Definition
A condition in which two-way radio contact between an aircraft and air traffic control cannot be established or maintained. Under instrument flight rules, specific FAA procedures govern the route, altitude, and timing a pilot must fly when communication is lost, so that ATC can predict the aircraft's path and protect airspace around it.
Plain English
The pilot can no longer talk to or hear ATC on the radio. Because of that, there are set rules the pilot must follow so controllers know where the aircraft is going to fly next.
Context Anchor
Seen during instrument arrival and approach planning, especially when reviewing what to do if the radios fail before reaching the airport.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures continued safe flight and arrival even without ATC instructions, preventing airspace conflicts.
Intuition Check
Lost communication does not mean the airplane is lost, and it does not mean one call was simply missed. It means the required two-way radio link with ATC has failed.
Example Sentence 1
After several unanswered calls to approach control, the pilot declared lost communication and continued the flight using the route and altitude rules in 14 CFR 91.185.
Example Sentence 2
Lost communication procedures allow the flight to reach the destination airport without further ATC instructions.