Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, the student will:
•	Know how to determine whether or not an actual communications failure has occurred.
•	Know the course of action to be taken in the event of a communications failure.
Elements:
•	ATC Clearances
•	Clearance limits and EFC times
•	MEA, MOCA, etc.
•	Holding instructions
Schedule:
•	Pre-lesson briefing								00:05
•	EFC Times									00:05
•	MEA, MOCA									00:10
•	Determining whether or not there is a communications failure			00:15
•	Courses of action in the event of a communications failure			00:15
•	Summary and Post-lesson debriefing						00:10
Total:	01:00
Equipment:
•	CRAFT – RVR Forms
•	Appropriate Departure procedure, STARs and Approach charts.
•	Appropriate IFR en-route charts. 
Instructor Actions:
1.	Pre-lesson briefing
•	Present lesson objective and outline of the lesson.
2.	Review EFC times
•	Necessary anytime the clearance limit is not an airport, for example:
•	Cleared to a fix
•	Holding instructions
•	If ATC clears you to a fix or issues a holding instruction without an EFC time, it is up to the pilot to refuse the clearance without an EFC time.
3.	Review MEA, MOCA, etc.
•	MEA – Minimum en-route altitude
•	Guarantees acceptable navigation signal reception
•	Guarantees obstacle clearance
•	MOCA – Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude
•	Guarantees obstacle clearance
•	Guarantees acceptable VOR reception within 22 NM of the station.
•	MRA – Minimum Reception Altitude
•	Minimum altitude at which acceptable navigation signal strength exists to identify a fix.
•	MCA – Minimum Crossing Altitude
•	Minimum altitude at which a fix may be crossed
•	Varies with direction of flight
4.	Explain how to determine whether or not there is a communications failure and how to troubleshoot the problem.
•	Three kinds of real communications failures:
•	Inability to receive.
•	Inability to transmit.
•	Inability to do either.
•	Basic trouble-shooting:
•	Are the microphone and headphone jacks properly seated in the jacks?
•	Audio panel settings correct?
•	Volume on the radio turned up?
•	Radio on the proper frequency? Keep a frequency log.
•	Try the other radio.
•	Try the co-pilot’s microphone/headphone jacks.
•	Try the speaker and/or hand microphone.
•	Weather induced communications failures:
•	Antennas iced up (communications is probably the least of your worries).
•	Static due to nearby thunderstorms (again communications is probably the least of your worries).
5.	Explain courses of action in the event of a communications failure.
•	Once it is determined that there is really a communications failure:
•	If in VFR conditions, continue the flight in VFR conditions; land as soon as practicable; contact ATC and inform them of the situation.
•	In IFR conditions, squawk 7700 for 1 minute, then 7600; Then what?
•	Follow last clearance received and readback; If you received the clearance but didn’t read it back or get a “readback correct” confirmation, then the previous clearance is still in effect.
•	If ATC gave an expected further clearance, follow that.
•	Altitude – Highest of assigned altitude, expected altitude, MEA.
•	In a hold. – Leave the hold at the EFC time and proceed to fly the approach, or continue on with the assigned route.
•	Use common sense; FARs can’t possible address every possible situation.
•	Is it an emergency?
•	Probably not, but it could be; Pilot’s discretion to declare (even though unable to communicate it) an emergency,
6.	Summary and Post-lesson debriefing
•	Summarize items 2 - 5.
•	Answer student questions.
•	Ask student questions to evaluate what was learned.
•	Explain what will be covered in the next lesson and assign reading material.
Student Actions:
1.	Pre-lesson briefing
•	Ask questions concerning previous lessons and/or this one.
2.	Review EFC times.
•	Ask questions.
3.	Review MEA, MOCA, etc.
•	Ask questions.
4.	Determining whether or not there is a communications failure.
•	Ask questions.
5.	Courses of action in the event of a communications failure.
•	Ask questions.
6.	Practice receiving, copying and reading back holding instructions.
•	Use shorthand notation to write clearance information.
•	Readback clearance accurately in a timely manner
7.	Summary and Post-lesson debriefing.
•	Answer instructor’s review questions.
•	Ask questions about the lesson.
Completion Standards:
This lesson will be completed when the student is able to:
•	Determine whether or not there is a true communications failure.
•	demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the procedures to be followed in the event of a loss of communications.
Common Errors:
•	None.
References:
•	The Instrument Flight Manual; William Kershner; Chapter 9.
Possible Review Questions: