Briefing the Approach Acronym

[BrettInLJ]

For teaching instrument students, does anyone know of an acronym for briefing the approach that is used before getting established. I seem to remember something like the 5 A's but there may have been 6 or 7, but it has been a long time. It went a little something something like this:

A - ATIS
A - Altimeter Setting
A - Approach Plate
A - Altitudes (GS Intercept, DH, etc)
A - Airspeed (used to plan the timing)

[ryanmickG]

Somebody's getting a early start.

Align (compass to DG)

[mtsu_av8er]

Alright, this is far from the only way to brief it, but I'll give you what I teach (and I'm willing to bet money that others will chime in on this one . . .).

I teach AMICEATM.

A - AWOS/ATIS : Get the information.
M - Marker Beacons/Mag Compass (align).
I - Identify EVERYTHING that you may need (including GPS setup).
C - Course inbound on the final approach.
E - Entry (Straight-in, procedure turn, DME arc, vectors to final, etc).
A - Altitudes (as per the profile view).
T - Time (if applicable).
M - Missed Approach - at least the initial climb and turn(s).

It doesn't spell much except A-Mice-ATM. However, it's catchy and flows off the tongue!!!

[ryanmickG]

I like it Lloyd, one thing its missing that I like the student to brief is the hold entry on the MAP. (teardrop, parallel, direct)

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by ryanmickG

I like it Lloyd, one thing its missing that I like the student to brief is the hold entry on the MAP. (teardrop, parallel, direct)

Thank you! I can't take credit for it, but I still use it!!

It is indeed missing that! However, it's also missing the type of approach lights and degrees of the glidepath! That's exagerating, I know, but I say it to say that you can't possibly include everything in the acronym. I do have them take a look at the hold when they brief the missed approach. However, I should have worded that "MEMORIZE" at least the initial climb and heading. The hold definately needs to be considered.

[jrh]

I try to keep it as simple as possible.

While still in cruise, before you start the approach, look at the plate and picture where you're coming from and what transition you will use. Just visualize yourself flying along the lines and where you'll go.

Then start at the top of the plate and read all the little boxes left to right, top to bottom. Pick up the weather, set up the communications radios as far ahead as possible, tune and identify the navaids, review the minimum, review special notes and conditions for the approach, etc.

Then, when turned onto the final vector if being vectored, or during the outbound leg of the procedure turn if doing a full procedure, do one last review of the three M's:

M - Missed -- Read missed approach procedure
M - Minutes -- Review minutes from FAF to MAP
M - Minimums -- Review minimum altitudes for inbound course, with emphasis on the final minimum

The reason for this is that the three M's are the three most basic pieces of information that will keep you alive if things go wrong. Have the missed approach procedure fresh in your head, know the minutes in case the GS fails on an ILS or so you know where you're at with a non-precision approach, and never ever ever ever go an inch below minimums.

[project7]

Originally Posted by BrettInLJ

For teaching instrument students, does anyone know of an acronym for briefing the approach that is used before getting established. I seem to remember something like the 5 A's but there may have been 6 or 7, but it has been a long time. It went a little something something like this:

A - ATIS
A - Altimeter Setting
A - Approach Plate
A - Altitudes (GS Intercept, DH, etc)
A - Airspeed (used to plan the timing)

I use:

ATIS
Altimeters
Airspeed
Avionics
Approach
-how low?
-how long?
-which way?
-no flags
-pax secure

[FO_SHIZZLE]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Alright, this is far from the only way to brief it, but I'll give you what I teach (and I'm willing to bet money that others will chime in on this one . . .).

I teach AMICEATM.

A - AWOS/ATIS : Get the information.
M - Marker Beacons/Mag Compass (align).
I - Identify EVERYTHING that you may need (including GPS setup).
C - Course inbound on the final approach.
E - Entry (Straight-in, procedure turn, DME arc, vectors to final, etc).
A - Altitudes (as per the profile view).
T - Time (if applicable).
M - Missed Approach - at least the initial climb and turn(s).

It doesn't spell much except A-Mice-ATM. However, it's catchy and flows off the tongue!!!

That's the one I always use/used, has not failed me yet.

[moxiepilot]

I like a little more simple approach, it might not be as effective as your guys thoroughness - you'll need to decide.

A-ATIS
B-Brief the Approach (kust read the plate top to bottom - it hits everything from approach to missed)
C-configure the airplane
D-descend

[jrh]

Originally Posted by moxiepilot

A-ATIS
B-Brief the Approach (kust read the plate top to bottom - it hits everything from approach to missed)
C-configure the airplane
D-descend

Does anybody actually need to be reminded to descend?

But I know what you're saying and that does keep it simple.

Now here's a question to hijack the thread: when do you complete a prelanding check when shooting an approach?

I do it on one of three conditions. When on an ILS, I do it just before glide slope intercept. On a non-precision IAP with a FAF, I do it as I cross the FAF. When I'm on a non-precision IAP without a FAF, I do it as soon as I get established inbound on the final approach course.

So you know what I'm referring to with a prelanding check, for a C-172 it goes something like, "seat belts secure, mixture rich, carb heat on, power back" and for an Arrow it goes, "seat belts secure, fuel on fullest tank, gear down, power back, prop forward, mixture rich, fuel pump on, first notch of flaps set."

