Definition
The section of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR Part 91, § 91.185) titled 'IFR operations: Two-way radio communications failure.' It prescribes the procedures a pilot must follow if two-way radio contact with ATC is lost while operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), including what route to fly, what altitude to maintain, and when to begin the approach at the destination.
Plain English
This is the FAA rule that tells you exactly what to do if your radio stops working while you are flying on an IFR clearance. It covers which way to go, how high to fly, and when to start your approach so that you and ATC stay on the same page even without talking.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument procedure discussions, especially when an arrival or approach procedure must account for lost radio communication.
Derivation
The symbol § means 'section' in legal writing and comes from the Latin signum sectionis, a mark used to label a section of a text. The number 91.185 points to Part 91, Section 185 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Knowing the symbol just means 'section' helps when reading any FAA rule reference.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures safe continuation of flight and arrival when communications are lost, preventing airspace violations or unsafe operations.
Grounding Statement
If the radios fail, § 91.185 is the rule that keeps the pilot’s next actions predictable.
Intuition Check
Do not read § 91.185 as just a reference number. Here, it points to a specific legal rule a pilot is expected to follow during an IFR communication failure.
Example Sentence 1
When the radios went silent in the clouds, the pilot followed § 91.185 and continued on the route in their last clearance.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots review § 91.185 before an IFR arrival to know the lost communications procedure.