it practical to descend in a lost communication scenario?
The rules on this are well-established and clear. They are laid out in FAR §91.185(c)(2). In particular, you should fly at an altitude which is (emphasis mine):
At the highest of the following ...
- 6,105
4
votes
Lost radio communication after take-off in IMC - what are my options?
The reference to “small private jets” and altitude is invalid. Our C550B has a ceiling of FL450, and the B737-800 I used to fly had a ceiling of only FL410. Most “small” jets fly higher than “large” ...
- 41
4
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With radio not working, why it is more important to stay away from exactly class D airspace?
The procedure in the linked answer assumes you're VFR. If you're in class A airspace, that means you must be IFR, and there are specific (and somewhat different) procedures for IFR flights that lose ...
- 27.6k
4
votes
Does an airline have to pay if fighters intercept one of its aircraft?
The answer depends entirely on the country the aircraft is overflying when an intercept is ordered or requested. I can't imagine payment being demanded by an EU country if the intercept is performed ...
- 12.6k
3
votes
Accepted
Is it okay to divert to another airport in IFR lost comms situations?
Short answer: you're expected to follow the rules you mentioned unless it's an emergency.
The regulations are in 91.185 and they say (among other things):
Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, each ...
- 71.6k
3
votes
How would an airplane land if the on-board radio breaks down?
The NORDO procedures are covered extensively in the AIM. That is suggested reading for any pilot.
Cellphones are unlikely to work airborne, except close to the ground, and then in remote areas. Most ...
- 17.7k
3
votes
Is there a solution to radio interference?
It's worth noting that any solution to the question you raised would not have prevented this, or similar disasters, from happening.
Regardless of any missed or corrupted transmissions with two people ...
- 31.2k
3
votes
Radio communications lost on climb out in IMC: when can I turn on course?
Your assumptions are insufficient.
If your clearance just states "CLIMB 6000 direct", and there are obstacles along the route, you have been given an incorrect clearance.
It should have ...
- 16.7k
3
votes
What should a pilot do in this lost communication scenario?
It means to expect radar vectors between PHX and DRAKE because ATC expects to have to move you around to accommodate the traffic situation. If you had a comm failure, once you squawk 7600, ATC will ...
- 126k
3
votes
Accepted
Can a commercial aircraft fly at night with complete navigation and communication equipment failure?
For the sake of the IFR/In the blind answer, lets assume that for this question at least the backup attitude and airspeed indicators are working and the pilot can in some capacity fly the plane in the ...
- 100k
3
votes
Is it possible to use Morse code for communication?
Morse Code is still used in aviation to identify navigation aids by audio means. VORs and NDBs broadcast their identifier letters as beeps heard on the audio channel when you tune in that VOR. You ...
- 126k
2
votes
Radio communications lost on climb out in IMC: when can I turn on course?
No, you will squawk 7600 and continue on your flight plan to your destination as filed. The airspace has already been cleared for you during your flight time.
- 72.8k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible