During emergencies, frequencies should be changed only if there is a valid reason.

• A. Only when operationally necessary and/or a valid reason exists
• B. At the pilot's request
• C. On a fixed schedule
• D. Never

Answer: (A)

During emergencies, the goal is reliable and prioritized communication, so changing frequencies should happen only when there’s a valid reason. This prevents unnecessary chatter and confusion and keeps the channel open for urgent traffic. The best rule is to switch frequencies only if it’s operationally necessary and you have a legitimate reason—for example, to reach a different controller, to contact an emergency or guard frequency, or to overcome a communication problem on the current channel. Changing for any other reason—such as at the pilot’s request, on a fixed schedule, or never—is not appropriate in an emergency because it can disrupt coordination and delay crucial messages.