Turn at an Altitude 1

28.10.2004

Submission:

I agree completely with what IW said. I feel there is a big problem with this in departures and missed approach. Some pilots are trained and some come up with what the pilot here tried to teach his student, which I think is very dangerous. One thing to remember in US TERPS is that you only have three types of departure/missed approaches.

1. Straight

2. Turning

3. A Combination of straight and turning:

As written in the criteria this is used when you need to avoid an obstruction. We compute the turn altitude at 152 FPNM which creates a straight segment, normally a lot longer than what the actual aircraft performance will be. We also protect for an aircraft that reaches the climb to an altitude very soon. What we don't protect for is an aircraft that starts the turn at an altitude other than what is specified in the instructions.

I really think that all pilots need to have a basic understanding of procedure design from a procedure specialist prior to getting an instrument rating. Being an air traffic controller and a procedure specialist it always amazes me to talk to pilots at aero clubs and learn how little understanding they have of the process of creating approach plates.

Dave Perry - USA

Answer or Commentary:

(I.W.

Volume I of document 8168 Pans-Ops is a very good read for those who want to know a bit more about how procedures are designed without going into too much depth.)