After navigation failure, what must pilots avoid doing?

After navigation failure, what must pilots avoid doing?

• A. Unapproved deviations
• B. Following the last clearance
• C. Requesting vectors
• D. Climbing to high altitude

Answer: (A)

The key action is to avoid any deviation from the cleared route unless you have explicit clearance to do so. When navigation equipment fails, your position and route become uncertain, and venturing off the assigned path without instructions can create conflicts with other traffic and complicate ATC’s ability to provide safe separation. The safest course is to continue on the last assigned clearance and altitude, inform ATC of the failure, and request guidance or vectors to re-establish navigation or to reach a fix or alternate clearance. This doesn’t mean you can’t seek help or adjust as directed. You would still follow the last clearance and work with ATC to rejoin a known route, and requesting vectors to recover navigation is appropriate. Changing altitude or pursuing other actions should await ATC clearance or be justified by safety considerations, not done unilaterally.

The key action is to avoid any deviation from the cleared route unless you have explicit clearance to do so. When navigation equipment fails, your position and route become uncertain, and venturing off the assigned path without instructions can create conflicts with other traffic and complicate ATC’s ability to provide safe separation. The safest course is to continue on the last assigned clearance and altitude, inform ATC of the failure, and request guidance or vectors to re-establish navigation or to reach a fix or alternate clearance.

This doesn’t mean you can’t seek help or adjust as directed. You would still follow the last clearance and work with ATC to rejoin a known route, and requesting vectors to recover navigation is appropriate. Changing altitude or pursuing other actions should await ATC clearance or be justified by safety considerations, not done unilaterally.