Failures, malfunctions & Lost Comms

Question 1

What are the 5 Major failures you need to be prepared for?

Answer 1

1. Engine trouble
   - Smoke in the cabin
   - engine failure
   - Engine fire
2. Pitot-Static failure
3. AHRS failure
4. ADC failure
5. PFD/MFD failure

Question 2

What is important to remember about the NAV/VOR receivers during an AHRS failure?

Answer 2

1. Reverse sensing is now possible

Question 3

What will happen if your PFD fails?

Answer 3

1. The PFD will enter Display Backup Mode (red button)
2. You will lose AUTOPILOT!

Question 4

What happens if your MFD fails?

Answer 4

You will lose..
1. NAV 2
2. Comm 2
3 GPS #2

Question 5

What happens if one of your GPS units fail?

Answer 5

System will auto switch to the other GPS.

Question 6

Describe how you should handle a lost comms situation when under IFR?

Answer 6

FAR 91.185 (c)

Squawk 7600 and…

Route: In priority order
A - Assigned route
V - Vectors: cont on HDG until next fix, then join your cleared route
E - Expected: Fly what you were told to expect
F - Filed: Fly what you filed for

Altitude: Choose the highest of these
M - Minimum IFR altitude: highest min altitude (including OROCA)
E - Expected: Fly what you were told to expect
A - Assigned

Leaving your Clearance Limit:
IAF - Hold and leave at EFC time (if given) or at ETA time filed.
Airport - Fly there and join a hold at IAF, shoot approach at ETA time

Question 7

What is an important lost comms consideration to make when filing an IFR flight plan?

Answer 7

Plan your route to an Initial Approach Fix (IAF) rather than to the airport. If you have lost comms, ATC will know what aproach you are planning on shooting

Question 8

What is the IFR acronym we use to remember what we should in a lost comm scenario?

Answer 8

FAR 91.185(c)

SHARP TT

Question 9

What are some practical things you should check if you suspect a lost comm situation?
(get at least 3 right)

Answer 9

1. Check to see if your mic became unplugged
2. Check the radio volume
3. Check circuit breakers
4. Check for a stuck mic button
5. Try to contact other aircraft or see if you can receive ATC over a VOR with your NAV radio
6. Check Co-Pilots mic

Question 10

Lost Comm Scenario:
You are flying eastbound direct to your destination per your amended ATC clearance. You were assigned 9,000ft and told to expect 11,000 in 10 mins. You lose your comms. What do you do?

(Current MEA is 8,000 and your about to pass a fix where the MEA is 12,000ft, you follow the 12,000 ft segment for 10nm, then the MEA goes back down to 10,000ft, per the chart)

Answer 10

1. Decide on the appropriate altitude (Remember: MEA)
   - Fly the expected 11,000ft in 10 mins, then fly the higher MEA of 12,000ft on the new segment, then descend back to the expected alt of 11,000ft as the MEA drops 10,000ft on the next segment
2. Decide how you will continue (Remember: AVE F)
   - Since you were cleared direct and your clearance limit is the airport, fly to the airport and hold. Don’t descend to approach altitude UNTIL EFC or ETA time

Question 11

When can you begin a descent to an approach during lost comms?

Answer 11

At your EFC or ETA time

Question 12

What should you do if you experience Lost Comms for the following Clearance Limit scenarios
1. Clearance limit is an IAF
2. Clearance limit is the destination airport

Answer 12

Clearance limit IS a fix that begins an approach
- Start your descent and and approach as close as possible to your EFC or filed/amended ETA

Clearance limit is NOT a fix that begins an approach
- At EFC (or filed/amended ETA) or what ever your clearance limit is, proceed to a fix that starts an approach and begin the approach. If you get there early, hold at that point until your EFC or ETA.

Question 13

What is something unique about our headsets that could help you during a Lost Comms situation?

Answer 13

Bose headsets have Bluetooth
- If you have cell signal, call ATC

Question 14

How would you handle a Lost Comms situations in Class A airspace in VMC?

Answer 14

In any Lost Comms scenario, when in VMC conditions, always land as soon as practicable.

Question 15

What is an important consideration to make when receiving an amended clearance from ATC while airborne in regards to lost comms?

Answer 15

WRITE IT DOWN!
1. If being radar vectored, it will be important to remember what your are being radar vectored FOR or TO in order to properly proceed with lost comms rules (FAR 91.185). ie: What is our new clearance limit?
2. You will need to remember what your new clearance limit is in order to know how to properly follow lost comm procedures.