One of the hallmarks of safety of all IFR flight is the lost communications procedure ... IF ATC had given an expected clearance to a different altitude as part of the original or any ammendments to the clearance the pilots of LEGACY would be duty bound to follow it.
If while attempting to contact ATC to make sure of the descent and NOT hearing any communication from ATC, the sequence of events should have been standard including
7600 in transponder
and trying multiple methods of communications, including all radios, all mics and as this is a super duper biz jet, any air to ground phone system ( sat phone for example) if installed.
And after all of this, which would have checked transponder, and all audio panels, the pilots should have looked at their TCAS display ( in an effor to check for traffic in descent path), which would also confirm TCAS working)and then descended in accordance with "EXPECTED" altitude clearance. Additionally turning on all exterior lights and being more vigilante for all traffic would be reasonable precautions.
Let me add: if this all happened in VMC (VFR conditions) and the legacy crew had lost all comm, landing at the first suitable airport under VMC is also part of the procedure.
Last edited by jondc9; 7th Oct 2006 at 22:04.