7600 vs. 7700?

[FM_Weasel]

Yeah I agree.... I mean really, who are you afraid of hitting at a cardinal IFR altitude? IFR aircraft are going to normally be in communication with ATC. So ATC can move those conflicting aircraft away from the NORDO. ATC may not, however, be talking to all VFR aircraft cruising at VFR altitudes. Really, you're MORE likely to hit something at a VFR altitude because ATC may not be able to move the guy (lots of VFR flights never talk to ATC and are just cruising through doing whatever they want). That logic is totally backwards.

 

[Landis]

I think the logic is predicated on still being IMC and therefore you wouldn't have anyone else at a VFR altitude while IMC. But I would agree that following the AIM is what controllers and pilots would expect and is what should be done.

 

[Guy]

The old method of NORDO announcement to ATC used to be 7700 for 1 minute, then 7600 for 15 minutes; then repeat. It's since been changed to just going to 7600 at the outset.

The really old method was to fly right or left hand triangles (3 120 degree turns) with two minutes on each straight leg. Left for total radio failure and right for a receiver that was working but an inability to transmit.

 

[MikeD]

The really old method was to fly right or left hand triangles (3 120 degree turns) with two minutes on each straight leg. Left for total radio failure and right for a receiver that was working but an inability to transmit.

Still remember the triangle method being taught by my initial IP back in the day.