[Philip]

Originally Posted by jrh

Now here's a question to hijack the thread: when do you complete a prelanding check when shooting an approach?

FAF inbound or intercept

[Grabo172]

Any -Approach
Numbskull -Nav Aids
Can -Courses
Always -Altitudes
Make - Missed Approach Point
Mistakes - Missed Approach Procedure

That's what I learned as a student and still teach it today... Can't take credit either, but the same person who told me "Words Mean Things" told me this... Because no matter who you are, any numbskull can always make mistakes... So you better brief every approach...

[JEP]

Originally Posted by BrettInLJ

For teaching instrument students, does anyone know of an acronym for briefing the approach that is used before getting established. I seem to remember something like the 5 A's but there may have been 6 or 7, but it has been a long time. It went a little something something like this:

A - ATIS
A - Altimeter Setting
A - Approach Plate
A - Altitudes (GS Intercept, DH, etc)
A - Airspeed (used to plan the timing)

I was taught ATIS, Set the Deck, Where am I, How am I going to get there, Then MARTHA:

M-issed ApproachA-Initial AltitudeR-ate of DescentT-ime FAF to MAPH-eadingA-ltitude (MAP/DH) ------------------->

Here is a link to an excel file that I use for approaches. zIt worked for me, may work for some, others well it won't wwork for them. Check it out:

http://www.chaska.net/~jperrone/flyi..._selfbrief.xls

[BoilerPilot2007]

I use:

A - ATIS
B - Brief the approach (I know what to brief)
C - Checklist (approach checks)

I prefer the KISS method, as opposed to memorizing 6 or 7 "A's"

-Evan

[moxiepilot]

Originally Posted by jrh

Does anybody actually need to be reminded to descend?

heh heh, i hope not. I think it's there to make sure you did A,B & C first.

Now here's a question to hijack the thread: when do you complete a prelanding check when shooting an approach?

I do it on one of three conditions. When on an ILS, I do it just before glide slope intercept. On a non-precision IAP with a FAF, I do it as I cross the FAF. When I'm on a non-precision IAP without a FAF, I do it as soon as I get established inbound on the final approach course.

Precision, one dot below
non-precision @ the FAF or established inbound

[Dazzler]

I was taught MICE ATM too, but I added "CARD" after it.
(ATM CARD - clever huh?!!)

(C)urrent position (i.e. confirm situational awareness)
(A)TIS
(R)adios set (e.g. tower frequency)
(D)escent checklist

[GaTechKid]

As you can see there are many many ways to setup for an instrument approach. As long as they achieve the desired objective they are all correct. The way I teach it in our GNS430 equipped Seminoles is that there are three steps to setting up for an approach:

1) Load the GPS
2) Tune (nav freq), Set (FA course/DTK IAF), Mode (GPS or VLOC), ID, DME
3) Approach checklist (which includes the approach briefing)

We do the Gear Down Before Landing checklist at 1/2 dot below glideslope intercept or at 1.5-2.0 miles before the FAF. As for the actual briefing of the approach, I just follow the briefing strip making sure not to miss the name of the approach/airport, elevation, nav frequency, inbound course, GS intercept or FAF altitude, minimums, and missed approach instructions.

[Tiger815]

I use TIM's ABC's.

T- Tune Radios/Load GPS
I- Identify Nav Aids
M- Marker Beacons
A- Altimer set/Alignment -- Get weather -- check DG to Compass
B- Brief the approach
C- Checklists

At American Flyers they taught WIRE:

Weather
Instruments
Radios
Evaluate

[BrettInLJ]

Woah, there are a lot of acronyms out there. Funny thing is I learned the A's at American Flyers, not WIRE. After analyzing these responses I think I will teach the most thorough, and therefore correct way:

AAAAAA MMMMICE ATM CARD... TTTIMAY!

(My apologies to stutterers and South Park)

[Derek_S]

I'm in the middle of my Instrument training and have been doing tons of approaches and I really like the way my instructor taught me, he taught me the way he learned at ERAU. We use the ABC 123 method (expanding on B with MAIL MAN) which covers everything.

A-Atis
B-Brief the Approach (Mail Man)

M-Minimums
A-Approach Configurations
I-Initial Rate of Decent
L-Landing Environment
M-Missed Procedure
A-Altimeter
N-Notes

1-Nav 1
2-Nav 2
3-ADF/GPS/DME/Radio's

C-Checklist

[Rocketman99]

That's pretty close to what I learned way back at UPT. For the arrival and then briefing the approach we used WHOLD-MAILMAN

Wx
Holding instructions
Obtain clearance
Letdown plate review
Descent check

Minimums
Attitude/heading systems
Initial rate of descent
Lost comm procedures
Missed approach procedures
Airspeed/timing/configuration
Navaids

[slowandlow]

Originally Posted by moxiepilot

A-ATIS
B-Brief the Approach (kust read the plate top to bottom - it hits everything from approach to missed)
C-configure the airplane
D-descend

I use this as well with the exception of D. For D-dg to compass final check.