Complicated Approaches
 

I have my commercial checkride coming up. At UND the commercial checkride is combined with the instrument and multi-engine checkrides. At any rate, when I went through instrument training initially I always liked studying really confusing approach charts with the idea that if I could understand that, there would be nothing I could be presented with on the checkride that would confuse me.
Since I have to brush up my instrument skills again for this checkride, are there any approaches you guys know of that can be confusing or complicated for whatever reason? Thanks a lot, it would really help me study something different than the pretty simple approaches that are up in the North Dakota/Minnesota area.

Its not the approaches that get difficult in the real world. It is some of the goofy departure procedures that will catch you.

Most approaches even the complicated ones are just a series of waypoints and step downs.

Departure procedure involve you turning to headings within certain a defined radius before hitting such and such radial while maintaining certain climb gradients all while staying within requirements mandated by your operations (91,121,135..).

I understand this doesnt help you any. When I get a chance I will pull out some approach plates and grab some complicated ones I remember.

u ahve to take your instrument/commercial at the same time hmm. that sucks. at mtsu i knew a girl that took private/instrument and it had a 60% fail rate

hold's, entries, procedure turns and full approaches are priceless...over time you'll find that an ILS is an ILS and a VOR is a VOR...getting to and from the approach course is the big thing...

once you get comfortable start doing some partial panel...basic stuff..no gyros...then start really screwing with it...try using just your turn coordinator...compass and altimeter to do the approaches...

Actually, it's a commercial, instrument, and multi-engine end-of-course certification stage check. The TCO is a package deal, although two of the intermediate stage checks are based on the instrument and commercial PTS's. And FWIW, the school has examining authority for the course, which (unless something has changed) requires a pass rate slightly higher than 60%. :)

Anyway, back to the discussion. I used to give some interesting approaches to my students to fly in the FTDs, as well. If you can, get your hands on some Mexico plates. It's much more fun when you're cleared for a full procedure approach at FL200.