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GPS approach question
A few weeks ago I flew a practice GPS RWY 24 approach into ELM. I don't recall the exact heading coming in, but it was in the sector leading to CIMAN. I'm new to GPS approaches having just returned after several years of inactivity, and still haven't got all the nuances figured out. I expected from what I've read about GPS approaches to be cleared to CIMAN to commence the approach, then sequence to MAPOE, CERUP, etc. with no PT. Instead, the controller cleared me to MAPOE. At that point I wasn't sure exactly what was expected, but I was flying with an instructor and he said I'd need to fly the PT in this case. I thought when you came in a certain TAA that you'd fly to the fix for that area and then fly the approach. However, in the case of this approach, this would preclude use of the PT for all cases as CIMAN and BUTRE are both noPT and the TAA leading directly to MAPOE is also marked noPT. So, that would seem to make the PT unnecessary other than in the case I was given which is a direct approach to MAPOE from other than the TAA indicated for MAPOE. Is this a common occurrence when flying GPS approaches? Is this the only scenario where the PT is applicable in this case? Matt |
#2
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Matt Whiting wrote:
A few weeks ago I flew a practice GPS RWY 24 approach into ELM. I don't recall the exact heading coming in, but it was in the sector leading to CIMAN. I'm new to GPS approaches having just returned after several years of inactivity, and still haven't got all the nuances figured out. Welcome to the club. When you figure out all the nuances, let me know; every time I think I finally understand it all, some controller throws a new nuance at me :-) I expected from what I've read about GPS approaches to be cleared to CIMAN to commence the approach, then sequence to MAPOE, CERUP, etc. with no PT. Instead, the controller cleared me to MAPOE. At that point I wasn't sure exactly what was expected, but I was flying with an instructor and he said I'd need to fly the PT in this case. I agree with your instructor, and I agree with you too (with a position like that, I should be running for president, eh?) Here's how I understand it. If you were approaching from the west, the normal thing would have been to issue you "direct CIMAN, maintain 4000 until established, cleared GPS-24 approach" In that case, you would indeed have flown CIMAN, MAPOE, CERUP, etc, with no PT. But, the controller didn't clear you to CIMAN, he cleared you to MAPOE. It's not the way the approach was intended to be flown, but it's not illegal. Since you were not approaching MAPOE from within the 153-333 arc, you had to fly a PT (in this case, a 4NM racetrack, as charted). The obvious question is, "Why did the controller do that?". I don't know, but I can make a couple of guesses. One guess is that he doesn't really get GPS approaches yet, and just plain did the sub-optimal thing. One can imagine the conversation in the radar room: "Hey Bob, if I clear this guy direct MAPOE, is he going to do a PT?", "Beats me, why don't you try it and whatch what he does". The other guess is that he had some operational need to delay your arrival and forcing you to do the PT was the simpliest way to achive that. |
#3
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Matt,
I'm still fairly new at the whole Instrument flying stuff. But I have yet to come across a Procedure Turn on any GPS approach. I was under the impression that most were designed so that you could basically make a straight, left base or right base entry with no PT allowed or required. But as my ex-wife might say " I may be wrong". David (KORL) "Matt Whiting" wrote in message... A few weeks ago I flew a practice GPS RWY 24 approach into ELM. I don't recall the exact heading coming in, but it was in the sector leading to CIMAN. I'm new to GPS approaches having just returned after several years of inactivity, and still haven't got all the nuances figured out. I expected from what I've read about GPS approaches to be cleared to CIMAN to commence the approach, then sequence to MAPOE, CERUP, etc. with no PT. Instead, the controller cleared me to MAPOE. At that point I wasn't sure exactly what was expected, but I was flying with an instructor and he said I'd need to fly the PT in this case. I thought when you came in a certain TAA that you'd fly to the fix for that area and then fly the approach. However, in the case of this approach, this would preclude use of the PT for all cases as CIMAN and BUTRE are both noPT and the TAA leading directly to MAPOE is also marked noPT. So, that would seem to make the PT unnecessary other than in the case I was given which is a direct approach to MAPOE from other than the TAA indicated for MAPOE. Is this a common occurrence when flying GPS approaches? Is this the only scenario where the PT is applicable in this case? Matt |
#4
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http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0411/05648R12.PDF
