IFR Checkride Guide
Chair flying / Lost Communications (91.185)

Lost Communications (91.185)

Rehearse the two-way radio failure drill — troubleshoot, squawk 7600, then route and altitude by the book until landing.

Guided rehearsal is PremiumACS VII.A — Loss of Communications

Setup

  1. Recognize and troubleshoot: volume, squelch, headset, jacks, other radio, other frequency
    Try the last assigned frequency, the previous one, or 121.5. Listen over the navaid audio — ATC can transmit over VORs.
  2. Squawk 7600“Seven-six-zero-zero”

Execution

  1. VFR conditions now or later? Continue VFR and land as soon as practicable (91.185(b))
    This is the escape hatch most pilots forget — if you break out into VMC, stay out and land.
  2. IFR: fly the ROUTE — Assigned, Vectored, Expected, Filed (AVEF)
    Last assigned route; if being vectored, direct to the fix/route in the vector clearance; else the route ATC said to expect; else the filed route (91.185(c)(1)).
  3. Fly the ALTITUDE — highest of: last assigned, minimum IFR altitude (MEA), or expected
    Evaluated segment by segment (91.185(c)(2)).
  4. At the clearance limit: hold or proceed per 91.185(c)(3), then begin the approach as close as possible to the EFC or your ETA
    Clearance limit is an approach fix: descend/approach at EFC, or at ETA if no EFC. Not an approach fix: leave it at EFC, or at the limit proceed to an approach fix and start the approach near ETA.

Recovery

  1. Fly any approach at the destination; land
  2. After landing: contact ATC by phone immediately to close the flight plan

ACS tolerances

  • Route and altitude selection exactly per 91.185
  • Approach commenced as close as possible to EFC/ETA

Common errors

  • Descending early to the expected altitude instead of holding the highest applicable
  • Forgetting the VFR-conditions rule — staying in the system when VMC was available
  • Confusing when to leave the clearance limit with vs. without an EFC
  • Not trying simple fixes (second radio, 121.5, navaid audio) before declaring defeat