All posts in Flight Training

Making Sense of GPS Approach Minimums

By | October 8, 2012 | Flight Training | No comments
GPS Approach Minimums

The minima section of an RNAV or GPS approach chart looks like a bowl of alphabet soup. Full of ever-changing acronyms, it’s hard for the weekend flyer to keep up. To help, I studied the AIM and compiled this at-a-glance list of GPS approach minima and what they mean to you.

Minima In English Details
GLS GNSS Landing System GLS uses LAAS (Local Area Augmentation System) to provide ILS-like lateral and vertical guidance. GLS is still under development
LPV Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance Uses WAAS to provide ILS-like lateral and vertical guidance. Minimums will be slightly higher than GLS
LNAV/VNAV Lateral Navigation with Vertical Navigation Vertical guidance provided by a barometric altimeter based system or WAAS GPS
LP Localizer Performance Localizer-like performance provided by a WAAS capable GPS. No vertical guidance
LNAV Lateral Navigation Step-down non precision approach with no vertical guidance. Any GPS certified for IFR approaches can fly to LNAV minimums

All of this information and more is in the latest Airman Information Manual. For the 2013 manual, check pages 5-4-21 and 5-4-22.

Not Flying Much? Keep Yourself Proficient

By | June 19, 2012 | Flight Training | 1 Comment
Flight planning

At a wedding last week, I spent some time chatting with my buddy’s father — a private pilot and owner/builder of a beautiful Van’s RV-6A. When I asked him about his plane, he confessed that he hasn’t flown in a very long time.

It’s a common story across the general-aviation sector. Pilot’s aren’t flying as much as they used to. In the Air Facts Journal, John Zimmerman warns that pilots might be losing proficiency. So what can we do about it?

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The Myth of Maneuvering Speed

By | June 1, 2012 | Advanced Flying, Flight Training | 3 Comments
Maneuvering Speed Myths

Most pilots and flight instructors understand VA as the maximum speed at which the airplane will stall prior to structural damage, and that full deflection of the flight controls at or below this speed poses no risk to the airplane. This is a dangerous assumption and it is simply untrue.

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A Closer Look at Maneuvering Speed

By | May 28, 2012 | Advanced Flying, Flight Training | 4 Comments
Va, Maneuvering Speed

Last week’s piece on maneuvering speed inspired me to dig a little deeper into the topic of VA. It really is an interesting topic that forces pilots to delve into aerodynamic theory. This week, let’s take a closer look at maneuvering speed.

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