If communications are not established, what distance will the aircraft hold at?

When aircraft are operating in an area where communication cannot be established, they follow standard procedures to ensure safety and coordination. Holding at a specified distance helps maintain situational awareness and allows for appropriate spacing from potential hazards, such as fire activity or other aircraft in the vicinity.

In situations where communication is absent, holding at 7 miles out provides a balance between maintaining a safe distance to avoid interference with ground operations and being close enough to respond quickly if conditions allow communication to be re-established. This distance is often considered optimal for situational awareness and safety, considering factors like visibility and response time.

The other distances may be too short or too long for effective operations in a wildland firefighting context, where maintaining an appropriate distance is crucial for safety and operational effectiveness.