Definition
A predefined route published on certain Departure Procedure (DP) or Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) charts that a pilot is expected to follow if two-way radio communication with air traffic control is lost. It provides ATC with a predictable flight path so other traffic can be separated from the aircraft until communications are restored or the flight lands.
Plain English
A specific route printed on the chart that you fly if your radios stop working, so controllers know exactly where you'll go.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument departure and arrival procedure charts, especially in chart legends or procedure notes that explain what to do after a radio communication failure.
Derivation
“Track” comes from the idea of a path or trail being followed. In aviation, it means the aircraft’s path over the ground, not simply the direction the nose is pointed. That matters here because the lost communications track is the route the aircraft is expected to follow across the chart.
Why Pilots Care
Allows the pilot to continue a safe and predictable flight path that ATC expects during a communications failure.
Intuition Check
Do not read “track” here as just a heading to hold. It means the aircraft’s intended path over the ground after communication is lost.
Example Sentence 1
During the briefing, the captain pointed out the lost communications track on the STAR in case the radios failed before they reached the initial approach fix.
Example Sentence 2
The DP chart shows the lost communications track as a dashed line leading to the first fix.