Lost comm in Mexico

[Michael]

I was flying the LOC BC RWY 31 approach in Brownsville, Texas last
week when I lost contact with Valley Approach as I was being vectored
to the IAF - CALIA intersection, which is in Mexico. Not a big deal,
since I had a backup frequency from the previous frequency change - I
swirched to it, got Approach, and completed the approach. If that
didn't work I planned on contacting Brownsville tower as I flew
inbound. Still, it was a bumpy approach about 100 feet above minimums,
and I had enough going on without playing with frequency changes.
Reinforced to me how important currency is - if I was not reasonably
current in IFR skills it might have been much more challenging. Also,
I had images of Border Patrol or DEA thinking I was doing something
unsavory...

Michael

[Gary Drescher]

"Michael" > wrote in message
...
> Still, it was a bumpy approach about 100 feet above minimums,
> and I had enough going on without playing with frequency changes.
> Reinforced to me how important currency is - if I was not reasonably
> current in IFR skills it might have been much more challenging.

Not to dispute your conclusion or the importance of being current, but it's
also worth pointing out that if the workload had been too great, you could
have executed a missed approach and then dealt with the radio problem under
more relaxed circumstances--or you could even have considered it a lost-comm
situation and just flown the approach without worrying about the radios.

--Gary

[Michael]

On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 17:09:18 -0500, "Gary Drescher"
> wrote:

>"Michael" > wrote in message
...
>> Still, it was a bumpy approach about 100 feet above minimums,
>> and I had enough going on without playing with frequency changes.
>> Reinforced to me how important currency is - if I was not reasonably
>> current in IFR skills it might have been much more challenging.
>
>Not to dispute your conclusion or the importance of being current, but it's
>also worth pointing out that if the workload had been too great, you could
>have executed a missed approach and then dealt with the radio problem under
>more relaxed circumstances--or you could even have considered it a lost-comm
>situation and just flown the approach without worrying about the radios.
>
>--Gary
>


I'm not sure I would consider a missed approach under single pilot IFR
with a wing-leveler autopilot and very bumpy IMC more relaxed
circumstances. But, hey, if I can't handle this stuff I shouldn't be
flying in IMC...

Michael

[Gary Drescher]

"Michael" > wrote in message
...
> I'm not sure I would consider a missed approach under single pilot IFR
> with a wing-leveler autopilot and very bumpy IMC more relaxed
> circumstances. But, hey, if I can't handle this stuff I shouldn't be
> flying in IMC...

Well, I tend to relax more once I'm further above the obstacles. :)

--Gary