Smooth Way Down

Editorial Staff

Monday, May 22, 2023 at 10:01 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Vertical Navigation (VNAV) in a Garmin G1000 allows for a "Continuous Descent Final Approach" (CDFA), calculating a smooth glidepath that meets all altitude restrictions during an IFR approach.
This method eliminates the need for the traditional "dive 'n drive" technique, which involves repeated descents and leveling off at intermediate step-down fixes, offering a more relaxed and efficient descent.
The G1000 computes a top-of-descent (TOD) point, target vertical speeds, and provides visual guidance (e.g., pink carets), which the autopilot can follow to manage the descent seamlessly until glideslope capture.

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Southern California, the land of Zen mountain centers, surfer vibes, and the Big Lebowski, is one laid-back place. Is there a better spot then, to introduce the most relaxed and no-big-deal of all arrival descents, the vertical navigation profile?

You’ve just completed a retreat in Palm Springs, finding inspiration for your big screenplay, and now you need to fly back from Palm Springs International (KPSP) to John Wayne Airport (KSNA) to drop it on a few bigwigs’ desks.