ppl_07_e2-2
.pdf
Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
CHAPTER 8
COMMUNICATION FAILURE
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C H A P T ER 8 : C O M M U NIC A T IO NS F A IL U R E
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Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
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C H A P T ER 8 : C O M M U NIC A T
INITIAL CHECKS IF RADIO FAILURE IS SUSPECTED.
On rare occasions, communications between aircraft and ground stations can break down. Communications failure can be caused by complete or partial failure of the radio equipment, but a common cause also is human error. For instance, the receiver volume may be turned down too low, or the wrong frequency selected.
Consequently, in the event of communications problems, you should first check your radio equipment to ensure that you are using it correctly. The following checks are good initial checks if you suspect that you have communications problems.
Figure 8.1.
If you suspect 
that you have 
communications failure, check initially that:
•the correct frequency is selected.
•the volume is turned up.
•the microphone and headset are plugged in correctly.
•the radio station is open.
•you are within range.
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Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
C H A P T ER 8 : C O M M U NIC A T IO NS F A IL U R E
When
transmitting a message preceded by
the words TRANSMITTING BLIND DUE TO RECEIVER FAILURE, the pilot should transmit each message twice, and advise the time of his next intended transmission.
If you
experience radio failure, select the code
7600 on your transponder.
If the above checks all appear satisfactory and you are still experiencing problems establishing two way communications with a ground station, the most likely cause is equipment failure, either in the aircraft or the ground station.
If you are operating in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the loss of communications will only become a significant problem if you are already receiving an air traffic service, or if you require a service such as joining an air traffic pattern.
If you do find that you are unable to establish communications with a ground station, you should adopt the following general procedure.
COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE PROCEDURE.
1)Attempt to establish contact with the ground station on another frequency published for that station. There may be several frequencies on which an Air
Traffic Control Unit may be contacted: Tower, Approach, Radio, Ground.
2)If this attempt fails, attempt to establish communications with another station along the route being flown.
3)If that attempt is not successful, try to establish contact with other aircraft on frequencies appropriate to the route.
4)If no communication can be established, transmit your message twice on the original designated frequency, preceded by the words TRANSMITTING BLIND. This action is taken in case your transmitter is still operating and only the receiver has failed. Include the designator of the station addressed in your “blind” message.
5)If you know that it is your receiver which has failed, transmit reports or positions, at the scheduled times, on the frequency in use, preceded by the words TRANSMITTING BLIND DUE TO RECEIVER FAILURE. The content of your report should be pertinent to the safe continuation of your flight, and you should advise the time of your next intended transmission.
6)If you have a transponder, you should squawk 7600.
Figure 8.2 If you experience communications failure, and your aircraft is equipped with a transponder, squawk 7600.
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Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
C H A P T ER 8 : C O M M U NIC A T
7)If it is only your transmitter which has failed, continue to listen out on the designated frequency. You may be able to answer questions from Air Traffic
Control by using the radio’s carrier wave, activated by the microphone. For instance,ATC may ask you to reply in the affirmative by pressing once, briefly, on your microphone button, or in the negative by pressing twice, briefly, on the microphone button.
A speechless code has been established within the United Kingdom, details of which are published in CAP 413.
RULES OF THE AIR CONCERNING COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE.
The Rules of the Air, as specified in Annex 2 to the ICAO Convention, stipulate that, when flying in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules, a pilot whose aircraft has suffered communications failure shall:
a.Continue to fly in VMC.
b.If equipped with a transponder, squawk 7600, Mode Charlie.
c.Land at the nearest suitable aerodrome.
d.Report his arrival by the most expeditious means to the appropriate
Air Traffic Services Unit.
A light aircraft pilot who had obtained prior permission to land at an aerodrome outside controlled airspace (that is, not a Control Zone), may, therefore, in the event of communications failure, possibly elect to continue to his destination, taking care to avoid controlled airspace and remaining in VMC.
When arriving at the destination airfield, with communications failure, the pilot must join the aerodrome circuit in the safest manner possible, given the conditions and air traffic situation at the destination aerodrome.
