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RNAV Z/Y Approach/advise ATC of which type?

Asked by: 6408 views Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Instrument Rating

Hello everyone,

For RNAV approaches into my home airport, one runway has RNAV approach with two different types, yankee, and zulu.

When ATC clears for RNAV runway 00, does ATC care which type I am shooting or do I need to advise them of the type?

What are some circumstances when this will make pilot most confused of?

Your ideas, comments, and any relevant extra ordinary cases are welcome !

 

Steve.

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1 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Jun 08, 2016

    Steve,

    I would help if you indicated the airport identifier. Y and Z are part of the approach name and you are cleared for the Y or you are cleared for the Z. There is no Runway 00, do you mean any runway? You may request any approach for which you and your aircraft are qualified to fly. The end of the alphabet, Z, Y, X are used to differentiate straight in approaches using the same facility or sensor to the same runway. Sometimes the approaches are different because of different procedure routes, missed approach climb rate, different minimums, different equipment requirements, or the sensor requires a different navigation specification but is using the same sensor.

    At our airport, KUZA, we have an ILS or LOC Y RWY 2 and an ILS or LOC Z RWY 2. The Y requires GPS to use the TAA and the Z uses conventional Navaids to join the approach. In some cases the Z might be RNAV (GPS) and the Y might be RNAV (RNP). In other cases the Z might have only LPV minimums while the Y has a different procedure and only has LNAV minimums. In other cases the Z has a DA of 200 feet but requires a high missed approach climb rate while the Y has a much higher DA, but uses a standard missed approach climb rate. Whatever the reason, the Y and the Z are to the same runway and you are cleared for the specific approach name which includes the Y or the Z and in most cases the pilot requests one or the other.

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