Lost Comms question
 

FAR 91.185: IFR 2-way radio communications failure. Leaving clearance limit: "commence descent or descent and approach as close as possible to the ETA as calculated from the filed or amended estimated time enroute"

My question: should you start the approach so you reach the airport at the ETA in the flight plan or should you leave the fix at the ETA?

When fix goes into an approach
At EFC time OR
If EFC time not given, as close as possible to the ETA as calculated from ETE
When fix does not go into an approach
At EFC time OR;
Upon arrival over the clearance limit, and proceed to a fix from which an approach begins and commence descent and approach as close as possible to the ETA as calculated from the filed ETE

Hope this helps

what's interesting about this rule - are the words " as close as possible to " - loose terminology which effectively says get your butt on the ground as quickly as you desire if you've got loss of comms. Why hang around, especially if conditions are worsening or you're picking up ice, low on fuel etc....

Because the procedures were written in the days before radar was common, in which case you could descend straight into a stack of aircraft beneath you. We'll be expecting you to stay at last assigned level until the EAT/ETA.

Thanks for clarifying cb :ok: