In this lesson, you'll learn how to fly a VOR approach.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
25 minutes
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS
Complete the Student and Private Pilot lessons before beginning this lesson. Reading the Ground School material before starting this lesson will help you better understand the skills being taught. You should also complete the reading and practice in the Instrument Scan solo lesson. Study the approach chart in this briefing to become familiar with the approach procedure.
THE WEATHER
You'll encounter mostly cloudy conditions with some rain. Low ceilings are forecasted, so you will need to rely on flying the aircraft referring only to the instruments.
RECOMMENDED CHARTS
ABOUT THE FLIGHT
You'll start in the air and fly the VOR approach into Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field). You'll intercept a VOR course, track the course, fly a course reversal maneuver (procedure turn), fly the approach while descending to a minimum descent altitude (MDA), and land on runway 16R.
Your instructor will help you set the navigation radios and instruments.
Be careful not to chase the VOR needle when crossing the VOR. As you approach the VOR, the needle will become more sensitive and swing to one side or the other. As you cross the VOR, hold your heading until the VOR needle becomes more stable again.
You will need to use either the aircraft clock or another timing device for the timed portion of the approach.
KEY COMMANDS TO REMEMBER
F7 to lower flaps in 10-degree increments before landing
FLIGHT CRITERIA
You'll be asked to maintain:
- Airspeed within 10 knots as assigned
- Altitude within 100 feet as assigned and not below minimum descent altitude (1060 feet) during the approach until the runway is in sight.
- Headings within 10 degrees as assigned