Flying DME Arc, lose DME, now what?
01-12-2011, 10:26 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Posts: 229
Flying DME Arc, lose DME, now what?
Hey I have a Skywest interview soon and one of the gouges lists one of the possible questions as:
You are flying a DME arc in IMC and you lose DME. What do you do?
Does anybody know the right answer? I know in the real world I'd tell ATC and ask for vectors to set up for another approach, but what should the correct interview answer be?
You are flying a DME arc in IMC and you lose DME. What do you do?
Does anybody know the right answer? I know in the real world I'd tell ATC and ask for vectors to set up for another approach, but what should the correct interview answer be?
01-12-2011, 11:03 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
Originally Posted by Airfix
You are flying a DME arc in IMC and you lose DME. What do you do?
Does anybody know the right answer? I know in the real world I'd tell ATC and ask for vectors to set up for another approach, but what should the correct interview answer be?
Does anybody know the right answer? I know in the real world I'd tell ATC and ask for vectors to set up for another approach, but what should the correct interview answer be?
01-12-2011, 11:26 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Posts: 229
You have to break off the approach because one of the required navigation facilities is not working. If you were on an ILS and lost glide slope you would discontinue the approach but continue to the missed approach and go missed.
However on a DME arc it is not quite so clear. The ARC is there to protect you from an obstruction or other traffic so you can't turn towards the missed approach point and then go missed (you might hit something)
It still seems to me even in a non radar control environment you break off the approach. Contact ATC for more instructions while climbing to MSA (via what heading or direction though?)
It's really not that clear.
However on a DME arc it is not quite so clear. The ARC is there to protect you from an obstruction or other traffic so you can't turn towards the missed approach point and then go missed (you might hit something)
It still seems to me even in a non radar control environment you break off the approach. Contact ATC for more instructions while climbing to MSA (via what heading or direction though?)
It's really not that clear.
01-12-2011, 11:29 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Trying not to crash
Posts: 1,260
I would say turn direct to the VOR, climbing to the missed approach altitude, then execute the missed. DME arcs are designed to keep you away from high terrain outside the arc, not inside the arc. If there was high terrain inside the arc, you wouldn't have picked up the DME in the first place.
01-12-2011, 11:42 AM
#5
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Executive Transport Driver
Posts: 3,080
If asked such a question in the interview, my first response would be "do I have any approach certified area navigation equipment onboard (that's a fancy way of saying FMS/GPS).
If so, you don't need the DME.
If so, you don't need the DME.
Last edited by FlyerJosh; 01-12-2011 at 12:05 PM.
01-12-2011, 11:44 AM
#6
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Executive Transport Driver
Posts: 3,080
Originally Posted by detpilot
I would say turn direct to the VOR, climbing to the missed approach altitude, then execute the missed. DME arcs are designed to keep you away from high terrain outside the arc, not inside the arc. If there was high terrain inside the arc, you wouldn't have picked up the DME in the first place.
The best thing to do is call ATC and ask for instructions/vectors. Even in a non-radar environment, they can provide minimum safe altitudes for whatever sector your in.
01-12-2011, 01:02 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Trying not to crash
Posts: 1,260
Originally Posted by FlyerJosh
What about situations where the VOR/DME is located on a hillside and the airport is in a valley? I personally wouldn't assume anything... especially if you're outside of the US.
The best thing to do is call ATC and ask for instructions/vectors. Even in a non-radar environment, they can provide minimum safe altitudes for whatever sector your in.
The best thing to do is call ATC and ask for instructions/vectors. Even in a non-radar environment, they can provide minimum safe altitudes for whatever sector your in.
01-12-2011, 01:23 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Posts: 229
Originally Posted by FlyerJosh
The best thing to do is call ATC and ask for instructions/vectors. Even in a non-radar environment, they can provide minimum safe altitudes for whatever sector your in.
Yeah and fly what heading or direction? I've seen ATC so busy that it could take 1 to 2 minutes to get a word in?
It would be nice if part 121 aircraft had GPS but 95% of the aircract at Mesa have no GPS. Without DME you would have no distance information.
01-12-2011, 01:31 PM
#10
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: A-320
Posts: 784
Climb to the MSA that appears on the approach plate. This is the quickest way to assure terrain separation. Then you can proceed to the missed approach point or to the holding pattern depicted on the missed approach. Notify ATC as soon as practical but remember, Aviate, Navigate, then Communicate.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
