Arrival Procedures and Charts

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Overview
 Arrival Procedures
 Descent planning
 Radar vectors
 Proceeding direct
 Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) route
 Approach Procedures
 Types of approaches
 Instrument approach charts
 Descent below glideslope

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Descent Planning
 Proper descent planning allows for:
 Better fuel performance
 Arriving at your destination sooner
 Increased situational awareness
 Plan of action in a lost communication situation

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Calculating When to Descend
 Descent profile charts
 Charts provided by the informational manual
 Mathematical/Flight computer
 Rule of thumb calculations
 Electronic or manual E6-B

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Performance Chart

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Mathematical Calculations

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Example

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Transition to Arrival
 Radar Vectors
 For instrument approaches (not for visual
approaches)
 Vectors for final approach coarse when within 2
NM of initial approach point (IAP)
 ATC must tell the pilot if they are vectoring them
through the final approach coarse

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 "Cleared Direct"
 When cleared direct maintain assigned altitude until
established on an instrument approach
 Altitude may vary based on route in the event of a radio
failure
Standard Terminal Arrival Route
 A Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) is
a pre-determined route to transition from the
enroute phase to the approach phase
 A pilot must have at least the textual
description of a STAR available
 A pilot can request in the flight plan for
“No Stars”

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Interpretation

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Instrument Approach

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Types of Instrument Approaches
 Precision
 Any approach that provides both vertical and lateral
navigation
 Instrument Landing System (ILS)
 Some GPS approaches
 Non-Precision
 Any approach that only provides lateral guidance
 VOR approach
 NDB approach
 Some GPS approaches
 Visual approach
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Chart Components
 Header or briefing section
 Plan view
 Profile view
 Minimums section

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Briefing Section

 Includes all
information the
pilot needs to fly
the instrument
approach
Plan View
 Depicts an overhead view of the instrument
approach
 Indicates highest obstruction
 Shows Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA)
 Indicates the course reversal maneuver
 Shows Initial approach fix or point

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Plan View

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Minimum Safe Altitude
 Minimum altitude to guarantee you
obstruction clearance.
 Within 25 NM radius

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Course Reversal Maneuver
 A way to safely
switch from going
outbound to
inbound
 Procedure Turn
 Holding in lieu of
a procedure turn

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Profile View
 Shows an altitude depiction of the approach once established
 Also Depicts:
 Final Approach Point (FAP)
 Final Approach Fix (FAF)
 Visual Descent Point (VDP)
 Step Down Fix

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FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics
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Landing Data
 “LANDING” minimums
 Decision Height (DH)
 Minimum Decision Altitude (MDA)
 Approach category based off of 1.3Vs0

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Approach Category
 Category A: Less than 91 knots
 Category B: 91 – 120 knots
 Category C: 121 – 140 knots
 Category D: 141 – 165 knots
 Category E: Greater than 165 knots

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Applicable Regulation for T/O &
Landing

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Sources
 Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
 Instrument Flying Handbook
 Instrument Procedures Handbook
 Terminal Procedures Publication

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