Flying

Five Lines of Minimums

The RNAV (GPS) Rwy 19 approach at Alpine, Texas (E38) presents unique challenges due to its high airport elevation (4500 ft MSL), surrounding terrain, and sloping runways, necessitating careful ...
Aviation Week

Flying Circling Approaches In The Real World, Part 1

Earning an instrument and a type rating today still demands the applicant successfully fly a circling approach. Despite the FAA’s recent Advisory Circular (AC) 120-123 calling for an increased focus ...
Flying

Tale of Two Approaches

According to recent FAA statistics, there are approximately 1292 “plain vanilla” ILS approaches that are designed to Cat I minimums—usually a DH of 200 feet AGL and visibility of ½ SM. This excludes ...
Aviation Week

Circling Approaches: Good Riddance! Part 1

Example circling maneuver at Memphis IAP, Tennessee. Author graphic. I used to think of the circle-to-land maneuver following an instrument approach as a necessary evil. We had a lot of airports to go ...