In North American aviation, a NORDO aircraft is an aircraft flying without a radio. While sometimes used to denote small general aviation aircraft that are not equipped with a radio, the term is more commonly applied to aircraft that have experienced a radio failure in midair.
The term originates from the 5-character uppercase abbreviated notation "NORDO" displayed on controllers' radar scopes when an aircraft transmits the "radio failure" code on its transponder. An alternate explanation is that "NO RDO" was the standard note made on maintenance and equipment sheets used in military aviation, starting in the 1930s, as a code to identify planes which needed radio repairs or were not equipped with radios. The term has made its way into standard aviation jargon, used as an adjective or a noun to describe an aircraft without a radio, even among pilots and others who are not air traffic controllers.
In-flight radio failure may constitute an emergency, as determined by the pilot. Aircraft equipped with a transponder should indicate a NORDO situation by setting the appropriate transponder code: 7600 ("seven-six: hear nix"). NORDO aircraft declaring an emergency are given priority over other aircraft (providing a more serious emergency does not occur on another aircraft).
If the radio failure occurs in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions in an area where radio communication is required, the pilot is expected to continue under VFR and land when feasible. If flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions, and VFR conditions exist or are encountered after the failure, the flight should be continued in VFR conditions and the pilot shall land as soon as practicable. If VFR conditions do not exist, the pilot will then continue the route last assigned by ATC. See FAR 91.185.
In much of the United States, airplanes can legally fly with no requirement for radio communication. Areas and airports requiring radio communication are designated on aircraft charts.
Air traffic control may re-establish communications with NORDO aircraft by using emergency frequencies, voice features of NAVAIDs, or aviation light signals. In the event of one-way communications (i.e. aircraft can receive only), the controller may request the aircraft make identifying turns, flash their navigational lights, transmit codes or IDENT signals on the transponder, rock their wings, etc., to acknowledge clearances or instructions.
Within Class Delta US airspace, military aircraft with arrested landing capability desiring arrested landing or crash/rescue assistance should execute a 500 foot AGL low approach with "tailhook" extended and observe tower light signals.
References [link]
https://wn.com/NORDO
Podcasts:
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by Air Traffic Controller
Nordo
by: Air Traffic ControllerI wish I'd snoozed
i could have used a bit more sleep
put on my shoes these ones
are ruining my feet
eat that apple to the core
as i hurry hurry out the door
and on my way to seize the day
I start to think
did i leave something
on the counter by the sink
check my pockets never mind
hurry hurry there's no time
i say let's work
but i'm the jerk who's late again
and they know well that i
was up til 4am
this should be easier I guess
hurry hurry what a mess
ooh i'm gonna miss something
if i keep bumping
the most significant stuff
all my friends and all the loose ends
and this love of mine
cuz i am running out of time
who am i am i still the same guy
or i have i lost something as i keep stomping
am i enough, every bit of myself?
i ignore the signs as i'm running out of time
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
a year goes by you wonder why not much is done
you blew right past your precious time with everyone
you've run too much in parallel
now hurry hurry is your hell
the output is what you put in
and it ain't enough
if you're not focused on the most important stuff
and all that you've got left to show
is hurry hurry on the go
ooh i'm gonna miss something
if i keep bumping
the most significant stuff
all my friends and all the loose ends
and this love of mine
cuz i am running out of time
who am i am i still the same guy
or i have i lost something as i keep stomping
am i enough, every bit of myself?
i ignore the signs as i'm running out of time
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry through these crowded streets
and i hurry through the food i eat
and i hurry when it's time to learn
and why, how many good people have i burned
i hurry when i should have been in the zone
i hurry my loved ones off the phone
i hurry through sex - i know, i know
i hurry my quiet time alone
in bed i lie, good place to die
i did my best, never relaxed
my heart attacks my little chest
i stop to smell the roses
my body decomposes
ooh i'm gonna miss something
as i keep bumping
the most significant stuff
all my friends and all the loose ends
and this love of mine
cuz i am running out of time
who am i am i still the same guy
or i have i lost something as i keep stomping
am i enough, every bit of myself?
i ignore the signs as i'm running out of time
ooh i'm gonna miss something
as i keep bumping
the most significant stuff
all my friends and all the loose ends
and this love of mine
cuz i am running out of time
who am i am i still the same guy
or i have i lost something as i keep stomping
am i enough, every bit of myself?
i ignore the signs as i'm running out of time
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry hurry, hurry hurry
hurry hurry, hurry hurry