M1, S5, C4 - Radio Failure

Question 1

Radio failure procedures should not be considered in isolation and emergency action described in other chapters should be applied if they are appropriate.

For example…

Answer 1

…if an aircraft fails to make a report when expected, overdue action may have to be taken at the same time, particularly if the aircraft cannot be tracked on a situation display.

Question 2

Radio failure procedures shall be adopted when:

Answer 2

(1) an aircraft is observed to have selected A7600, and the pilot does not respond to ATC communication;
(2) communication cannot be maintained with an aircraft on any flight which is being provided with an ATC or advisory service;
(3) communication cannot be established with an aircraft operating, or intending to operate, on an IFR flight plan within controlled or advisory airspace.

Question 3

The following procedures are based on the assumption that the pilot will…

Answer 3

…comply with the current procedures for radio failure detailed in the UK AIP

Question 4

Controllers should be alert to the possibility that a radio failure aircraft may…

Answer 4

…have suffered unlawful interference.

Question 5

As soon as it is known that an aircraft is experiencing an apparent radio failure, the ATS unit shall…

Answer 5

…forward information concerning the radio failure to all ATS units concerned along the route of flight.

The ACC in whose area the destination aerodrome is located shall take steps to obtain information on the alternate aerodrome(s) and other relevant information specified in the filed flight plan.

Question 6

After attempts to establish normal two-way radio communication have failed, controllers are to carry out the following standard radio failure procedures:

Answer 6

(1) Maintain separation between the radio failure aircraft and other known traffic;
(2) Give pertinent information about the movements of the radio failure aircraft to other aircraft in the presumed vicinity;
(3) Ask aircraft in the presumed vicinity to establish communication with the radio failure aircraft and relay messages;
(4) Use all means possible to monitor the aircraft’s progress;
(5) Attempt to relay information using ACARS/datalink.

Pilots may attempt to contact ATC using HF or if equipped with approved installations for accessing the UK telephone network may attempt to contact ATC via the D&D cell.

(6) Transmit, on the appropriate frequencies:
(a) level, route and EAT (or ETA) to which the radio failure aircraft is assumed to be adhering; and
(b) the weather conditions at the destination aerodrome, a suitable alternate and, if practicable, in areas suitable for a descent through cloud.
(7) When, in consultation with the operator, instructions to divert have been transmitted to the radio failure aircraft, inform the alternate aerodrome and request that they attempt to establish communication;
(8) If necessary, commence overdue action as described in Chapter 3.

Question 7

If available, ATS surveillance systems shall be used to assist in…

Answer 7

…separating other aircraft from a radio failure aircraft and to determine whether it is receiving and complying with instructions.

Question 8

PSR only:

If an identified aircraft experiences a radio failure the controller shall…

Answer 8

…instruct the aircraft to make a turn(s).

If movement of the Position Indication indicates that the aircraft receiver is operating, the controller shall continue to pass instructions and resume normal service.

Question 9

PSR only:

If the Position Indication indicates that the aircraft is not responding to instructions(s), the controller shall ensure that…

Answer 9

…other known traffic are separated from the radio failure aircraft.

Question 10

PSR only:

If the position of the radio failure aircraft is not known the controller may continue to provide a service to…

Answer 10

…identified aircraft, provided the PSR cover is adequate and he is confident that he can maintain 5 miles, or alternative approved minima within MATS Part 2 separation, from all unknown traffic.

Question 11

If an aircraft carrying a secondary radar transponder experiences a radio failure the controller shall…

Answer 11

…instruct the pilot to make mode and/or code changes or to operate the IDENT or SPI feature.

If the responses indicate that the aircraft radio receiver is operating, control of the radio failure aircraft may continue using the transponder replies as acknowledgement of instructions.

Question 12

If the radio receiver is not working, pilots may be expected to select…

Answer 12

…A7600 and follow established procedures

Question 13

As soon as ATC know that two-way communication has failed they will, as far as practical…

Answer 13

…maintain separation between the aircraft experiencing the communication failure and other aircraft, based on the assumption that the aircraft will operate in accordance with radio communication failure procedures described below.

Question 14

It should be noted that for many aerodromes in the UK, the radio communications failure procedures published in the UK AIP AD 2 section…

Answer 14

…differ from, or amplify, the basic procedures published below.

