Lost Comms in Europe: The End of the 7-Minute Rule and Introduction of Squawk 7601

Since 1 May 2025, Europe has adopted a harmonised lost communication procedure under SERA.14083, marking the end of the “7-minute rule” and introducing a new squawk: 7601 for VMC diversions.

Here’s what you need to do if you are in a PLOC (Prolonged Lost of Communication) situation:

1. Exhaust all attempts to re-establish contact.

Flight crew members should:
- Try the previous frequency.
- Try any other appropriate frequency on route.
- Try 121.500 MHz.
- Contact other ATC units or nearby aircraft for relay.
- Use all available means, including CPDLC, SATCOM, or even mobile phone if feasible.

2. Make yourself visible.

• Squawk 7600.
• Make blind transmissions announcing your position, intentions, and compliance with the radio failure procedure.

3. Follow the standard procedure precisely.

Under SERA.14083(c), for IFR flights:
- Maintain last assigned speed and level (or minimum flight altitude if higher) for 20 minutes after:
- The last required report was missed, or
- Squawk 7600 was set (if under surveillance).
- After 20 minutes, adjust to your filed flight plan level and speed.

Then proceed along the last cleared route, and:
- Navigate to the appropriate navigation aid or fix serving your destination.
- Hold if needed to ensure arrival at your Expected Approach Time (EAT).
- If no EAT received, commence descent as close as possible to your Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).

🛬 Complete an instrument approach and land, if possible, within 30 minutes of ETA or last acknowledged EAT, whichever is later.

If you are in VMC and decide to divert visually to the nearest suitable airfield:
Squawk 7601 and proceed to land.

A Mandatory Occurence Report needs to be filed in order to understand why this happened. Your company has 72 hours to send this report to the authorities. Therefore, file the report as soon as practicable.

Source: EASA Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA)
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