PI.VIII.A.S11
SkillEstablish a stabilized descent to the appropriate altitude.
From the FAA library
- Chapter 4: Approaches › Stabilized Approach
commercial turbojet operators must establish and use procedures that result in stabilized approaches. A stabilized approach is also strongly recommended for propeller-driven airplanes and helicopters. You should limit configuration changes at low altitudes to those changes that ... must be in an approved configuration for landing or circling, if appropriate, with the engines spooled up, and on the correct speed and flight path with a descent rate of less than 1,000 fpm before descending below the following…
- Chapter 5. Air Traffic Procedures › Section 4. Arrival Procedures › 5-4-5. Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) Charts
decision altitude. (1) It is FAA policy to design IAPs with minimum altitudes established at fixes/waypoints to achieve optimum stabilized (constant rate) descents within each procedure segment. This design can enhance the safety of the operations and contribute toward reduction ... CFIT) accidents. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently emphasized that pilots could benefit from publication of the appropriate IAP descent angle for a stabilized descent on final approach. The RNAV IAP format includes the descent angle…
- Chapter 10: IFR Flight › En Route Procedures › Planning the Descent and Approach
intentions are. When the approach to be executed has been determined, the pilot should plan for and request a descent to the appropriate altitude prior to the initial approach fix (IAF) or transition route depicted on the IAP. When flying ... transition route, a pilot should maintain the last assigned altitude until ATC gives the instructions “cleared for the approach.” Lower altitudes can be requested to bring the transition route altitude closer to the required altitude at the initial approach…
- Chapter 3: Arrivals › Descent Planning
Descent Planning Planning the descent from cruise is important because of the need to dissipate altitude and airspeed in order to arrive at the approach gate properly configured. Descending early results in more flight at low altitudes with increased fuel ... consumption, and starting down late results in problems controlling both airspeed and descent rates on the approach. Prior to flight, pilots need to calculate the fuel, time, and distance required to descend from the cruising altitude to the approach gate…
- Chapter 3: Arrivals › Descent Planning for High Performance Aircraft
proper performance charts to compute their fuel requirements, as well as the time and distance needed for their descent. During the cruise and descent phases of flight, pilots need to monitor and manage the aircraft according to the appropriate manufacturer ... recommendations. Flight manuals and operating handbooks contain cruise and descent checklists, performance charts for specific cruise configurations, and descent charts that provide information regarding the fuel, time, and distance required to descend. Aircrews should review this information prior…
- Chapter 4: Approaches › Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), Decision Altitude (DA), And Decision Height (DH)
Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), Decision Altitude (DA), And Decision Height (DH) MDA—the lowest altitude, expressed in feet MSL, to which descent is authorized on final approach or during circle-to land maneuvering in execution of a standard instrument approach ... procedure (SIAP) where no electronic glideslope is provided. DA—a specified altitude in the precision approach at which a missed approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue the approach has not been established. DH—with respect…