I lost coms going into IWA, and called the tower for my landing clearance over the phone. It was very hard to hear, but it worked.
Just don't let the FCC get involved. I haven't seen a case where it was breaking the FAR's, but I do know it breaks the FCC's rules.
In the real world, I always have a handheld radio in my headset bag. Worst case, another A/C will pick it up and relay to ATC. And whoever I'm flying with usually has one too. The odds of 4 radios dying at the same time are pretty slim. ATC losing their radio (they have a backup transmitter) is probably more likely.
If there is VFR weather nearby, odds are I would elect to get VMC ASAP if fuel allowed.
That's great news! What is it?In other news, I heard about this great new pre-landing check called "GUMP"!
Losing communications is probably every pilots worst nightmare, especially in IMC conditions.
I don't know if it is necissarily a substitute for a handheld device, but I have heard of at least one instance where a guy contacted ATC following comm loss on his cell phone and proceded from there. I have accidentally left my phone on a number of times in the cockpit and am normally greeted upon unstrapping with a dead battery from the constant signal hunting, but I assume it could work for at least a short period of time in an emergency. Thoughts?
I could just see IWAs initial thought..."Yeah, right.....Hey buddy, this is an offical air traffic facility and hindering with the perfomance of this facility is a federal crime, ......we have a NORDO aircraft we're attempting to recover, and you'll be arrested if you interfere. Don't call here again!"
??NORDO?? Actually Ed, the ATC manager there insists that when the students get a towet tour, that we all put the number into our cell phones. Atleast thats what happened when I was there.
NORDO = No Radio, ATC terminology for an 7600 aircraft.
You didn't even like my joke........
Good point, and not likely. You could probably call the operator/411/someone you know but of course that is wasting a lot of time.