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Going in Circles

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article emphasizes the importance of refreshing pilot skills with challenging "edge case" instrument procedures, specifically non-precision VOR-A circle-to-land approaches.
  • Circling approaches, while being phased out in some areas by the FAA due to the proliferation of RNAV, are still common and designated for reasons such as significant final course misalignment to a runway.
  • These high-risk and imprecise procedures demand meticulous pre-flight planning, precise adherence to tight minimums, and robust missed approach strategies, often aided by GPS for situational awareness.
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Many of us are in need of some instrument refreshing. After the usual winter hiatus, followed by all the restrictions of COVID-19, themrust might be thicker than usual. So once you’ve gotten reacquainted with your local ILS and LPV approaches, practice some edge cases, like a nonprecision, non-GPS approach.

One favorite is the circle-to-land. If you’re lucky enough to have an airport nearby with a VOR-A (seriously), that’s perfect for our purposes.

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