Flight Procedures
Instrument Flight
You may not commence an instrument approach if weather is below minimums unless: 1) you are dual-
piloted, or 2) you are performing a practice approach and do not intend to land. However, if the approach
was above minimums when commenced you may continue to the published minimums regardless of
changes in the weather. An approach is considered to commence from an enroute descent when leaving
the highest published IAF altitude. For penetration approaches, leaving the IAF is commencing. Before
commencing an instrument approach, complete the penetration checklist, as follows:
Armament panel: Checked OFF and SAFE
CONTROL AUG switch - ALL
Canopy defog and cockpit temperature: AS REQUIRED
Weather/field conditions: CHECKED
NAVAIDS: TUNED AND IDENTIFIED
Wet Compass, ADI, HSI: ALIGNED
SAHRS: CHECKED/ALIGNED
Altimeter: SET AS REQUIRED
Standby attitude indicator - ERECT
Radar altimeter: SET
Fuel: CHECKED
Approach clearance time: NOTE & PLAN HOLDING
APPROACH COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
In your initial communication with approach control, known as P-A-R format, give your Position (if
required) and your Altitude and ATIS letter (information Alpha) and Request an approach. Most often you
will be requesting a specific approach (e.g., High TACAN runway 13). In addition, you may also request
current weather information, the altimeter setting, and the duty runway (WAR), if ATIS is not available. A
prudent pilot would have already tuned and copied ATIS and based his approach request on that
information. If it is not included, then the controller is required to give you the weather. If the letter
identifier is no longer current the controller will automatically provide you with updated weather
information. In response to your request, approach control will provide clearance, duty runway, surface
wind, ceiling and visibility, current altimeter setting, and missed approach instructions. Whenever the
controller gives you instructions containing headings, altitudes, or an altimeter setting, you are required to
read that information back.
GROUND CONTROLLED APPROACH (GCA)
There are two basic types of ground-controlled approaches--the precision radar approach (PAR) and the
surveillance radar approach (ASR). A PAR provides you with precise course, glidepath, and range
information and is classified as a precision approach. An ASR (commonly referred to as a surveillance
approach) provides lower resolution course and range information only (no glideslope) and is classified as
a non-precision approach.
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