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Posts Tagged ‘instrument approaches’

Kent wrote me this morning asking:

While flying recently with my friend a question came up which has come up for me several times in the past. I firmly believe that while flying VFR practice approaches (as published) into an uncontrolled airport that radio communication with the controlling ATC needs to be made-I always thought the approached as published is their approach. My friend firmly believes that as long as it’s VMC and uncontrolled airspace that one does not need to be talking to ATC. I do agree that it seems to be common practice to fly these on your own without ATC but is this really appropriate/legal?

Hi Kent,

This might be one of the cases where what is legal isn’t necessarily safe. The safe thing is always to contact ATC and request flight following / radar services when practicing any kind of approach.  Remember, that’s why they are there (and for now it’s still a free service). Even if you aren’t receiving radar services it would be prudent to at the very least monitor the appropriate frequency.  The reasoning of course is that if an airplane comes along that really does need to shoot that approach (corporate, airline, etc), your presence on the approach might make the required IFR separation difficult if not impossible for ATC.   Also, having that second (or third set) of eyes is always a good backup in case both pilots become preoccupied with the technicalities of the approach.  How sad would it be if ATC could have stopped the collision of 2 VFR aircraft…if only they were talking to them!  That brings up another point too, what if there is another aircraft on the same approach that has a pilot with the same mentality of your friend?   Now you have 2 VFR airplanes, practicing the same approach and neither of them are talking to ATC…that’s just asking for something to happen!

However, according to the AIM Chapter 3 Section 2, in uncontrolled airspace or class E (as I’m guessing your approach is in) there is no communications requirement for VFR aircraft.   I find nothing else published saying that you have to establish contact with ATC just because you are on a segment of an instrument approach.   Technically your friend is right but that doesn’t mean that would be the safest operating practice (I’d rather be safe and alive then dead and right).

As a pilot (and PIC) you have every right to stand up for yourself and establish your own operating procedures.  Let everyone you fly with know that your rule is to contact ATC on VFR practice approaches.  Don’t let yourself be lead down the path of least resistance!  A good pilot listens to his gut. If something doesn’t feel right, STOP!  Don’t continue.  Figure out what you don’t like about the situation and correct it.  If you don’t like practicing approaches without contacting ATC, then don’t do them!  There are plenty of times in my career where I’ve had to stand up for a situation I thought was unsafe, even if it was “legal” to continue.

Fly Safe.

Here is a question from a new CFI concerning practicing approaches with a student pilot:

I am a new CFI-A, and currently finishing up one of my first students. While just buzzing around with the student under the hood performing unusual attitudes, climbs/ descents and turns, I would like to introduce to my student a little bit of the instrument approach procedures. To me it seems a little bit better with “If you enter IMC while VFR, here is how you can get out…” Can I do this as just a CFI-A and not a CFII-A?

This is a great question, and one that I’m sure a lot of newly minted CFIs have wondered.  There are actually two different approaches to this question.  First is the legal answer (what can you do) and second is the prudent answer (what should you do…IMHO).

Legally

According to 61.109 (Aeronautical Experience) Private Pilot applicants are required to have 3 hours training of simulated instrument training.  Here is the current wording:

3 hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to instrument flight;

While it doesn’t specifically say “instrument approaches”, I think most people would consider an instrument approach procedure to be practicing the use of a navigation system or facility.  Also, while you are receiving vectors for an approach, you would be reviewing “radar services” right?

The other regulation to consider is the flight instructor privileges and limitations.  For this, we look at 61.195 subparagraph (c) which specifies when a CFI must have a instrument rating (on the flight instructor certificate):

(c) Instrument Rating. A flight instructor who provides instrument flight training for the issuance of an instrument rating or a type rating not limited to VFR must hold an instrument rating on his or her flight instructor certificate and pilot certificate that is appropriate to the category and class of aircraft in which instrument training is being provided.

So as long as the instrument training you are providing is not for the issuance of instrument rating, then yes, I believe you could practice instrument approach procedures with your student pilot.  But should you?

Prudently

I would highly suggest that you not practice approaches with a student pilot.  And here is my reasoning:

Click to Enlarge

Inadvertent IFR or VFR into IMC accidents are still a huge problem area for General Aviation as the current AOPA Nall report indicates.  (see chart) The solution however isn’t found by introducing primary students to complicated approach procedures.  The solution is teaching students 1) how to avoid getting into this situation altogether and b) how to overcome disorientation, maintain aircraft control and get the assistance from ATC that they need to find VMC conditions.

Sudden fear and panic is the feeling that will grip your student if they accidentally encounter IMC during a flight.  It is imperative that your student know how to maintain positive control and how to request assistance from ATC.

And that’s the other thing, if ATC is contacted by a VFR only pilot who is stuck in accidental IMC, ATC is not going to entertain the thought of that student shooting an approach (unless absolutely necessary and even then probably a radar approach).  ATCs’  focus and task will be on getting that pilot back to VMC conditions so that the pilot can visually acquire a airport and land.

I would also be nervous about introducing this to my student for fear that they might use this knowledge to overestimate their own ability which could lead to a false sense of confidence.  I could just hear my student thinking, “Weather isn’t that great at my destination, but Ill be fine if does deteriorates because I know that if I really really had too, I could do an instrument approach.”

Again, I would suggest using the required 3 hours with your student to thoroughly cover the basics of instrument flight.  Make sure they know and understand that maintaining aircraft control is critical and that ATC is there to help steer the pilot back to VFR conditions.