CFI Instrument Practical Test Standards, FAA-S-8081-9B, June 2001

IX. Emergency Operations

A. Loss of Communications

1. Recognition of loss of communication
   a. Causes
   1) ATC outage
   2) Aircraft electrical system failure
   3) Aircraft comm system component malfunction
   a) Radio
   b) Speaker
   c) Microphone
   d) Headset
   b. Quiet on frequency for longer than few minutes, query ATC
   c. No answer, wait at least 1 minute
   d. Attempt radio communication
   1) Other ATC frequency (last one, one expected next)
   2) Another aircraft on same frequency
   2) FSS
   3) Aeronautical Radio Inc (ARINC) station
   4) 121.5 (emergency)
   e. If able to receive, but not transmit, ATC may request use of transponder IDENT feature to acknowledge
   f. Lost comm confirmed, squawk 7600
2. When to continue with flight plan as filed or when to deviate
   a. Comply with 14 CFR Sec. 91.185
   b. VFR conditions at or after lost comm
   Maintain VFR and land as soon as practicable
   
   c. IFR conditions (unable to maintain VFR)
   1) Route - AREF
   a) Route ATC last assigned
   b) Direct to fix to which radar vectors were being assigned
   c) Absence of assigned route, route ATC advised to be expected
   d) Absence of assigned or expected route, route filed in flight plan
   2) Altitude - MEA
   For each route segment, fly highest of the following
   • Minimum altitude for IFR operations
   • Expected altitude (advised by ATC to be expected after a time or fix)
   • Assigned by ATC in last clearance received
3. How to determine the time to begin an approach at destination
   a. Comply with 14 CFR Sec. 91.185
   b. If cleared to destination airport
   1) Select IAP
   2) Select most appropriate IAF (e.g., one included in flight plan)
   3) Proceed to selected IAF
   4) Commence descent and approach without delay
   c. If cleared to fix from which begins an approach
   1) Commence descent and approach (as close as possible to) EFC time
   2) No EFC time, commence descent and approach (as close as possible to) ETA
   d. If clearance limit not a fix from which begins an approach
   1) Leave fix at EFC or, if no EFC, on arrival
   2) Proceed to fix from which begins an approach
   3) Commence descent and approach (as close as possible to) ETA

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