Easily Read Instrument Approach Plates | Instrument Approach Plate Tutorial | IFR Training

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive introduction to reading an instrument approach procedure (IAP) chart, focusing on a VOR approach for runway 34 at Carroll County Airport in Maryland. It breaks down the six key sections of the chart: margin identification, briefing strip, plan view, profile view, airport sketch, and landing minimums. The tutorial explains crucial elements like navigation aids, approach courses, and missed approach procedures, helping viewers understand how to interpret the chart's information. It's ideal for beginners learning how to navigate IAP charts and instrument flying essentials.

Takeaways

• 🛬 The instrument approach procedure (IAP) chart is divided into six sections: margin identification, briefing strip, plan view, profile view, airport sketch, and landing minimums.
• 🌍 The margin identification includes information like the city, state, the responsible organization (usually the FAA), and the date of the last update to the chart.
• 📅 The last update date is formatted with the first two digits representing the year, and the remaining digits as the day of the year.
• 🛩️ The briefing strip contains three key sections: navigation and frequency information, inbound approach course, and runway details, including elevation and landing distance.
• 🚩 Procedure notes and missed approach instructions are located in the middle strip of the briefing section, showing actions to take during missed approaches.
• 🗺️ The plan view provides a bird’s-eye view of the instrument approach, depicting segments like holding patterns and final approach courses.
• ✈️ The profile view offers a side view of the approach, showing the vertical path and the same approach segments seen in the plan view.
• 🛬 The airport sketch provides key information on runway layouts, lighting systems, and elevation details but lacks detailed taxiway information.
• ⏱️ The time and distance table helps pilots gauge how long it will take to fly from the final approach fix to the missed approach point based on ground speed.
• 🛑 The landing minimums section contains the minimum descent altitude (MDA) and visibility requirements for different aircraft categories, showing different limits based on the aircraft's approach speed.

Q & A

What are the six main sections of an instrument approach procedure chart?

The six sections are the margin identification, the briefing strip, the plan view, the profile view, the airport sketch, and the landing minimums.

What information can be found in the margin identification section of the chart?

The margin identification includes the city and state of the airport, a numbering system, the responsible organization (such as the FAA), the last update to the procedure, and the procedure title.

How is the last update to the instrument approach procedure written on the chart?

The last update is written with the first two digits representing the year, and the remaining digits indicating the number of days into that year.

What is the purpose of the briefing strip on an instrument approach chart?

The briefing strip provides procedural information such as the navigation type, inbound approach course, runway landing information, procedure notes, missed approach procedure, and relevant communication frequencies.

What information is included in the top section of the briefing strip?

The top section of the briefing strip contains the primary navigation type, the identifier, the frequency, and the inbound approach course for the approach.

What is indicated by the 'TDZE' in the briefing strip?

TDZE stands for Touchdown Zone Elevation, which is the elevation of the touchdown zone of the runway.

What is the purpose of the plan view on an instrument approach chart?

The plan view provides a top-down or bird's-eye view of the instrument approach, showing the navigation aid, approach segments, missed approach procedures, and minimum safe altitudes.

What is a 'hold in lieu of procedure turn' as depicted in the plan view?

A 'hold in lieu of procedure turn' is depicted by a solid line racetrack and represents a holding pattern that replaces a standard procedure turn.

What is the function of the profile view on an instrument approach chart?

The profile view shows the vertical approach path from the side, including the approach segments, missed approach procedures, and altitude information.

What is the landing minimum section, and why is it important?

The landing minimum section provides the lowest altitude and visibility requirements for landing, including minimum descent altitude (MDA), decision altitude (DA), and visibility requirements based on aircraft categories.