FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Navigation and AirspaceMedium
A pilot inbound to a Class D airport experiences a two-way radio communication failure in VFR conditions. According to AIM guidance, the pilot should:
- AContinue straight in and land without regard to tower light signals
- BSquawk 7600, remain outside the Class D airspace while observing the traffic pattern, then enter and watch for light gun signals from the tower
- CLand immediately regardless of traffic in the pattern
- DSquawk 7700 and divert to the nearest suitable airport immediately
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Squawk 7600, remain outside the Class D airspace while observing the traffic pattern, then enter and watch for light gun signals from the tower
AIM guidance recommends squawking 7600 to alert ATC of the communication failure, remaining outside Class D airspace until the flow of traffic can be determined, then entering the pattern and watching for light gun signals from the tower to receive landing clearance.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Ignoring light signals removes the only means of receiving landing clearance from the tower.
- C. Landing without observing traffic pattern flow risks a midair collision.
- D. 7700 signals an emergency, not simply lost communications; 7600 is correct for radio failure.
Lost Communications (VFR, Class D)
Procedure for a VFR pilot experiencing radio failure approaching a towered airport in Class D airspace.
- Squawk 7600
- Remain outside airspace, observe traffic flow
- Enter pattern and look for light gun signals
Memory trick: '76 for silence, watch the lights for guidance'