At Angel Aviation, we train instrument pilots to expect the unexpected—and nothing rattles a new IFR pilot like radio silence in the clouds. Whether it’s a stuck mic, total electrical failure, or just a missed handoff, loss of communications (lost comms) is a high-stakes scenario that demands clarity, confidence, and compliance.

Your DPE wants to see that you know what to do when ATC goes silent: what route to fly, what altitude to maintain, and when to descend. This guide breaks down everything you need to know for ACS Area IV: ATC Clearances & Procedures.

📡 Understanding Lost Comms Scenarios

Before diving into regulations, remember: not all lost comms are created equal. Consider these three questions:

  1. Are you VFR or IFR?

  2. Are you in VMC or IMC?

  3. Is it a radio failure, total electrical failure, or something else?

💡 Checkride Tip: Your examiner may simulate this in-flight or as a scenario on the ground. Be ready to ask the right questions and talk through your plan.

✈️ Step 1: Troubleshoot First

Before defaulting to published procedures, try to restore communications:

  • Check volume, frequency, and connections

  • Try backup radios or switching to COM2

  • Use transponder: squawk 7600

  • Try transmitting blind: “In the blind, Angel 345, climbing 5,000, direct COGER…”

  • Attempt contact on other frequencies (ATIS, CTAF, or a nearby center)

💡 Checkride Tip: Never jump to conclusions—always brief that your first action is troubleshooting.

🛩 Step 2: If You’re in VMC — Stay VFR and Land

If you’re in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), you must:

  • Remain VFR

  • Continue to a suitable airport

  • Land as soon as practicable

✅ This is the easiest case: no need to follow IFR lost comms rules if you can see and stay legal under VFR.

🌫 Step 3: If You’re in IMC — Know Your AVE-F and MEA

If you’re in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), you’ll need to follow two memory aids:

🧭 Route: A.V.E.F.

Fly the route in the following order of priority:

  1. A – Assigned: the route ATC last assigned

  2. V – Vectored: the route ATC vectored you to

  3. E – Expected: the route ATC told you to expect (e.g., “expect direct OATES after VUZ”)

  4. F – Filed: your original filed flight plan

🛬 Altitude: M.E.A.

Fly the highest of the following:

  1. M – Minimum enroute altitude (MEA, MOCA, OROCA)

  2. E – Expected altitude (e.g., “expect 7,000 after 10 minutes”)

  3. A – Assigned altitude by ATC

💡 Checkride Tip: Say it out loud in your briefing. Examiners love hearing “I’ll fly the highest of the MEA, expected, or assigned altitude.”

🕓 When to Start Your Descent

You’re flying the route and altitude—now what?

  • Begin descent as close as possible to your expected or filed ETA.

  • If cleared for an approach before losing comms, fly the approach at the expected time.

  • If not, hold at an IAF until time to descend and start the approach.

💡 Checkride Tip: Say what you’re doing and when—especially if holding before approach.

🛑 Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Descending too early or flying below MEA

  • Forgetting to squawk 7600

  • Not attempting contact on multiple frequencies

  • Flying the filed route even when an assigned or expected route was given

  • Assuming it’s a total failure when it’s just a missed handoff

🧠 Summary: Stay Legal, Logical, and Calm

Loss of comms isn’t about guessing—it’s about following a structured, legal decision-making process. Your examiner wants to see that you can:

✅ Troubleshoot
 ✅ Squawk correctly
 ✅ Fly the correct route and altitude
 ✅ Know when and how to begin your approach

When you brief it right, you fly it right. That’s how you pass your checkride—and fly IFR with confidence when things don’t go as planned.

Want to run a lost comms scenario in the sim or practice decision-making under pressure?
 Book a session with one of our CFII instructors—we’ll get you prepped and checkride-ready.

Fly smart. Fly sharp. Fly Angel.