Hi Steven,

While it doesn't make a bit of a difference from 150 miles out, if you
reach the clearance limit and have no communication with ATC, and
reach it before your ETA, where are you going to hold? Over one of the
runway thresholds?

I assume the conditions are IMC. I'm not going to hold anywhere. I'm
going
to say to myself, "I have an in-flight emergency requiring immediate
action," and then fly the most advantageous approach and land.

I wouldn't like to be on your aeroplane if you're not going to hold anywhere
if you're 30 minutes early arriving at your destination with lost comms
etc... :-)

If you are in IMC and loose communication then one should start any
available instrument approach into the destination airport at the ETA within
the filed flight plan (ETD + Time Enroute). If you're early and its solid
IMC you hold. Simple as that.

The reason for this is Air Traffic is expecting you to arrive at the airport
at that ETA so they will have cleared the airspace in its entirity,
expecting you to start any published instrument approach into the airport.
This is particularly relevant if your transponder has also failed... how
are Air Traffic supposed to know where you are?

If you arrive, lets say 30 minutes ahead of schedule, you have no comms and
as its your very unlucky day your transponder has decided to go
unservicable. ATC have no idea where you are but as they will be following
the FARs they'll be clearing the area for your planned ETA. If you are now
30 minutes ahead of schedule (great tailwind) then they may still be
clearing the approaches... if you then start an ILS approach in solid IMC,
there could be a possibility of ploughing straight into another aircraft
that they are getting onto the ground in anticipation of your arrival 30
minutes later...

Of course if you are in VMC conditions then you'd stay in VMC and land as
soon as practicable. After landing informing Air Traffic by telephone so
they aren't any more incovenienced than they need to be.

Just my two pennies worth (I'm a Brit' so pennies instead of cents!).

Best wishes,

Richard Thomas
FAA CP-ASEL IA