In the following example we will assume that the pilot has elected to make an overhead join. If airfield conditions allow an overhead join, this is often the safest join to make, because, when overhead the airfield, well above circuit height (see overleaf), the pilot has the best view of circuit traffic and of other indications of circuit direction, such as windsock and/or signal square.
Be aware though that many aerodromes do not permit an overhead join because of the mode of operation of the traffic using the aerodrome.
THE STANDARD OVERHEAD JOIN.
An aircraft, making a standard overhead join, should, initially:
•Overfly the aerodrome at 1 000 feet above published circuit height.
•Descend on the dead side to circuit height.
•Join the circuit by crossing the upwind end of the runway at circuit height.
•Position itself downwind.
In the event
of communications failure, an aircraft flying VFR shall:
•continue to fly in VMC.
•squawk 7600, Mode C.
•land at the nearest suitable aerodrome.
•report arrival to ATC.
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C H A P T ER 8 : C O M M U NIC A T IO NS F A IL U R E
The standard overhead join procedure is depicted in Figure 8.3.
Figure 8.3 The Standard Overhead Join.
P o s i t i o n R e p o r t s .
If you have experienced radio failure, position reports should be made as depicted in Figure 8.4, but, in addition, each report should be made twice and be preceded by the words, TRANSMITTING BLIND DUE TO RECEIVER FAILURE.
Figure 8.4 Position reports in the circuit.
If the airfield at which you were landing had full air traffic control, you would expect to obtain a clearance to land by light or flare (steady green light, or green flare). Of course, you must be prepared to receive a steady red light telling you that you must give way to other aircraft, in which case you would overshoot and rejoin the circuit.
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Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
C H A P T ER 8 : C O M M U NIC A T
R a d i o F a i l u r e S c e n a r i o .
We will assume that having suffered radio failure, you join Netherford, an airfield with an Air-Ground Communications Service, having already obtained prior permission to land there. You approach the airfield at approximately the time you had indicated when obtaining permission to fly to Netherford.
Netherford Radio, G-FHJM, Transmitting blind due to receiver failure, 10 miles East at 2 000ft, Joining for landing, Next transmission 45.
Netherford Radio, G-FHJM, Transmitting blind due to receiver failure, 10 miles East at 2 000ft, Joining for landing, Next transmission 45.
You would not know the QFE at Netherford, but if you were operating on a suitable QNH (Regional Pressure Setting in the United Kingdom) and knew the elevation of Netherford aerodrome, you would be able to deduce the circuit height from your airfield plate for Netherford. You would not, of course, know which runway was in use. Therefore, you would carry out an overhead join, if the Netherford airfield information does not prohibit it, and observe the windsock or signal square in order to determine which was the most likely active runway.
Figure 8.5 Communications failure - Overhead join transmission.
In the absence of any indications that there is a right hand circuit in force, the pilot should then carry out a visual, left-hand circuit, making his calls in the normal places. It is most likely that the aircraft would be observed by the ground station operator or controller as it manoeuvres in the circuit, and the operator would warn other aircraft that there is an aircraft in the circuit with apparent radio failure.
While in the circuit, the pilot should keep a close watch for instructions which may be issued by visual signals, such as lights or flares. A pilot can indicate to the ground that he has a problem by switching on and off his landing or navigation lights, in rapid succession.
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Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
C H A P T ER 8 : C O M M U NIC A T IO NS F A IL U R E
Figure 8.6 Communications failure - Downwind transmission.
Figure 8.7 Communications failure - Final transmission.
After landing and shutdown, you should report to aerodrome control and give an account of the occurrence. By doing so you will have complied with the 2nd and 3rd rules of the ICAO Rules of the Air; that is, you will have landed at the nearest suitable aerodrome, and then reported your arrival by the most expeditious means to Air
Traffic Control.
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Customer: Oleg Ostapenko E-mail: ostapenko2002@yahoo.com
CHAPTER 9 DISTRESS AND URGENCY
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C H A P T ER 9 : DIS T R ES S A ND U R G ENC Y
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