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RADIO COMMUNICATION FAILURE PROCEDURES
1. INTRODUCTION
Radio communication failure procedures are described in ICAO’s PANS- ATM (DOC 4444), Manual of Air Traffic Services Part-I and DGCA CAR Section 9, Series C, Part 1.
2. GENERAL:
2.1 Radio communication failure may occur due to:
a) Airborne Transmitter and/or Receiver Failure
b) Ground station Transmitter and/or Receiver Failure.
2.2 As soon as it is known to ATC that two-way communication has failed, the action shall be taken to ascertain whether the aircraft is able to receive transmissions from the air traffic control unit by requesting it to execute a specified manoeuvre or to transmit if possible, a specified signal in order to indicate acknowledgement.
2.3 All Transponder equipped aircraft experiencing Radio Communication Failure shall set transponder to Mode A/C code 7600 as soon as practicable.
(Note: This requirement of setting transponder to Mode A/C code 7600 in no way imposes any restriction on the pilot’s decision to set transponder to Mode A/C code 7500 or 7700, whenever required).
2.4 Immediately after the detection of RCF, the aircraft shall attempt to establish communications with the appropriate air traffic control unit using all other available means. (Indore Tower- 122.8 MHz Main and 118.5 MHz Standby/ Indore Approach 120.625MHz / Bhopal Tower 118.05 MHz (adjacent unit)/ Nagpur control/ Airline’s channel/ Emergency 121.5Mhz/ suitable HF frequency)
2.5 In addition, the aircraft shall keep watch for any instructions that may be issued by visual signals directed to aircraft from ground.
2.6 The pilot shall make blind transmission to ATC of all necessary reports and actions taken by the aircraft, e.g. descent, turn, joining hold, leaving for approach, FAF etc., irrespective of whether partial/complete RCF has been established or not.
2.7 Action shall be taken by Indore ATC to reach aircraft, which were under his control, via all available means, which may include Manpack VHF Set, relay through other aircrafts, through airlines’ channel (company frequency or satphone, mobile/cell phone, or pager on board), adjacent ATS unit etc. Action shall be taken to ascertain whether the aircraft is able to receive transmissions from the air traffic control unit by requesting it to execute specified manoeuvre which can be observed either visually (if the aircraft is visible to ATC) or Nagpur RADAR display (through Nagpur ACC). Further actions, as described hereunder, may be followed, as and when necessary.
2.8 If the aircraft can be observed from a control tower, ATC shall determine if the aircraft receiver is functioning by:
i) instructing the pilot to manoeuvre the aircraft in such a manner as to alternately raise and lower the wings in a rocking motion;
ii) if observed from a control tower by night, by instructing the pilot to flash the landing and navigation lights twice.
2.9 Aircraft experiencing radio communication failure shall be provided all required information necessary for the safe and efficient conduct of flight and landing clearance without expecting acknowledgment.
2.10 After landing at Indore Airport, Aircraft shall lookout for follow me jeep on nearest taxiway holding point and after sighting the Follow me Jeep, Aircraft shall follow the Follow Me Jeep for parking to the allotted bay. Upon sighting the marshaller, aircraft shall stop following “Follow me Jeep” and shall follow marshaller for parking.
2.11 When Indore ATC becomes aware of the RCF of the aircraft, the controller concerned shall accord priority for the RCF aircraft to land.
2.12 If the aircraft re-establishes communication or has landed the ATC unit shall inform all concerned units/ aerodromes along the route as per the flight plan including the alternate aerodrome.
3. ASSIGNED RUNWAY AND ITS AVAILABILITY FOR RCF AIRCRAFT
3.1 In case of an arriving aircraft experiencing RCF, when Runway for landing has already been advised to the aircraft by ATC, such runway shall be considered as the assigned runway. If an arriving aircraft has not been advised of any runway, Runway 25 shall be considered as assigned runway for such arrival.
3.2 In case of departures from Indore returning on account of RCF, the departure runway of such aircraft shall be considered as assigned runway for landing.
3.3 If Radio communication failure occurs after the final/interception turn, the aircraft may continue its approach to land on such Runway.
3.4 Runway lights and Approach lights in ‘SWITCHED ON’ position shall indicate the availability of such Runway for aircraft experiencing RCF.
3.5 In strong tail wind conditions for assigned Runway, aircraft experiencing RCF will carry out a missed approach on assigned runway and after following complete missed approach for such approach, aircraft will carry out either visual or Instrument approach procedure published for the opposite runway.
4. PROCEDURES FOR ARRIVALS
4.1 In case Radio Communication failure takes place after establishing final approach track,aircraft may continue the approach and land subject to visually sighting the runway or GO AROUND and carry out the missed approach procedure and join the VOR (116.7 MHz) IID Holding procedure climbing to and maintaining 4000 feet.
4.2 Except when descent clearance has already been received from ATC and acknowledged, pilot shall continue on ATS route cleared to IID maintaining filed flight plan level or level cleared by adjacent Area control unit (Nagpur ACC) and do not
commence descent before 30 miles VOR (116.7 MHz) IID.
4.3 For aircraft whose flight plan route is UPMAV-IID and experiencing RCF shall follow UPMAV-MONPI-IID due VAD8.
4.4 After crossing 30 miles, the pilot shall descend to FL 080 to join the published hold over VOR (116.7 MHz) IID for the runway as mentioned in para 3 above.
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