Navigating Instrument Flight Rules to an Airfield without Instrumental Landing Facilities. What Are the Alternatives?
In a scenario where a pilot plans to fly a single-engine Cirrus SR22 from Denver's Centennial Airport (KAPA) to the Hoxie-Sheridan County Airport (1F5) in Kansas, under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) due to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions being unsuitable, several factors come into play.
Firstly, it is essential to determine the airport capabilities. Confirm that the destination, 1F5, does not have any instrument approach procedures available. This means that the pilot will rely on visual references for landing. Additionally, check if there is a published Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) for the area. If not, the pilot will need to rely on air traffic control (ATC) instructions for altitude guidance.
Once the flight plan is filed, the pilot must specify VFR on Top, as the airport does not have instrument approaches. This allows the pilot to fly IFR to the vicinity of the airport and then descend VFR for landing. The pilot should also inform ATC that they are planning to transition to VFR for landing, which may involve a request for a "VFR on top" or a "VFR approach" clearance.
Negotiating with ATC is crucial. If there is no MVA, the pilot should ask ATC for altitude guidance. They may provide a minimum altitude based on local conditions or other factors. The pilot should also be prepared to provide pilot concurrence if ATC requests descent below a certain altitude, especially if weather conditions are not ideal.
Preparing for VFR landing is equally important. The pilot should ensure they have a plan for transitioning to VFR conditions, including having sufficient visibility and being prepared to navigate visually to the airport. Familiarising themselves with local weather conditions and any potential obstacles is also vital.
Finally, the pilot should always follow ATC instructions for descent and approach. They may provide specific guidance on altitude and navigation to ensure safe separation and obstacle avoidance.
It is worth noting that the ceilings at 1F5 are around 2,500 feet, which equates to approximately 5,300 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). The OROCA for 1F5 is 4,900 feet MSL. The pilot can use the Aviation Weather Center's Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA) to analyse weather conditions for the route KAPA to 1F5.
If nearby airports have instrument approaches, consider descending to them while in the clouds, landing, and cancelling IFR. Alternatively, use a lower MVA nearby to break out of the clouds, descend, cancel IFR, and make visual contact with your destination.
When filing an IFR flight plan to an airport with no instrument approach, an alternate must be filed (FAR 91.169). MVAs aren't published on IFR charts, but can be found online. Clouds in the area are overcast at 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the airport, and the current forecast visibility at 1F5 is between 2-3 miles.
In summary, while filing an IFR flight plan to an airport without instrument approaches or a published MVA, the pilot must be prepared to transition to VFR conditions for landing and rely on ATC for altitude guidance. Always ensure you have a clear plan for navigating visually to the airport.
- For a single-engine Cirrus SR22 flight from Denver's Centennial Airport (KAPA) to Hoxie-Sheridan County Airport (1F5) under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), one must confirm that 1F5 lacks instrument approach procedures, requiring visual references for landing.
- It's important to check if there's a published Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) for the area, as the pilot would need ATC instructions for altitude guidance if not.
- Filing a VFR on Top is necessary when the airport does not have instrument approaches, allowing the pilot to fly IFR to the airport's vicinity and then descend VFR for landing.
- The pilot should inform ATC of their plan to transition to VFR for landing, possibly requesting a "VFR on top" or "VFR approach" clearance.
- Negotiating with ATC is crucial, especially when there's no MVA, as they may provide altitude guidance based on local conditions.
- The pilot must be prepared to provide pilot concurrence if ATC requests a descent below a certain altitude, particularly when weather conditions are unfavorable.
- Preparing for VFR landing involves having a plan for transitioning to VFR conditions, ensuring sufficient visibility, and navigating visually to the airport.
- Familiarizing oneself with local weather conditions and any potential obstacles is crucial before attempting a VFR landing.
- The pilot should always follow ATC instructions for descent and approach to ensure safe separation and obstacle avoidance.
- The ceilings at 1F5 are approximately 2,500 feet, equating to around 5,300 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). The OROCA for 1F5 is 4,900 feet MSL.
- The pilot can use the Aviation Weather Center's Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA) to analyze weather conditions for the KAPA to 1F5 route.
- If nearby airports have instrument approaches, consider descending to them while in the clouds, landing, and canceling IFR.
- When filing an IFR flight plan to an airport without instrument approaches or a published MVA, an alternate must be filed (FAR 91.169). MVAs aren't published on IFR charts, but can be found online, and clouds in the area are overcast at 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the airport, with current forecast visibility at 1F5 between 2-3 miles.
In addition, the aviation industry is increasingly embracing data-and-cloud-computing technology, finance, and aerospace for operational efficiency and safety enhancements. In sports, such as American football or NCAA football, one might find sponsorship opportunities in the aviation field, further expanding its reach.
