16
votes
Can I circle to a different runway if cleared for an instrument approach without circling minimums?
The only minimums that apply to any approach are those printed on the plate. Doing anything else is being a test pilot. Minimums are charted based on obstacle clearance, descent gradient, distance ...
- 23.3k
14
votes
Can a pilot use their GPS/FMS to fly a VOR or NDB approach?
In the US they can (Effective: May 26, 2016).
This change allows for the use of a suitable RNAV system as a means to navigate on the final approach segment of an instrument approach procedure (IAP) ...
- 7,371
12
votes
Accepted
Approach plate does not require DME, but DME used in the published missed?
DME can be used in the published missed, but does not have to be. There are other ways to identify the missed approach fix.
The missed approach instructions are:
MISSED APPROACH: Climb to 1500 ...
- 16.5k
12
votes
How can a pilot fly a descent angle of 4° in an A320?
You're in luck: the Airbus A320 flight director has a special mode for exactly this: TRK/FPA (track and flight path angle):
(image source)
When you are on final approach, press the HDG V/S - TRK FPA ...
- 54.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Why is an approach that relies on both LOC and PAPI not considered a precision approach?
I think you're overlooking the primary reason pilots fly instrument approaches: the conditions do not permit flight by visual reference.
The fact that a PAPI provides vertical guidance is more or ...
- 23.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Why is radar required on some FAA instrument approaches?
Radar is most likely required in this case because there is no defined Initial Approach Fix (IAF). This means that ATC needs to give vectors to final or otherwise provide a specific clearance to ...
- 16.5k
10
votes
Why is radar required on some FAA instrument approaches?
As mentioned above, this approach has no IAF.
That's because the the VOR is at 1,301 MSL (note the height of the obstacle next to the VOR is 1,410), and the segment from TIVNE to HORVI descends from ...
- 16.7k
10
votes
Accepted
If DME is required, why have non-DME minima?
Conceivably the I-ETI DME transponder could be out of service, preventing you from identifying YOCUB (unless you have a second VOR or GPS), but you could still identify BASSO on the CHS DME for the ...
- 4,640
9
votes
Can I circle to a different runway if cleared for an instrument approach without circling minimums?
Intro
This is a bit of an odd situation, but they have a good reason for doing what they did.
First of all, each instrument approach is designed to be a stand-alone procedure, and the designers ...
- 58.6k
9
votes
Accepted
Can a pilot use their GPS/FMS to fly a VOR or NDB approach?
No, you still have to monitor the underlying NAVAID. You just have to read further in that same section of the AIM. Reference the most recent edition of the AIM, which has Change 3 dated April 27, ...
- 106
9
votes
Accepted
When to go missed on a non-precision approach?
Non precision MAP fixes are identified in a number of ways:
Fixes identified by additional terrestrial Navaids eg intersections between the localizer and radial directions from other Navaid beacons ...
- 72.8k
7
votes
Were there ever instrument approach procedures utilizing only Four Course Range Navigation?
Yes such approaches have existed.
As early as 1944 the North America Low Frequency Radio Range (aka Four-Course Range and Adcock Range) network was quite developed. There are several approach plates ...
- 71k
7
votes
Does a Tower controller need to see an aircraft on final to give landing clearance?
The FAA's ATC orders cover this for the US. Note that controllers can use radar instead of visual contact:
3−10−7. LANDING CLEARANCE WITHOUT VISUAL OBSERVATION
When an arriving aircraft ...
- 71.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Does having lead-in lights in sight allow descent below MDA?
No, you may not descend below MDA having only the lead-in lights in sight.
Reference FAA Order 6850.2b, "Visual Guidance Lighting Systems", page 1-3 through 1-5.
According to this order, the ...
- 23.1k
7
votes
Accepted
Why did autopilot switch to CWS P on a LNAV/VNAV approach, and why didn't it reduce descent rate to comply with CDU alts when VNAV was re-engaged?
That behavior, VNAV switching off and going into ALT HOLD or even CWS PITCH, can happen when the VNAV "gets lost" and no longer can draw a vertical path from where it is to its End-of-...
- 49.8k
6
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between ILS and VOR/DME?
Which one is better for carrying out approaches?
An ILS approach is more precise for two reasons:
The ILS localizer is more sensitive than a VOR radial, therefore providing more accurate lateral ...
- 54.3k
6
votes
Why is this Instrument Approach NA for certain radials, yet it depicts a feeder route for those radials?
Your confusion may stem from the way you are viewing the instruction not to use it for arrival on the radials 356 to 157. If you were arriving on the 356 Radial of the PIE VORTAC, your course/track (...
- 16.5k
5
votes
How to determine the MAP for an RNAV MDA approach?
The Missed Approach Point (MAPt) is at the runway threshold. The other reference you will see on this RNAV chart is the Visual Descent Point (VDP), at 1.1NM RWY05R, which is at the Minimum Descent ...
- 15.7k
5
votes
Can I circle to a different runway if cleared for an instrument approach without circling minimums?
In this scenario, you do in fact have two legal options -- although you must decide if they are safe.
First, you can cancel IFR when you break out on the approach and switch to SVFR (this was ...
- 16.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Was it ever possible to land big commercial jets from the missed approach point during non-precision approach?
Possible? Yes, depending. Advisable? That's a matter of opinion. I suspect most these days would probably say no unless you did a circling maneuver to another runway. And then many (most?) would say ...
- 39.2k
5
votes
Crossing mid-field on a circling approach
During an IFR Circling approach, in IFR conditions, there is no pattern. You own the airspace and can fly anywhere you want, unless it is restricted by a published circling procedure. (example: no ...
- 37.5k
4
votes
Accepted
When an alternate minimum applies, does it change MDA or DA?
From the FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook, section 6-4: "The 600-2 and 800-2 rules, or any exceptions, only apply to flight planning purposes, while published landing minimums apply to the actual ...
- 1,388
4
votes
How to fly LOC approach when IAF is a specific DME from LOC, but LOC has no DME?
You have a few different points here but the short version is: IWA is a VORTAC and I-IWA is a localizer, i.e. they're different navaids. DME is available from IWA and it's optional but not required ...
- 71.6k
4
votes
Accepted
What does this A320 FCTM quote about cold weather and non-precision approaches mean?
I am not sure which part you don't understand, but here is my attempt to explain in more laymen terms.
Short version: When it is too cold, a certain mode for flying non-precision approaches using the ...
- 39.7k
4
votes
Why do some non-precision approaches have stepdown fixes after the final approach fix?
Take a look at KPRB VOR Rwy 19:
There is a stepdown fix after the final approach fix. Now look at the terrain around the airport. You can see a bunch of small hills around the FAF. In order to ...
- 7,371
4
votes
What is the maximum rate of descent in an instrument approach?
ICAO Doc 8168 stipulates that for a non-CDFA non-precision approach, the aircraft should not exceed 15% gradient when descending from FAF to MDA.
1.7.4 Stepdown descent
The third technique ...
- 497
3
votes
Accepted
What are "ground-based navigation systems which provide vertical guidance" and how do they compare to altimeters?
They mean an ILS - Instrument Landing System.
An ILS consist of:
A localizer component, which tells the angle between the aircraft's position and the extended runway centerline. In short, it tells ...
- 39.7k
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