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Lost Communications altitudes during a SID with hard altitudes

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FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor

The FAA says altitudes during lost communications should be the highest of the route segment being flown->Assigned, Minimum, Expected.  What if the SID has a hard altitude (or at least a bracket to remain betwteen) such as during the KLAS BOACH 8 departure out of Mc Carran Intl?  If I had an expected altitude of FL 180 for example 10 min after departure, and at 10 min after departure, I go lost comm and I had not yet reached BAKRR, would I be expected to stop my climb at 7000ft MSL or continue climb to FL 180?  I feel like I should stop at 7000 since there is a reason (special use airspace or maybe crossing jet routes) that I have a max altitude.  I couldn't see this specifically worded in the FAA CFRs.

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1 Answers



  1. Russ Roslewski on Apr 28, 2019

    Well, the sarcastic answer is that if you are in an airplane that is going to have trouble getting to BAKRR (about 10 nm from takeoff) in less than 10 minutes, you’re probably also in an airplane that will have trouble making the 6000-7000 block altitude at BAKRR, and likely one that can’t get to FL180. So the question becomes academic…

    But of course you’re looking for something more helpful than that.

    Were you cleared to “climb via the SID”? If so, then I would adhere to the charted altitudes and then climb to your FL 180 after passing BAKRR AND after 10 minutes.

    If not, then the altitudes have no bearing, and I would climb to FL180 after 10 minutes. I might not climb like a rocket to get up there, but I would climb.

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