Keeping Time

The trusty digital timer is a fixture in IFR training. You learned to time your turns, your flight segments, holds and approaches. You learned to keep an eye on your arrival times, lest you run late and need to inform ATC. Lately, though, the practice of timing approaches and related operations has largely gone by the wayside with the use of GPS navigators. With your flight plan laid out and the ETA for each upcoming fix displayed nicely on your screen, few pilots bother to separately use a timer. And, lets face it: Timer use for navigation is solely a backup if youve got GPS and a moving map.

Key Takeaways:

• Despite the prevalence of GPS navigators, timers remain a crucial backup for IFR navigation, especially during instrument approaches (VOR/Localizer) and holds, ensuring pilot engagement and safety in case of primary system failure.
• Pilots should consistently use timers for tracking enroute segments and critical approach phases, such as from the Final Approach Fix (FAF) to the Missed Approach Point (MAP), adjusting for wind to maintain situational awareness and prevent overshooting.
• Beyond navigation, timers are invaluable for managing ATC clearances, executing time-based tasks like fuel tank switching or system checks, controlling engine parameters during descent, and ensuring proper engine warm-up and cool-down procedures.

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