"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
. ..

I am following the damn thread. Mr. Thomas was arguing that he would hold
until the ETA in a lost comm situation. I agree with you that it doesn't
make sense, but you then asked what sort of bizarre failure would
(presumably,
I'm interpretting here because you were terse as usual as to what you were
specifically asking) let you navigate the hold once you've lost comm AND
transponder.


Here's the part of Mr. Thomas' message that you missed:


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?




As several pointed out, lots of us have handheld GPS's
either already out for situational awareness even if they don't use them
for primary nav, or onboard for backup (or other VFR use). It's also not
unheard of two lose complete electrical. It's happened to me in two
different
aircraft (one an alternator mechanical failure, and the other an
electrical
circuitry failure).


Only a complete idiot would choose to hold until the ETA with a handheld GPS
after an electrical failure.