Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

If the aircraft's radio fails while landing at a controlled airport, what should a pilot do?

1. Select 7700 on your transponder.

2. Observe the traffic flow and look for a light signal from the tower.

3. Flash the landing lights while circling the airport.

4. Execute a go-around procedure immediately.

The correct answer is: Observe the traffic flow and look for a light signal from the tower.

When an aircraft's radio fails while landing at a controlled airport, observing the traffic flow and looking for a light signal from the tower is an appropriate response. This procedure allows the pilot to assess the current situation in the traffic pattern visually. In a scenario of radio failure, communication with the control tower is not possible, so pilots must rely on visual signals to convey their intentions and receive guidance. The tower can use light signals, such as a steady green light indicating "cleared to land," or a red light indicating the aircraft should "go around." These visual indicators are critical for ensuring safe operations in the controlled airspace, especially during a landing approach when clear communication is essential for maintaining situational awareness and preventing accidents. Choosing to flash the landing lights while circling the airport does not provide a reliable means of communication with the control tower. Similarly, selecting 7700 on the transponder is used to indicate an emergency situation, which might not be applicable if the pilot has not deemed the situation life-threatening but rather a communication failure. Executing a go-around procedure might be necessary in some situations, but it does not directly address the immediate need for visual communication with the tower, which is the priority in this scenario.