Question 15

For the purposes of these procedures, ATC will expect an IFR flight following the ATS route structure to adopt the…

Answer 15

…IMC procedure. If there is an overriding safety reason, the pilot may adopt the VMC procedure

Question 16

Flights operating outside controlled or advisory airspace, without reference to ATS, should only use these procedures when…

Answer 16

…the pilot decides there is a need to alert ATC that two-way radio communications failure has occurred

Question 17

It should be noted that the use of two-way communications failure procedures may result in…

Answer 17

…aircraft flying outside controlled airspace

Question 18

The procedures detailed in this chapter apply to two-way radio communications failure. In the event that an additional emergency situation develops, ATC will expect the pilot to…

Answer 18

…select A7700.

Question 19

The expression “Expected Approach Time” (EAT) will mean either…

Answer 19

…an EAT given by the appropriate ATC unit or, if the pilot has been given ‘No delay expected’, the ETA over the appropriate designated facility serving the destination aerodrome

Question 20

Pilots are given an EAT of ‘Delay not determined’ when…

Answer 20

…the destination runways cannot be used for landing and it is not possible to accurately predict when they will become available.

In some circumstances an EAT of ‘Delay not determined’ will also be given when a preceding flight has elected to remain over the holding facility pending an improvement in weather conditions at the destination.

If ‘Delay not determined’ has been given, pilots should not attempt to land at the destination aerodrome, but instead divert to the alternate destination specified in the current flight plan or another suitable aerodrome

Question 21

The pilot of a VFR flight experiencing communication failure shall:

Answer 21

select SSR Mode A, Code 7600 with Mode C and land at the nearest suitable aerodrome.

Pilots should take account of visual landing aids and keep watch for instructions as may be issued by visual signals from the ground.

The pilot should report arrival to the appropriate ATC unit as soon as possible.

When VMC cannot be maintained, the pilot should adopt the IMC Procedures as detailed below.

Question 22

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4.3 above, the pilot of an IFR flight experiencing communication failure in VMC shall:

Answer 22

(1) select SSR Mode A, Code 7600 with Mode C; and
(2) land at the nearest suitable aerodrome.

Pilots should take account of visual landing aids and keep watch for instructions as may be issued by visual signals from the ground. The pilot should report arrival to the appropriate ATC unit as soon as possible.

If it does not appear feasible to continue the flight VMC, or if it would be inappropriate to follow this procedure, the pilot should adopt the procedures for flights in IMC detailed below.

Note: Pilots already in receipt of an ATC clearance may enter controlled airspace and follow the procedures referred to above.

Those flights that have not received an ATC clearance should not enter controlled or advisory airspace unless an overriding safety reason compels entry.

Question 23

A pilot of a flight experiencing communication failure in IMC shall:

Answer 23

(1) select SSR Mode A, Code 7600 with Mode C;
(a) maintain for a period of 7 minutes, the current speed and last assigned level or minimum safe altitude, if this is higher.

The period of 7 minutes begins when the transponder is set to 7600 and this should be done as soon as the pilot has detected communications failure;

(b) if the failure occurs when the aircraft is following a notified departure procedure such as a SID and clearance to climb, or re-routeing instructions have not been given, the procedure should be flown in accordance with the published lateral track and vertical profile, including any stepped climbs, until the last position, fix, or waypoint, published for the procedure has been reached.

Then for that part of the 7 minutes that may remain, maintain current speed and last assigned level or minimum safe altitude, if this is higher;

(c) thereafter, adjust the speed and level in accordance with the current flight plan and continue the flight to the appropriate designated landing aid serving the destination aerodrome.

Attempt to transmit position reports and altitude/flight level on the appropriate frequency when over routine reporting points;

(2)

(a) if being vectored, or proceeding offset according to RNAV, without a specified limit, continue in accordance with ATC instructions last acknowledged for 3 minutes only and then proceed in the most direct manner possible to rejoin the current flight planned route.

Pilots should ensure that they remain at, or above, the minimum safe altitude;

(b) if being vectored by an Approach Control Radar unit (callsign DIRECTOR/ RADAR/APPROACH), comply with the loss of communications procedures notified on the appropriate RMAC as detailed in the UK AIP AD 2 section;

(3)

(a) arrange the flight to arrive over the appropriate designated landing aid serving the destination aerodrome as closely as possible to the ETA last acknowledged by ATC.

