Which One-Ils or LPV?

Some years ago, I was flying with a pilot in his Cessna. He was instrument rated, while I was working on mine. I watched him enjoying the two perfectly centered needles (old-style CDIs) accompanying the six-pack panel while flying to a VOR at 6000 feet. He remarked with a sigh of contentment, Now this is the way to fly. It sure was, especially for me, when I was building time in budget-friendly trainers where dual (working) CDIs was a luxury.

Elaine Kauh

Monday, January 21, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Modern LPV (GPS-based) approaches offer simplified navigation and flight planning compared to traditional ILS procedures.
While LPV approaches are often simpler and faster to fly, they can have higher minimums than ILS, which proved critical in deteriorating weather.
The article illustrates that despite advanced GPS equipment, the pilot flying the LPV missed the approach due to higher minimums, while the ILS might have allowed a landing.
Ultimately, the chosen approach procedure's minimums and suitability for prevailing weather conditions are more critical for a successful outcome than the aircraft's navigational sophistication.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Some years ago, I was flying with a pilot in his Cessna. He was instrument rated, while I was working on mine. I watched him enjoying the two perfectly centered needles (old-style CDIs) accompanying the six-pack panel while flying to a VOR at 6000 feet. He remarked with a sigh of contentment, “Now this is the way to fly.” It sure was, especially for me, when I was building time in budget-friendly trainers where dual (working) CDIs was a luxury.

A couple years later, I was flying with this same pilot in his newer, faster Mooney, equipped with a nice HSI coupled to a Garmin GNS 430. While en route to an RNAV fix, he remarked with that same sigh of contentment, “Now this is the way to fly.” Funny how our likes and dislikes can swap ends. This brings us to our latest Clinic: Which approach are you gonna fly?