Airspace & Radio
Check Your Radio and Know NORDO Procedures
NZPP is an MBZ with 10-minute reports and a listening watch; if the radio seems quiet, run a radio check, and if it has failed, squawk 7600 and follow NORDO procedures.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
NZPP is within a mandatory broadcast zone (MBZ). This means we're legally required to make radio calls/position reports at the programmed interval – every 10 minutes in our case – and to maintain a listening watch on frequency.
If you know there's other traffic around but you haven't heard any radio calls for a while, double-check your radio:
- Test the volume by pushing/pulling the volume knob.
- Ask Flight Service for a radio check: "Flight Service, JEN, radio check." They'll respond with a number from 1 to 5 (1 is the worst, 5 the best).
- If there's no response, try turning the radio off and on, and make sure both headset plugs are fully in and secure.
NORDO procedures
If you're not receiving radio calls, or you're unsure whether you're transmitting, commence NORDO procedures:
- Squawk 7600.
- In the circuit: complete a full-stop landing.
- In the training area:
- Be predictable – follow standard arrival procedures.
- Try contacting Flight Service (04 297 1170) or the aero club by phone to advise your intentions.
- Make sure your lookout is thorough.