If no such ETA has been acknowledged, the pilot should use an ETA derived from the last acknowledged position report and the flight-planned times for the subsequent section of the flight;

(b) arrange the flight to arrive over the appropriate designated landing aid serving the destination aerodrome at the highest notified Minimum Sector Altitude taking account of en route terrain clearance requirements;
(c) if following a STAR, after the 7-minute period detailed above has been completed, pilots should arrange descent as close as possible to the descent planning profile.

If no descent profile is published, pilots should arrange descent to be at the minimum published level at the designated Initial Approach Fix;

(4) on reaching the appropriate designated landing aid serving the destination aerodrome, begin further descent at the last acknowledged EAT.

If no EAT has been acknowledged, the descent should be started at the ETA calculated in paragraph (4) (a) above, or as close as possible to this time.

If necessary, remain within the holding pattern until the minimum holding level, published for the facility, has been reached.

The rate of descent in holding patterns should not be less than 500 ft per minute.

If ‘Delay not determined’ has been given, pilots are not to attempt to land at the destination aerodrome, but instead divert to the alternate destination specified in the current flight plan or another suitable aerodrome;

(5) carry out the notified instrument approach procedure as specified for the designated navigational aid and, if possible, land within 30 minutes of the EAT or the calculated ETA.

When practical, pilots should take account of visual landing aids and keep watch for instructions that may be issued by means of visual signals from the ground;

(6) if communications failure occurs during an approach directed by radar, continue visually, or by using an alternative aid.

If this is not practical, carry out the missed approach procedure and continue to a holding facility appropriate to the aerodrome of intended landing for which an instrument approach is notified and then carry out that procedure.

Question 24

The procedures to be adopted by pilots of Special VFR flights experiencing two-way radio communication failure are:

Answer 24

(1) if the aircraft is suitably equipped, select A7600 and Mode C;
(2) if it is believed that the radio communication transmitter is functioning, transmit blind giving position reports and stating intentions;
(3) if, when radio communication failure occurs, the aircraft has not yet entered the CTR concerned, the pilot must in all cases remain clear even if Special VFR clearance has been obtained;
(4) if Special VFR clearance has been obtained and the aircraft has entered the CTR concerned when the radio communication failure occurs, proceed as follows:
(a) aircraft inbound to an aerodrome within CTR – proceed in accordance with the Special VFR clearance to the aerodrome and land as soon as possible.

When in the aerodrome traffic circuit watch for visual signals;

(b) aircraft transiting a CTR – continue flight not above the cleared altitude to leave the CTR by the most direct route, taking into account weather limitations, obstacle clearance and areas of known dense traffic.

Note 1: In a) and b), if flying on a heading advised by radar, when radio communication failure occurs, resume own navigation and carry out the appropriate procedure described.

Note 2: In all cases, notify the ATC unit concerned as soon as possible after landing.

Question 25

Radio failure procedures shall be continued until it is determined that.

Answer 25

…alternative action can be taken or normal operations resumed without impairing safety

Question 26

A controller who re-establishes communication with an aircraft must inform…

Answer 26

…the unit at which the radio failure procedure was initiated and provide it with information required for further control of aircraft

Question 27

When positive information is received that the radio failure aircraft has landed…

Answer 27

…normal operations shall be resumed.

Question 28

If the aircraft lands without re-establishing radio communication the controller at the aerodrome shall…

Answer 28

…inform the unit at which the radio failure procedure was initiated.

Question 29

If required, the level occupied by the radio failure aircraft in the holding stack, and subsequent levels that the aircraft will have to pass through, may be re-allocated to succeeding aircraft…

Answer 29

…15 minutes after the latest time they should have been vacated.

Question 30

The lowest level in the stack and the level at which, according to published procedures, radio failure aircraft are expected to leave the vicinity are to be kept clear for…

Answer 30

…30 minutes after the time descent should have begun plus an appropriate period to allow the aircraft to leave the vicinity.

Question 31

If the position of the radio failure aircraft has not been determined within a period of 30 minutes after the time it should have begun the descent over the holding point…

Answer 31

…pertinent information about it shall be given to the Aircraft Operators and/or pilots of other aircraft. It is then their responsibility to determine whether they will resume normal operations or take some other action