Gettin Turned Around

A solid understanding of the rules and types of course reversals on an approach is essential. Course reversals are part of the FAAs guidance for IPCs. So, if you come out of proficiency training without feeling good about them, you didnt get your moneys worth. Regardless, you should be familiar, lest you hear unable radar vectors in the soup when you least expect it.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Course reversals, including Procedure Turns (PTs) and Hold-in-Lieu-of-Procedure-Turns (HILPTs), are essential maneuvers for instrument pilots to align with an approach course when radar vectors are unavailable or a straight-in approach is not specified.
**Procedure Turns (PTs)**, depicted by a barbed arrow, allow pilot discretion for the turn maneuver (e.g., 45/45) within charted distance limits (typically 10 NM), with descent to the PT completion altitude allowed abeam or over the PT fix outbound.
**Hold-in-Lieu-of-Procedure-Turns (HILPTs)**, shown as thick holding patterns at an IAF, require flying the depicted holding pattern (e.g., specific leg length) exactly as published, with descent permitted outbound from the fix.
Both types of course reversals have specific speed limits (e.g., 200 KIAS for PTs) and descent rules, and pilots must understand ATC clearances and reporting requirements (e.g., "No PT" or "procedure turn inbound") to execute them safely and efficiently.

See a mistake? Contact us.

A solid understanding of the rules and types of course reversals on an approach is essential. Course reversals are part of the FAA’s guidance for IPCs. So, if you come out of proficiency training without feeling good about them, you didn’t get your money’s worth. Regardless, you should be familiar, lest you hear “unable radar vectors” in the soup when you least expect it.
There are two types of course reversal: the procedure turn (PT) and the hold-in-lieu-of-procedure-turn (HILPT). They both have the same basic definition: A maneuver prescribed when it is necessary to reverse direction to establish an aircraft on the intermediate approach segment or final approach course.