JO 7110.65 Air Traffic ControlJO 7110.65BB · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026
Chapter 10 · Section 4
Control Actions
4 Paragraphs10-4-1–10-4-4
10-4-1 TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS
IFR traffic which could be affected by an overdue or unreported aircraft must be restricted or suspended unless radar separation is used. The facility responsible must restrict or suspend IFR traffic for a period of 30 minutes following the applicable time listed in subparagraphs a through e:
The time at which approach clearance was delivered to the pilot.
The EFC time delivered to the pilot.
The arrival time over the NAVAID serving the destination airport.
The current estimate, either the control facility's or the pilot's, whichever is later, at:
The appropriate en route NAVAID or fix, and
The NAVAID serving the destination airport.
The release time and, if issued, the clearance void time.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-3-4, Departure Release, Hold for Release, Release Times, Departure Restrictions, and Clearance Void Times.
10-4-2 LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS
EN ROUTE. At nontower or non-FSS locations, request the airport management to light all runway lights, approach lights, and all other required airport lighting systems for at least 30 minutes before the ETA of the unreported aircraft until the aircraft has been located or for 30 minutes after its fuel supply is estimated to be exhausted.
TERMINAL. Operate runway lights, approach lights, and all other required airport lighting systems for at least 30 minutes before the ETA of the unreported aircraft until the aircraft has been located or for 30 minutes after its fuel supply is estimated to be exhausted.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 3-4-1, Emergency Lighting.
10-4-3 TRAFFIC RESUMPTION
After the 30-minute traffic suspension period has expired, resume normal air traffic control if the operators or pilots of other aircraft concur. This concurrence must be maintained for a period of 30 minutes after the suspension period has expired.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-3-4, Departure Release, Hold for Release, Release Times, Departure Restrictions, and Clearance Void Times.
10-4-4 COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE
Take the following actions, as appropriate, if two‐way radio communications are lost with an aircraft:
NOTE
1. When an IFR aircraft experiences two‐way radio communications failure, air traffic control is based on anticipated pilot actions. Pilot procedures and recommended practices are set forth in the AIM, CFRs, and pertinent military regulations. 2. Should the pilot of an aircraft equipped with a coded radar beacon transponder experience a loss of two‐way radio capability, the pilot can be expected to adjust the transponder to reply on Mode 3/A Code 7600.
In the event of lost communications with an aircraft under your control jurisdiction use all appropriate means available to reestablish communications with the aircraft. These may include, but are not limited to, emergency frequencies, NAVAIDs that are equipped with voice capability, FSS, New York Radio, San Francisco Radio, etc.
NOTE
1. New York Radio and San Francisco Radio are operated by Collins Aerospace (formerly ARINC, Incorporated) under contract with the FAA for communications services. These Radio facilities have the capability of relaying information to/from ATC facilities throughout the country. 2. Aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) or selective calling (SELCAL) may be utilized to reestablish radio communications with suitably equipped aircraft. ACARS can be utilized by contacting San Francisco Radio at (800)-621-0140 or New York Radio at (800) 645-1095. Provide the aircraft call sign, approximate location, and contact instructions. In order to utilize the SELCAL system, the SELCAL code for the subject aircraft must be known. If the SELCAL code is not contained in the remarks section of the flight plan, contact the pertinent air carrier dispatch office to determine the code. Then contact San Francisco Radio (for aircraft over the Pacific, U.S. or Mexico) or New York Radio (for aircraft over the Atlantic, Gulf of America, or Caribbean) and provide the aircraft call sign, SELCAL code, approximate location, and contact instructions.
Broadcast clearances through any available means of communications including the voice feature of NAVAIDs.
NOTE
1. Some UHF equipped aircraft have VHF navigation equipment and can receive 121.5 MHz. 2. “Any available means” includes the use of FSS and New York Radio or San Francisco Radio.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-2-2, Clearance Prefix.
Attempt to re‐establish communication by having the aircraft use its transponder or make turns to acknowledge clearances and answer questions. Request any of the following in using the transponder:
Request the aircraft to reply Mode 3/A “IDENT.”
Request the aircraft to reply on Code 7600.
Request the aircraft to change to “stand‐by” for sufficient time for you to be sure that the lack of a target is the result of the requested action.
PHRASEOLOGY
REPLY NOT RECEIVED, (appropriate instructions). (Action) OBSERVED, (additional instructions/information if necessary).
Broadcast a clearance for the aircraft to proceed to its filed alternate airport at the MEA if the aircraft operator concurs.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-2-4, Radio Failure. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 9-2-6, IFR Military Training Routes.
If radio communications have not been (re) established with the aircraft after 5 minutes, consider the aircraft's or pilot's activity to be suspicious and report it to the OS/CIC per FAA Order JO 7610.4, Chapter 7, Procedures for Handling Suspicious Flight Situations and Hijacked Aircraft, and paragraph 2-1-26f, Supervisory Notification, of this order.