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2 Answers

Last fix on STAR and no contact with ATC

Asked by: 782 views
Airspace, FAA Regulations, Instrument Rating

Had this happen and I am unsure how the FAA wants pilots to handle the situation.

If you know what the correct action would be please site your source.  I would like to see the FAA’s Guidance for this situation. Thank you.

Destination: KTEB

Weather: VFR

KTEB ATIS is advertising the RNAV Y 19 VFR weather

We were flying the WILKES BARRE 4 ARRIVAL (LVZ.LVZ4) arrival.  The last fix on the arrival is STW VOR.  Routing after STW is “EXPECT RADAR vectors to final approach course”.  We were unable to check in (as for all the other traffic in the area) because the approach controller was extremely busy and calling traffic in rapid fire fashion and giving instructions and clearances.  No one was able to transmit otherwise they would block the controller.  2nm from STW we tried checking in with the controller with no luck.  We arrived to STW and still no luck making contact with the controller.  Now What?  How would the FAA like us to proceed from there?  Continue from the last fix on the current heading?  Proceed to the IAF of the RNAV Y19 Approach?  Proceed direct to the airport?  Anyone know of any guidance for this situation?

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2 Answers



  1. Bryan on Jun 20, 2023

    I would love to hear what some of the more experienced instructors have to say about this, but what you describe is effectively Two-way Radio Communications Failure which is covered in the AIM 6-4-1. The first line of that section says, “It is virtually impossible to provide regulations and procedures applicable to all possible situations associated with two‐way radio communications failure. During two‐way radio communications failure, when confronted by a situation not covered in the regulation, pilots are expected to exercise good judgment in whatever action they elect to take. Should the situation so dictate they should not be reluctant to use the emergency action contained in 14 CFR Section 91.3(b).”

    So what would be good judgment here? Well, if I assume you meant the RNAV 06 (because there is no runway 16 at KTEB), you could start the approach and if you truly cannot contact the approach controller, contact the tower and let them know what you’re doing any why. I suppose another option could be to squawk 7600. That would likely get the controller’s attention pretty quickly. Being predictable is going to be the safest option and if your radio were actually dead in the circumstances you described, I would go to 91.185(c)(1)(ii) and fly direct from where I am to the initial fix of the approach most reasonable to be used (assuming you hadn’t been told to expect any specific one) and then fly the approach. But it would also be poor judgment where there is nothing wrong with your radio to fly the approach without talking to tower so just call them up early.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Jun 20, 2023

    It’s hard to answer this one without being there and knowing a lot more. So many think of a transient loss of com due to pilot error like wrong frequency entered or busy ATC as “lost com.” They are not really. Based on the limited information, and expecting com to be reestablished at some point, my “best judgment” based on Bryan’s reference (my absolute favorite sentences in the AIM and which is not limited to lost com) might be to proceed to an IAF for the expected approach.

    I don’t really see any of the other choices making a lot of sense. If ATC needs you, they will call you. If it’s truly lost com and they can’t communicate with you, they will clear the area and hope you are smart enough not to block the airspace for a few hours.

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