Emergency Situations during Cruise

Chapter 18.7

Radio Failure / COM FAILURE

The international standard procedure in the event of a radio failure is determined by ICAO:

• Setzen des TRANSPONDER CODES 7600

• continue the flight according to FPL
  

• start the approach at the planned ETA

• be attentive to visual and light signals

If no ATC FPL has been filed and the crew are to assume that air traffic control is not aware of this flight, it is necessary to divert to an aerodrome without air traffic control.

Radio Failure / COM FAILURE

In the event of an RTF failure, the local circuit must be flown with the greatest of care and attention to all visual and light signals from the ground.

For large aerodromes different procedures may apply which are published in the AIP.

On aerodromes without air traffic control, in the case of COM FAILURE you continue the approach. It is necessary to be attentive of the following:

• signals on the signal area
  

• the windsock

• air traffic landing and taking off
  

• light signals
  

In some cases, mobile phones may be helpful to indicate a problem.

Loss of Orientation / LOST PROCEDURE

If you are lost during a navigation flight, you can choose between two procedures:

Reorientation on your own

If you are lost, do not continue your flight to an unknown region. If you have kept your course, you can return to the your last known position by turning back.

Reorientation with external help

For this procedure, an RTF link is indispensable. Please note the following:

• The quality of transmission and reception is generally poor close to the ground. If weather permits, you must climb to an appropriate altitude.

• Report immediately to air traffic control that you no longer know your position. The control station will do everything it can to re-establish your position with available means (RADAR / SSR, VDF).

If all else fails, and you can not orient yourself again, you will have to perform a precautionary landing. You must take the decision before any other problem (weather, night arrives, etc.) make it impossible or difficult to initiate procedures.

Precautionary Landing / Forced Landing

A precautionary landing may be necessary in the case of:

• Loss of orientation
  

• deteriorating weather

• dusk
  

• etc.
  

Forced landing procedures are described in Chapter 16.

Precautionary landings are described in Chapter 17.

Fire on Board

Procedures in case of fire on board are described in Chapter 11.

Flight in Icing Conditions

Flight in known icing conditions is not permitted if the aircraft is not equipped for this purpose and explicitly certified as such. Training airplanes do not usually have the neccessary equipment.

If you still enter an icing zone unintentionally, you must perform the abnormal situations procedure according to the AFM.

Example from the AFM AF22:

Primary flight controls must be moved delecately. Depending on the capability, choose a flight altitude where the risk of icing is reduced and the accumulated frost (or ice) can melt.