No U-turns Allowed

One of the things I enjoy about doing instrument instruction in the radar shadow of mountains is that students have to fly the occasional procedure turn. Radar vectors make this skill practically arcane for pilots over much of the U.S., so to actually see it needed in practice is eye-opening.But its not just over the bumpy land where you might need or want a PT, and thats what makes the ILS or LOC Rwy 18 at La Crosse, Wisc., interesting. An IFR reader sent a query our way as to how someone arriving from the south would get turned around on this approach without vectors. There is no PT charted.

Key Takeaways:

• The article highlights the diminishing need for procedure turns due to modern radar vectors, yet emphasizes that pilots still need to be prepared for scenarios where these or alternative non-vector/non-GPS navigation skills are essential.
• It uses the ILS or LOC Rwy 18 at La Crosse, WI, as an example of a challenging approach for pilots arriving from the south without GPS/DME or radar vectors, specifically due to the lack of a charted procedure turn.
• The author explores creative, VOR-based navigation workarounds, such as using airways and crossing radials, to guide pilots to an Initial Approach Fix (IAF) when direct vectors or standard charted turns are unavailable.
• The piece stresses the importance of "what-if" planning for every flight leg and maintaining an open mind for adaptable solutions that adhere to rules while navigating challenging situations.

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