✈️ Aviation Brief — Issue #67
Weekly insights for student pilots and the instructors who train them.
THIS WEEK'S TOPIC
IA.V.B — Non-Precision Approach (Instrument Rating ACS)
**1. ACS STANDARDS SUMMARY**
The ACS requires the applicant to fly a published non-precision approach (VOR, LOC, GPS LNAV, etc.) while complying with all ATC clearances and the published procedure. The pilot must select and maintain appropriate configurations and airspeeds, track the final approach course within ±10°, descend to the MDA no lower than published, and remain within ±100 ft of assigned altitudes and ±10 knots of target airspeed. At the missed approach point the pilot must decide to land or execute the published missed approach procedure without delay.
**2. THREE COMMON STUDENT MISTAKES**
- Starting the descent from the FAF too late (or not at all), then leveling at MDA with excessive airspeed and no time to stabilize.
- Failing to identify and respect step-down fixes, resulting in being too high when reaching the visual descent point.
- Neglecting to brief or set the missed approach heading and altitude before beginning the approach, leading to confusion if a missed approach is required.
**3. CFI PRO TIP**
Have the student fly the entire approach using one predetermined target descent rate from the FAF (usually 500–700 fpm in a C172) while keeping the MDA altitude preset in the altitude alerter. This “set it and manage it” method reduces the tendency to chase altitude and produces a smoother, more predictable arrival at the MDA with time to stabilize.
**4. SAFETY SPOTLIGHT**
NTSB data shows that a disproportionate number of CFIT accidents involving instrument-rated pilots occur on non-precision approaches at night or in low ceilings. The common factor is usually an unstabilized descent below MDA before the runway environment is clearly in sight. Emphasizing a firm “no descent below MDA without visual references” decision point during training directly addresses this pattern.
**5. DID YOU KNOW**
Even though GPS approaches are technically non-precision, many now include an LPV line of minima that provides electronic vertical guidance down to 200–250 ft—nearly the same as an ILS—yet they still count as non-precision under the ACS.
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