In IFR flight with VMC, if communications fail, what is the recommended action?

• A. continue to destination
• B. Remain in VMC and land as soon as practicable
• C. Proceed to alternate
• D. land at nearest airport

Answer: (D)

When two-way radio contact is lost during IFR flight, the safety rule is to get on the ground as soon as practicable at the nearest suitable airport, provided you’re in VMC and can maintain visual flight. The reason this is best is that without ATC guidance you can’t rely on being directed to your destination or to an alternate, and you want to reestablish communication quickly in a place where you can safely land and continue from there. In good visual weather, you can navigate and descend to a suitable airport you can see or identify, ensuring you have proper control of the situation and a clear path to contact guidance again.

Continuing to the destination without comms risks entering controlled airspace or traffic patterns without ATC instructions. Waiting to “land as soon as practicable” without stating nearest suitable airport is less precise and can delay getting to a place where you can reestablish contact. Proceeding to an alternate assumes you have clear guidance to do so, which you do not when comms are down. Landing at the nearest suitable airport balances immediacy with ensuring there’s a viable place to land and recover communications.