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, critical for instrument pilots without radar vectors, are primarily executed as Procedure Turns (PT) or Hold-in-Lieu-of-Procedure-Turns (HILPT) to reverse direction onto an approach course.
Procedure Turns (PTs) allow pilot discretion in execution within charted distance limits, including the direction of turns and when to begin descent (abeam or over the fix outbound).
Hold-in-Lieu-of-Procedure-Turns (HILPTs) are mandatory charted holding patterns at an IAF, requiring a standard entry; however, additional circuits are not necessary if cleared for the approach and at the prescribed altitude.
Both PTs and HILPTs have specific speed limits and necessitate clear communication with ATC, including position reports like "procedure turn inbound," especially in non-radar environments.

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.