Pilot's tip of the week

Lost Comm

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Subscriber question:

"If I am approaching a Class C or Class D airport and my radio goes dead, what do I do? This is assuming a VFR flight. What if I see a flashing red light from the control tower?" - Ainaras

John:

“A prerequisite for entering Class C airspace is establishing two-way communications. If you experience a radio failure, you will not be able to enter Class C without prior coordination.

Lost commIf you have already made contact with the Approach facility and have been given a transponder code with instructions to enter the pattern, then squawk 7600, continue and look for a light gun signal.

At a Class D airport, if the radio failed prior to making initial contact, stay out of the Class D and land at a non-towered airport. If you made initial contact and received instructions to enter the pattern, then squawk 7600 and look for a light gun.

A flashing red light in the air means the airport is unsafe – do not land. Do exactly that – do not land. Continue above or outside the traffic pattern, maintain visual contact with the tower and wait for a green light. If no green light is received after a reasonable amount of time, depart the pattern and land at a suitable non-towered airport.

The AIM Paragraph 4-2-13 has more information on these procedures.”

(NEW) IFR Mastery scenario #173 “Mammoth Winds West of Macon” is now available. A last-minute switch to a slower airplane is unfortunate, but flight planning shows strong tailwinds will almost make up the difference. The time and range should still work—until you level off in cruise and see an ETA an hour further out than you anticipated. Surely that can’t be right. But what is right? Watch the Intro video.

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