Lost Procedures

This page covers Task D. Lost Procedures from the FAA-S-ACS-6C Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards.

Lost Procedures

• Use the 5 C's checklist
  • Circle: Stay in one spot
  • Climb: Better visibility, better signal and communication strength
  • Communicate: Ask for vectors to a known location
  • Confess: Admit you are lost
  • Calculate: Figure out fuel remaining, where to go, groundspeed, distance covered
• Double check maps and look for landmarks
• Use secondary navigation systems (GPS, VOR)
  • Nearest or Direct-To
  • 2x VORs to identify location
  • Use ATC (report who you are last known location, heading, airspeed, altitude)
• Check town water towers or airfield names
• Compare the heading indicator to the magnetic compass, and note the direction of error before resetting
  • Can help determine if you are left or right of course