procedures, air traffic procedures, and escort or interceptor procedures for hijack
situations.
Communications Failure
Take the following actions, as appropriate, if two-way radio communications are lost
with an aircraft:
In the event of lost communications with an aircraft under your control
jurisdiction, use all appropriate means available to reestablish communications
with the aircraft. These may include but are not limited to emergency
frequencies, NAVAIDs that are equipped with voice capability, FSS, Aeronautical
Radio Incorporated (ARINC), etc.
Broadcast clearances through any available means of communications including
the voice feature of NAVAIDs.
Attempt to reestablish communication by having the aircraft use its transponder
or make turns to acknowledge clearances and answer questions. Request any of
the following in using the transponder:
1. Request the aircraft to reply Mode 3/A ―IDENT.‖
2. Request the aircraft to reply on Code 7600 or, if already on Code 7600,
the appropriate stratum code.
3. Request the aircraft to change to ―stand-by‖ for sufficient time for you to be
sure that the lack of a target is the result of the requested action.
Broadcast a clearance for the aircraft to proceed to its filed alternate airport at the
Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) if the aircraft operator concurs.
If radio communications have not been (re)established with the aircraft after five
minutes, consider the aircraft's activity to be possibly suspicious and handle the
flight per FAAO JO 7610.4, Chapter 7, Hijacked/Suspicious Aircraft Reporting
and Procedures.
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