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2 Answers

When to start the procedure turn.

Asked by: 3425 views ,
Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Instrument Rating

I have always used and taught a general "proceed outbound for 2 minutes before beginning the procedure turn course reversal...". This stays within 10nm and far enough out for time inbound for checklist, descent, stabilized on loc..... The Question: When having a GPS with the approach loaded (just for guidance and not for navigation...), it depicts the procedure turn and recommends (by pink line for next leg) to start the proc turn before 2 minutes. Both are valid places to start, but should I be having students take the guidance of the GPS or continue with the "use 2 minutes and ignore the GPS recommendation as it scrolls off screen"? I like 2min because it scales for 90% of the time when no installed GPS.

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2 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Sep 02, 2015

    Whatever you want. The magenta line is guidance only.

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  2. Andy on Sep 15, 2015

    Do whatever you want. 2 minutes is arbitrary. 2 minutes in a C172 is less distance than than 2 minutes in an F16. Reverse course to the clear side whenever you are comfortable in whatever method suits you, fly the barb, 80/260, etc. and stay within 10 miles.

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