(recently much discussed airport) "CFLav8r" wrote in message .. . Matt, I'm still fairly new at the whole Instrument flying stuff. But I have yet to come across a Procedure Turn on any GPS approach. I was under the impression that most were designed so that you could basically make a straight, left base or right base entry with no PT allowed or required. But as my ex-wife might say " I may be wrong". David (KORL) "Matt Whiting" wrote in message... A few weeks ago I flew a practice GPS RWY 24 approach into ELM. I don't recall the exact heading coming in, but it was in the sector leading to CIMAN. I'm new to GPS approaches having just returned after several years of inactivity, and still haven't got all the nuances figured out. I expected from what I've read about GPS approaches to be cleared to CIMAN to commence the approach, then sequence to MAPOE, CERUP, etc. with no PT. Instead, the controller cleared me to MAPOE. At that point I wasn't sure exactly what was expected, but I was flying with an instructor and he said I'd need to fly the PT in this case. I thought when you came in a certain TAA that you'd fly to the fix for that area and then fly the approach. However, in the case of this approach, this would preclude use of the PT for all cases as CIMAN and BUTRE are both noPT and the TAA leading directly to MAPOE is also marked noPT. So, that would seem to make the PT unnecessary other than in the case I was given which is a direct approach to MAPOE from other than the TAA indicated for MAPOE. Is this a common occurrence when flying GPS approaches? Is this the only scenario where the PT is applicable in this case? Matt |
#5
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On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 20:11:47 -0500, Matt Whiting
wrote: Is this a common occurrence when flying GPS approaches? Is this the only scenario where the PT is applicable in this case? I don't know whether it is common or not, but there does not seem to be anything wrong with the clearance (or your instructor's interpretation of the need for a PT). You might also have to execute a PT at MAPOE if you were too high when you got there, even if you were coming from the straight-in area. In general, in flying approaches, if I desire a specific approach that is not the one being used, I will request it. With regard to GPS approaches, if I desire a particular IAF, I will specifically request it, too. So far, I've not been refused (or had to hold because of the request). As to why ATC cleared via MAPOE instead of CIMAN, ATC may have felt that would be a shorter route. I do not believe that ATC thinks that executing a PT is any big deal for a pilot, so they would most likely clear you for an approach via the closest IAF to your location. OR he may have wanted you to go that way for traffic reasons. There's no rule of which I am aware that says that if you are in the left base area, that you need to be cleared via the associated IAF. --ron |
#6
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Matt Whiting ) wrote:
Instead, the controller cleared me to MAPOE. While practicing GPS approaches across NY state, I have found that controllers will often clear me to the IAF aligned with the final approach course of the approach. I am guessing that years of handing out ILS approaches have made them accustomed to this. When this happens, I request the IAF closest to my position that prevents me from having to do a PT. I have yet to be denied this request. In your case, you could have responded to the controller's clearance with a request the CIMAN IAF. Of course, this is a moot point if you really needed to practice a PT, but had you been by yourself in the soup, why not make the approach as easy as possible? -- Peter |
#7
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"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote in message ... ....snip... As to why ATC cleared via MAPOE instead of CIMAN, ATC may have felt that would be a shorter route. ...snip... There's no rule of which I am aware that says that if you are in the left base area, that you need to be cleared via the associated IAF. If the track from present-position to MAPOE is fairly close to 063... even if technically in that IAF=CIMAN quadrant... would not the controller (and the pilot) think it more convenient to go direct MAPOE and make the turn, rather than having to swing out 5 miles to CIMAN and come back??? |
#8
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On Mon, 1 Nov 2004 10:13:58 -0500, "Icebound"
wrote: If the track from present-position to MAPOE is fairly close to 063... even if technically in that IAF=CIMAN quadrant... would not the controller (and the pilot) think it more convenient to go direct MAPOE and make the turn, rather than having to swing out 5 miles to CIMAN and come back??? That was the point I was trying to make. Except I would be looking at the distance rather than the track. --ron |
#9
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Icebound wrote:
If the track from present-position to MAPOE is fairly close to 063... even if technically in that IAF=CIMAN quadrant... would not the controller (and the pilot) think it more convenient to go direct MAPOE and make the turn, rather than having to swing out 5 miles to CIMAN and come back??? A procedure turn takes about 4 minutes to exectute (yes, I know there are things other than the 45-225 turn that could be done faster). Even a 172/Warrior class plane can cover 5-6 miles in that time, so as long as you don't wait until the last minute and have to make some extreme course change to head for the outer IAF, it's probably about a wash either way. The faster the aircraft, the more the T-IAF comes out ahead. And, given that it's about a wash, I'd rather make two 90 degree turns with a 5-mile straight leg and positive course guidance between them than dead-reckon my way through a procedure turn. |
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