Practical IFR: The Extra Step-down
Think you know an approach after crossing the FAF? A hidden step-down fix can make that familiar descent more complicated—and a little more dangerous.
About Jeff Van West
Jeff Van West is PilotWorkshops’ Creative Director with the primary responsibility for managing the development and creation of the company’s pilot proficiency training programs, including its flagship IFR and VFR Mastery programs.
For 19 years, Jeff ran many noteworthy aviation media projects with his own firm, Van West Communications, including magazines, books, videos and live seminars. Jeff previously served as editor-in-chief of IFR Magazine and co-editor of Aviation Consumer, and his work appears in AOPA Pilot, Flight Training Magazine, Plane and Pilot, and AVweb. He’s an experienced CFII/MEI with ratings for single- and multi-engine airplanes, seaplanes, and gliders. Jeff was the creator of the first pilot transition program for new Cirrus aircraft.
Entries by Jeff Van West
What’s Wrong? Flying the RNAV 24 at Toledo in a Bonanza
/by Jeff Van WestWelcome back to What’s Wrong?—our interactive aviation challenge where the clues are in plain sight, just like in real flying. This time, you’re about to cross FISUS for the Hold in Lieu of Procedure Turn on the RNAV (GPS) Runway 24 approach at Toledo. The GPS annunciates a teardrop entry for the hold, so that’s what you’ll do. Watch the video and try to see what’s wrong.
ODP Versus VCOA (Visual Climb Over Airport)
/by Jeff Van WestEvery airport that has a published instrument approach has also been surveyed for departures. It’s assumed that an aircraft will cross the departure end of the runway (DER) at 35 feet AGL, and climb to 400 feet AGL on runway heading, with a climb gradient of 200 feet per NM.
Practical IFR: Visual Approaches
/by Jeff Van WestOne of the great ironies of IFR flying is that once you have the right to fly through the clouds, you take almost every opportunity to stay out of them. It’s simpler, faster, and arguably safer (at least at the GA level) to shortcut full procedures with visual ones. The go-to “instrument approach” for keeping the mail moving is: “Cleared for the visual.”
Practical IFR: Mix and Match
/by Jeff Van WestAs an aviation writer, I’m always on the prowl for interesting approach charts (so if you have a favorite, drop me a line). One that recently appeared in my email was the ILS or LOC Rwy 27 at Williamsport, Pennsylvania (KIPT). The striking curiosity was plan view note, “RNAV 1-GPS or RADAR AND DME REQUIRED.” The investigation yielded a longer explanation than I expected. Too bad I don’t get paid by the word.
Practial IFR: Have a Speed-to-Fly for Emergencies in IMC
/by Jeff Van WestOne refinement that rarely gets taught is adjusting best glide speed (Vbg) for changes in weight and wind. In a glider, if you’re heading back to the airport with a headwind, you can’t just open the throttle to make up for lost groundspeed. Instead, you pitch down to speed up. A lot. In fact, you might add 20 knots to your best glide (L/Dmax) speed to counter a 20-knot headwind.
Practical IFR: Behold the Power of Uninterrupted Descents
/by Jeff Van West “Descend and maintain” is such a staple of IFR communications it might as well be a single word. Yet there are times when that’s the last thing you want to do. Maybe those clouds are bumpy and you have the family on board. Maybe they’re icy and you need to minimize your exposure. Maybe you just like […]
Practical IFR: Decision Time
/by Jeff Van WestSome decisions don’t allow the luxury of contemplation. Every instrument pilot knows at least one of these decisions in the depths of his or her cloud-flying bones: the missed approach. Making a decision while still descending and a mere 200 feet above the ground (lower for Cat II+) only works because the decision is binary. You see the expected environment and continue—or you don’t and you climb away.
Practical IFR: Understanding the Transitions
/by Jeff Van WestBozeman Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN) RNAV and ILS 12 In a world of vectors and magenta lines, we rarely sweat the details of transition routes for instrument approaches. Follow the controller’s instructions and the GPS flight plan. What could go wrong? Not much when you’re in radar contact and the navigator is working. However, both […]
Practical IFR: Departure Alternates
/by Jeff Van WestA departure alternate is an airport and approach you’ll fly if trouble finds you seconds after you enter the clouds. These are required for many commercial operations if the conditions make an IFR return to the departure airport unlikely or impossible. They’re not required for GA, but you should consider making them part of your standard IFR planning.
