Decent rate

[rausda27]

Does anyone know where one might find guidance for decent rates after the FAF on an IAP?

I remember reading somewhere once the max decent rate once past the FAF, but I cant remember where...

Thanks!

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by rausda27

Does anyone know where one might find guidance for decent rates after the FAF on an IAP?

I remember reading somewhere once the max decent rate once past the FAF, but I cant remember where...

Thanks!

I'm not aware of any maximum legal descent rate. The usual recommendation for a non-precision approach is 700-1000 fpm. You shouldn't need over 1,000 fpm for almost any airplane on the worst possible approach. For instance, the maximum descent gradient on a NP final approach is 400 ft per nautical mile. At 150 knots, the required descent rate would be 997 fpm.

[frog_flyer]

$110/Ft^2 seems like the going rate around here.

Anything below 120 seems pretty decent to me.


Good luck.

[meritflyer]

Originally Posted by rausda27

Does anyone know where one might find guidance for decent rates after the FAF on an IAP?

I remember reading somewhere once the max decent rate once past the FAF, but I cant remember where...

Thanks!

What tgrayson said.

Another way I've seen airlines teach as a rule of thumb is 1/2 your groundspeed.

For example, take an approach flown in a 182 at 100 KIAS. Flying a typical 3 degree glide path, you'd take 1/2 of 100 = 50 and add a zero to get a 500 FPM descent.

Cross check altitudes if you'd like with the 300' per NM rule. If you're 3 miles out multiply it by 3 and your absolute altitude should be 900', 5 miles out and your absolute should be 1000', and so forth.

[ATPInstructor]

I was involved in this discussion once before, here is the link. http://forums.jetcareers.com/checkri...-91-175-a.html

Stable approaches are defined in many different places, Operations Specifications, Practical Test Standards, and some of the documents listed in the link.

Hope it helps.

Bill

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by ATPInstructor

I was involved in this discussion once before, here is the link.

That discussion has more to do with the visual segment, i.e., descending from MDA.