Instrument Approach Procedures

What is the purpose of an instrument approach procedure?

Allows you to descend below the minimum IFR altitude into the terminal environment

Allows us to line up with the FAC of a runway

What is meant by the A in VOR A?

 Its with an A because the Final approach course is more than 30* off of runway centerline

What are the kinds of approaches?

Precision approaches, non-precision approaches, surveillance approaches

What is a precision approach?

Provides us lateral and vertical guidance via navigational signals and range information with ground stations.

Lowest possible descent altitudes to the runway environment

What are examples of precision approach

ILS - Instrument landing system

PAR - Precision approach radar

GLS - GBAS Landing system

What is non precision approach

Provides us only with lateral course guidance. Often times assisted with vertical guidance that is less precise

Typically they have higher mins than precision approaches

What are some examples of non precession approaches

VOR approaches

NDB approaches

RNAV / RNP - LNAV or LP mins

LOC

LDA - Same as LOC approach but not aligned with runway

ASR

SDF - 6 to 12 degree course width may be aligned or not aligned with runway

Approach with vertical guidnace (APV approach)

These are precision like approaches flown to a DA with lateral and vertical guidnace but do not meet precision approach standards

RNAV - LNAV/VNAV and LPV minima

LDA with glideslope

What is radar approach?

Radar approaches - Surveillance approaches - Only available at airports with published radar approach minimums on approach plates that state that

What are the types of radar approach

ASR - Non precision radar approach

PAR - Precision radar approach

Full ASR - ATC gives you headings and altitudes to align you with runway centerline, they tell you when to descend to minimum descent altitude

What is MDA and DA?

MDA - Minimum descent altitude - Non precision approach - Altitude to make decision on a whether you should land or go missed, you cannot descend below minimums until you can see the airport

DA - Decision altitude - Precision approach - Altitude to make decision on a whether you should land or go missed, you cannot descend below minimums until you can see the airport

What is needed for a visual approach

Initiated by ATC or the pilot

Pilot is responsible for visual seperation from traffic they are following

You need the following to be cleared:

- 3SM visibility
- 1000ft ceilings
- Maintain VFR conditions
- Airport in sight
- Traffic you’re following in sight

What is needed for a contact approach

Essentially a visual approach with special VFR weather minimums

Requested by pilot in lieu of IAP (NOT given by ATC)

Only at airport with IAP and pilot assumes responsibility for obstruction clearance

You need the following to be cleared:

- 1SM, COC
- Must be able to maintain cloud clearence 

What are the parts of the Instrument Approach

Feeder route
Initial segment
After initial segment final decent to airport
Final approach course
Missed approach segment

Feeder route

Not part of the approach, but it takes the aircraft from the enroute structure to the initial approach fix

IAF is the start of the approach

Thin line with an altitude associated and off of a VOR

Initial segment

Provides a method for aligning the aircraft with the approach course

Takes aircraft from IAF to a point on the course you establish inbound like an intermediate fix

Could consists of DME arc, procedure turn, holding pattern

After initial segment Final decent to airport

Runs from point where the aircraft is established inbound on the localizer or final approach course, or the intermediate fix to the final approach fix

Normally aligned with 30* of final approach course

Final Approach Couse

Begins at the final approach fix and ends at the landing point (touchdown) or missed approach point

Precision approaches begins at glideslope intercept at the glideslope intercept altitude

Missed approach segment

Begins at missed approach point, ends at designated missed approach fix

Allows safe navigation from missed approach point or to a point where another approach can be made

What are the parts of the approach plate

Heading
Briefing strip
Plan view
Profile view
Minimum altitude and visibility

What are the categories for IFR?

Categories determine your approach minimums and are based on 1.3 x Vso

Cannot fly a lower category but you can fly a higher category

If flying faster to account for crosswind go to a higher category

Straight in minimums are going to be lower than circling

What is minimum safe altitudes?

Minimum safe altitude of 3000 within 25NM

Provides 1000ft of obstruction clearance and its guaranteed with 25NM of the primary NAVAID

Max 4 segments

How should drift corrections be made before the FAF vs After?

