GF...
Just a personal thought, but when you have to make insults or swipes at people, you're losing the argument.
I'd usually agree with you. But this is something that I've taught every multi-IFR student and is, IMO, one of the very basic rules of IFR. I thought it to be ridiculous to see the arguments aterpster was supporting. And I find it even more ridiculous to learn that he has a broad background in approach design!
Maybe I should have just shook my head and not said anything.
You are correct, technically, about the NORDO possibility, but the real world doesn't always work perfectly. In any case, the NORDO aircraft would be "protected" by ATC clearing the airspace, calling for the filed alternate and planning for the NORDO aircraft to fly airways to that alternate.
Exactly! That is why we have procedures for NORDO at ALL stages of flight. The 'perfect' world would have you always getting vectors or a new clearance immediately after your missed approach and you wouldn't even need missed approach instructions. Also, the procedure of holding at your clearance limit isn't strictly a NORDO procedure - ATC might be quite busy with other traffic and isn't able to get you a further clearance right away. So he can just leave you be and know that you will hold at your clearance limit... hopefully! I'm hoping all the IFR pilots out there actually do know to hold at the clearance limit.