Where you are, droning along in IMC, when suddenly youre almost on top of the final approach fix and havent planned for the procedure, much less set up the cockpit. How are you going to get safely from the FAF to the runway? It doesnt really matter why you find yourself here. Maybe you spent too much time at altitude without oxygen and it suddenly dawned on you where you are and what you need to do. Maybe the right engine just committed harikari and is dangling from the wing. Maybe a passenger needs urgent medical assistance. It doesnt 288
Briefing The Slam-Dunk Approach
Where you are, droning along in IMC, when suddenly youre almost on top of the final approach fix and havent planned for the procedure, much less set up the cockpit. How are you going to get safely from the FAF to the runway? It doesnt really matter why you find yourself here. Maybe you spent too much time at altitude without oxygen and it suddenly dawned on you where you are and what you need to do. Maybe the right engine just committed harikari and is dangling from the wing. Maybe a passenger needs urgent medical assistance. It doesnt matter. The problem is youre about to shoot an approach for which you havent briefed yourself or configured the airplane. What are you going to do
Key Takeaways:
- In an urgent "slam-dunk" approach, prioritize immediate action and safe execution over self-recrimination, focusing on flying the airplane to the ground safely.
- Quickly identify the minimum descent altitude (MDA/DA) and determine the required descent rate, while maintaining accurate course guidance down the final approach, making immediate wind corrections as needed.
- Before reaching the minimum altitude, determine whether a straight-in landing or circling approach is necessary, simplifying and improvising procedures to ensure a safe landing.
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