Regarding Lost Communications, what is the altitude that should be maintained?

Regarding Lost Communications, what is the altitude that should be maintained?

• A. The greatest altitude between the Assigned, Minimum, or Expected Altitude
• B. The highest altitude published for the route
• C. The last altitude ATC transmitted
• D. The minimum vector altitude for the sector

Answer: (A)

When you lose radio contact while flying IFR, you follow the last clearance you have and what ATC has indicated you should expect. The altitude you should maintain is the highest of three values: the last assigned altitude, the minimum enroute altitude for the route (MEA), and the altitude ATC advised you to expect. This rule protects you from terrain and obstacles and keeps you aligned with ATC’s expectations even without communication. The option that states “the greatest altitude between the Assigned, Minimum, or Expected Altitude” matches this rule exactly. It ensures you don’t descend below safe clearance or drift into airspace where you aren’t cleared to operate, and it respects ATC’s anticipated instructions. Avoid relying only on the highest published altitude for the route, which could ignore your clearance or ATC expectations, and avoid using just the last transmitted altitude or a sector’s minimum vector altitude, which may not provide proper obstacle or traffic separation in a lost-communications scenario.

When you lose radio contact while flying IFR, you follow the last clearance you have and what ATC has indicated you should expect. The altitude you should maintain is the highest of three values: the last assigned altitude, the minimum enroute altitude for the route (MEA), and the altitude ATC advised you to expect. This rule protects you from terrain and obstacles and keeps you aligned with ATC’s expectations even without communication.

The option that states “the greatest altitude between the Assigned, Minimum, or Expected Altitude” matches this rule exactly. It ensures you don’t descend below safe clearance or drift into airspace where you aren’t cleared to operate, and it respects ATC’s anticipated instructions.

Avoid relying only on the highest published altitude for the route, which could ignore your clearance or ATC expectations, and avoid using just the last transmitted altitude or a sector’s minimum vector altitude, which may not provide proper obstacle or traffic separation in a lost-communications scenario.