Originally Posted by
wizepilot
That 1400' is only good if you are ON the radial or loc inbound within 10nm of TAM. Look at the MSA. If they told you to maintain 3,000, cleared for the approach, then stay there until at least you complete the procedure turn, the loc comes alive and you are within 10nm of TAM. Then you can descend to 1400. I know it's a short distance. If you go down to 1400 on your way out, then turn off the course to do the procedure turn, you may not know what you might run into.
Originally Posted by
wizepilot
Let me requalify my previous post.
If you are within 15DME or 10DME TAM (same thing) then you can go down to 1400. Once the loc comes alive, and you are within the proper distance, you are terrain protected. I had to look at that plate again! Carry on.
I think you were correcting yourself, but just to clarify you can descend to 1400ft if you are established on the TAM 317 radial. Look at the profile. It shows a descent line to 1400ft with a 317 above the line. It also says 10NM of D5.0 TAM or D4.2 ITAM. Just stay with in 15 miles of the TAM VOR, as the 10 mi protection ring is centered around the TAM 5 DME point.