Before the FAF make all drift corrections

After the FAF heading changes no more than 2*

What are some of the common symbols seen in the briefing strip

T - Non standard takeoff mins or an entry is published in the takeoff minimums

A - Non standard IFR alternate minimums

A NA - Can’t use the airport as an alternate

Cold temperature correction procedures - Causes difference in altitude due to the extreme cold

When can you descend to the next instrument approach segment?

When cleared and established

When should you execute a missed approach?

Arrival at MAP or DH with insufficient visual reference to runway environment

A safe approach is not possible

Instructed to do so by ATC

What is a procedure turn?

A PT is a manuever that enables

• Course reversal

• Descent from IAF

What are some of the limitations of a procedure turn?

Max speed 200kts

Remain within the charted distance (10NM)

Comply with published altitudes for obstacle clearence

Turn in the direction the PT is on

What direction should you turn on a procedure turn? What distance should you remain from the PT?

First angle of PT - Required, you must turn in this direction

Second angle of PT - NOT Required, you can choose what direction to turn

• Turn based on traffic, wind, necessity to get down for fuel or pax

Procedure turn - What is meant by “Remain within 10NM on PT?”

You must remain within 10NM from the LOM or VOR on the chart

Remeber to watch your groundspeed to determine whether or not you are flying beyond it

If unsure from what point to remain within 10NM use the more conservative option or ask ATC

Is the shape of the manuever mandatory?

Only if it is a teardrop or holding in lieu of a procedure turn

Procedure turn - Can you descend once established on the procedure turn?

Yes, and you can do this down to the procedure turn altitude without being cleared.

Once the needle comes in and you re intercept the LOC or VOR course you can descend with the approach

When we are cleared for the approach you have to be at the last assigned altitude until you are established on a published segment of the procedure

Teardrop procedure considerations

No IF - Intermediate segment begins 10 miles prior to the FAF

Nav facility located on the airport - Final approach start at completion of the teardrop turn however the final approach segment begins on the final approach course 10 miles from the runway

When is a PT or hold in leui of a PT mandatory?

It is mandatory when depicted on the approach chart

Do no use a PT when the conditions of SHARPTT are met

Do not fly a procedure turn when

One of the elements of SHARPTT is met

S - Straight in approach clearance
H - Hold in lieu of a procedure turn
A - DME Arc
R - Radar vectors
P - No PT depicted on chart
T - Timed approach from a hold fix
T - Teardrop course reversal

Approach Flow

LGBT

Verify SHARP TT for no procedure turn

Before FAF - GUMPS

At FAF - 7 T’s

What are the ways you can identify an intersection?

VOR cross radial

DME from LOC

DME from VOR

Marker beacon

Glideslope intercept

RADAR

GPS

INOP ILS Equipment

Find the table in the TPP and add the highest amount of visibility that is required by each INOP component

If ILS glideslope is INOP refer to the localizer table

If the INOP component is not on the table (MM) minimums do not change

If the glideslope is INOP on an ILS what should you do?

Proceed with the LOC approach

Required equipment for instrument approach (RADAR Required, ADF, GPS, VOR)

The required equipment for an approach will be listed in the notes or state “RADAR Required” or “ADF Required”

GPS can substitute for DME or an ADF

One VOR receiver can be used to shoot an approach

RNP APCH means GPS is required

INOP OM?

Compass locator

Precision radar

IFR approved GPS can be used when the marker is also a compass locator and you can retrive it identifier from the GPS database

RVR Conversions

Every 500ft of RVR is about 1/8 miles of vis

1600 starts with 1/4

VDP

A point where a 3* descent can begin from the MDA to the runway

If no VDP calculate your own by doing HAT/300

VDA (GPS advisory glidepath)

Glidepath computed from the FAF to the runway TCH

VDA does not guarantee obstruction clearance below the MDA in the visual segment

Pilots still must comply with all stepdown fix altitudes, watch out for this on a hot day

Instrument Math

Ground speed for 3* descent - GS x 5

TOD - Altitude to lose / 300