Simple in principle, procedure turns can turn ugly if the pilot and the controller aren’t on the same page. GPS has made this worse, not better. But that’s easily remedied.
PT in the days of RNAV
It used to be the procedure turn (PT) was the lynchpin of many an instrument approach. Youd track to the VOR or NDB station located on the airport, fly outbound, use a PT to reverse course, and fly back to the station on a specific course while descending to the specified minimum descent altitude. If you didnt visually acquire the airport, locating the missed approach point was a simple matter of identifying station passage.
Key Takeaways:
- Procedure turns (PTs) and holds-in-lieu-of-procedure-turns (HILOs) remain essential instrument flight maneuvers requiring pilot proficiency in various techniques (barb, teardrop, holding patterns) for course reversal.
- GPS systems both complicate and enhance PTs: they can erroneously load or omit turns, requiring careful pilot management, but also offer improved situational awareness for precise execution and wind compensation.
- Clear communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) is vital to confirm when a PT or HILO is expected, particularly with "direct to" clearances, to ensure correct and safe execution.
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