In the event of loss of comms and IMC after departure, the procedure includes performing an overhead approach using which navigation aids?

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Multiple Choice

In the event of loss of comms and IMC after departure, the procedure includes performing an overhead approach using which navigation aids?

When you lose communications in IMC after departure, you must rely on a published, non-radar procedure that you can fly without ATC guidance. An overhead approach fits this need because you fly to a designated fix above the field and then descend along a published inbound course, bringing you to the runway without needing vectors from ATC. Using a TACAN or NDB for the overhead approach is especially reliable in this situation. These ground-based beacons provide a fixed reference you can identify and navigate to independently of communication, allowing you to establish the overhead position and follow the procedural path to the airport. This makes the approach feasible even when radios are out and you’re working solely with the aircraft’s navigation instruments. GPS-based approaches could be possible in some fleets, but they rely on GPS availability and procedures that may not be designed specifically for an overhead fix in a comms-out scenario. ILS requires precise guidance from ground-based equipment and ATC coordination, which isn’t guaranteed without comms. VOR overhead approaches exist, but not all airports have a suitable VOR-based overhead option. The TACAN/NDB overhead approach is the most straightforward, robust choice for a controlled descent when comms are lost after departure.

When you lose communications in IMC after departure, you must rely on a published, non-radar procedure that you can fly without ATC guidance. An overhead approach fits this need because you fly to a designated fix above the field and then descend along a published inbound course, bringing you to the runway without needing vectors from ATC.

Using a TACAN or NDB for the overhead approach is especially reliable in this situation. These ground-based beacons provide a fixed reference you can identify and navigate to independently of communication, allowing you to establish the overhead position and follow the procedural path to the airport. This makes the approach feasible even when radios are out and you’re working solely with the aircraft’s navigation instruments.

GPS-based approaches could be possible in some fleets, but they rely on GPS availability and procedures that may not be designed specifically for an overhead fix in a comms-out scenario. ILS requires precise guidance from ground-based equipment and ATC coordination, which isn’t guaranteed without comms. VOR overhead approaches exist, but not all airports have a suitable VOR-based overhead option. The TACAN/NDB overhead approach is the most straightforward, robust choice for a controlled descent when comms are lost after departure.

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