Final answer:
The correct procedure for lost communications in IFR conditions is to use the highest of last assigned altitude, expected altitude, or minimum en-route altitude for altitude, follow the last assigned route, expected route, or filed route for the route, and continue to the clearance limit, beginning the approach at the EFC time or upon arrival if no EFC time is given.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a pilot experiences lost communications during a flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), there is a standard procedure to follow, described by the acronym AVEF and the rule of the highest of MEA (Minimum En-route Altitude), ORA (Other Assigned Altitude), or EEA (Expected Altitude). The options provided in the question are variations of the AVEF and MEA, ORA, EEA rules, but the correct process for determining altitude, route, and clearance limit is as follows:
- Altitude: Fly the highest of last assigned altitude, expected altitude, or minimum en-route altitude.
- Route: The route order is by the last assigned route, the route ATC has advised may be expected in a further clearance, or the route as filed in the flight plan.
- Clearance Limit: Continue to the clearance limit, and if the destination airport is not the clearance limit, begin the approach as close as possible to the Expected Further Clearance time (if one has been received), or if none, upon arrival at the clearance limit.
In a test option format, none of the provided answers perfectly match the FAA's guidance for lost communications, which should be encapsulated as: Altitude: Highest of MEA, ORA, or EEA; Route: Last assigned, vector, or as filed; Clearance Limit: Assigned limit, and if none, begin approach as close as possible to the EFC time or upon arrival.