From: utzoo!decvax!duke!harpo!ihnp4!ihuxa!cfiaime
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Title: Re: Lost Comm Procedures
Article-I.D.: ihuxa.167
Posted: Wed Dec 29 08:42:41 1982
Received: Thu Dec 30 02:09:32 1982

The lost communications procedures as published in the FARs seem to
work just fine.  I was caught with an alternator failure near Springfield
Illinois, and planned on going into Springfield no radio if necessary.
(The joys of IFR!  The nav receivers draw very little power!!)

When talking of common equipment, on most aircraft that I have flown,
the communications antennas are separate for each radio, the navigation
antenna is common to both nav radios.  There is a nifty little signal
splitter available for retrofit second radio installations, but it is
cheaper to use a second antenna.  Most manufacturers use the second antenna
because of price (about $25 for an antenna, 40 for the splitter...).

About civilians making GCA practice approaches to military fields,
this is on a workload permitting basis.  Some facilities are very
friendly (McConnell AFB, Kansas) when their own traffic is light.
Others (Glenview NAS, Illinois) have no sense of humor at all.
The best idea is to call base operations and ask if you can be
accomidated.  The best times are normally before 0600 (local) and
after 2200 (local) due to agreements that MILITARY JETS will not
fly unless absolutly necessary at those times.  You will find a complete
tower and approach crew with virtually nothing to do except wash floors
and read "Rod and Custom" or "Playboy".

About operations to military fields, if you are a Civil Air Patrol
member on an Air Force authorized CAP function, you can land at a
military base.  I have followed a KC-135 in a Cessna 172, a B-52
in my FUNK (at 7 miles, wake turbulence, you know) and had a E-4A
hold for my Cessna 150 at Barksdale AFB.  It is kind of fun.
For more information, call your local CAP, or send me mail.  I will
be glad to help.

Jeff Williams