Task VIII.F
Radio Communications, Navigation Systems/Facilities, and Radar Services
To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with radio communications, navigation systems/facilities, and radar services available for use during flight solely by reference to instruments.
References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-25
Study Notes
Aviate, navigate, communicate — in that order. I keep the scan going while tuning: set the frequency in the standby side, glance, verify, swap. Never let a radio task steal the scan for more than a couple of seconds at a time (IFH ch 7).
Tune, identify, twist:
- Tune the frequency.
- Positively identify the station by its Morse code ident (no ident means the station may be undergoing maintenance and is unusable).
- Twist the OBS to the desired course and fly to center the needle.
For GPS, verify the correct waypoint and CDI scaling (IFH ch 9, AIM 1-1-3).
Radar traffic advisories for VFR aircraft — ATC calls out traffic and can provide safety alerts, workload permitting. I request it from approach or center with callsign, type, position, altitude, and destination. It doesn't relieve me of see-and-avoid, and ATC can terminate it when busy (AIM 4-1-15).
- FSS — briefings, flight plans, inflight advisories.
- Clearance delivery / ground / tower — at towered fields.
- TRACON (approach/departure) — terminal radar service.
- ARTCC (center) — en route.
- UNICOM/CTAF — at nontowered fields.
Radar services for VFR range from basic (advisories) to TRSA, Class C, and Class B services with sequencing and separation (AIM ch 4-1).
Squawk 7600, troubleshoot (volume, frequency, headset jacks, other radio, cell phone as backup), and continue to land at the planned airport watching for light gun signals from the tower. Steady green means cleared to land; I acknowledge with rocking wings by day or a flash of lights at night (AIM 4-2-13, 6-4-1).
Declare the moment the outcome is in doubt — deteriorating weather, disorientation, fuel, failures. Squawk 7700, call on the current frequency or 121.5, and remember the C's — climb (for radar/radio coverage and terrain), communicate, confess, comply, conserve. Priority handling costs nothing and there's no automatic enforcement action (AIM 6-1-2, 6-2-2).
- Automation — autopilot heading/altitude hold to shed workload.
- GPS — nearest-airport and frequency pages.
- EFB — planning aids.
- ATC — vectors, weather, and no-gyro turns if instruments fail.
Using them early is the risk-management answer the ACS wants (PHAK ch 2).
Official ACS elementsreference
Knowledge3 elements
The applicant demonstrates understanding of:
PA.VIII.F.K1Operating communications equipment, including identifying and selecting radio frequencies, requesting and following air traffic control (ATC) instructions.PA.VIII.F.K2Operating navigation equipment, including functions and displays, and following bearings, radials, or courses.PA.VIII.F.K3Air traffic control facilities and services.
Risk Management2 elements
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:
PA.VIII.F.R1When to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation.PA.VIII.F.R2Using available resources (e.g., automation, ATC, and flight deck planning aids).
Skills3 elements
The applicant exhibits the skill to:
PA.VIII.F.S1Maintain airplane control while selecting proper communications frequencies, identifying the appropriate facility, and managing navigation equipment.PA.VIII.F.S2Comply with ATC instructions.PA.VIII.F.S3[Archived]