The student should be able to apply previous lessons about approach components to an instrument approach chart, and be prepared to fly an approach in the aircraft.

Elements

• review approach concepts
  • tracking navaids
  • working with ATC
  • approach briefing
  • procedure turn
  • DME arc
  • holding
• minimum altitudes: MDA & DA
• visual maneuvering: straight-in & circling
• missed approach
• approach types
  • VOR, VOR/DME
  • LOC
  • ILS
  • GPS, GPS/LPV
  • NDB
• approach techniques

Resources

• pen and paper; whiteboard and markers
• Instrument Flying Handbook and The Pilot's Manual: Instrument Flying
• instrument procedure charts; preferably in both Jeppesen & government formats
• laptop with flight simulator and internet access
• Tim's Navigation Simulator works with multiple technologies
• Selkirk IFR trainers
• AIM Chapter 1: Air Navigation

Instructor actions

• Briefly review and, if necessary, teach the combined elements of an instrument approach
• As appropriate, discuss specific approach types and their characteristics
• Illustrate techniques using Tim's simulator
• Review each system before moving on to the next
• Evaluate student knowledge with questions emphasizing understanding rather than rote
  • Have the student solve multiple scenarios
• Conclude with an oral quiz, identifying and correcting errors

Student actions

• Arrive with completed homework assignment
• Maintain active involvement by responding to questions and taking notes
• Plot several different instrument approaches of the same type on the board, chair-flying their training aircraft through the procedure
• Complete an oral quiz and demonstration of the concepts

Completion Standards

The lesson will be complete when the student can describe the procedures required to fly a given type of instrument approach with minimal instructor guidance.

Teaching outline

Review of approach concepts

Intercepting & tracking navigational aids

Interacting with ATC in the approach environment

Briefing the approach

Flying a procedure turn

Flying a DME arc

Visual maneuvering: straight-in & circling

Refer to visual maneuvering lesson plan

Holding

Minimum approach altitudes: MDA & DA

• All approaches have some kind of minimum altitude
• Precision approaches use a decision altitude, measured in MSL.
  • At the DA, the decision is made to land or begin the missed approach segment.
  • Also referred to as DH (decision height), measured AGL from the touchdown zone (TDZE).
• Non-precision approaches have a minimum descent altitude, which is the absolute floor of the approach.
  • The MDA must be maintained until either a landing is possible (ceiling, visibility, and environment in sight), the missed approach point is reached, or any other time that a missed approach is begun.
  • MDAs, especially when circling, must be considered minimums only, not mandatory. Often current conditions or personal minimums dictate higher approach minimums.

Missed approach procedures

Instrument approach procedures

VOR, VOR/DME

LOC

ILS

GPS, GPS/LPV

NDB

approach techniques

The ILS is a precision approach, providing both lateral and vertical guidance down a predetermined flight path.