AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 86
P&E
PROFICIENCY
HAVE YOU
DOWNLOADED THE
AOPA APP?
THE CLIMB/DESCENT TABLE in the FAA's Terminal Procedures Supplement helps pilots
convert climb or descent gradients in feet per nautical mile to climb or descent rates in
feet per minute.
The perfect pilot
companion for aviation
enthusiasts on the go!
Stay up to date on the
latest aviation news, watch
videos, listen to podcasts,
and search events right
from your mobile device.
The AOPA App is available free
for download in the iTunes and
Google Play stores.
when this chart is all one needs to understand the relationship among climb angle,
climb gradient, and climb rate?
The climb/descent table facilitates
descent planning. Determining the descent
rate that results in a given descent gradient on an instrument approach is
important. The Instrument Rating Airmen
Certification Standards (ACS) require that
a pilot reach the missed approach point at
an altitude between 0 and 100 feet above the
minimum descent altitude. Descending too
gradually may mean that you end up high
on the approach and needlessly perform a
missed approach procedure.
The VOR 36 approach into Shelbyville
Municipal Airport requires a descent angle
of 3.26 degrees after the final approach
fix, BOMAR. The balancing act is to use a
descent rate that results in a stable approach
but is high enough to get down close to the
minimum descent altitude by the missed
approach point. Assuming an approach
groundspeed of 100 knots, the climb/descent
table indicates that a descent rate of at least
584 fpm is necessary to arrive at the visual
descent point on this approach. I often ask
86 | AOPA PILOT February 2019
that candidates shoot the Shelbyville VOR 36
as a circling approach, as one is required in
the ACS. Beyond the dangers of maneuvering at low altitude around an airport in poor
weather conditions, circling approaches tend
to involve tailwinds, and that means even
higher descent rates are necessary. With a
20-knot tailwind, the descent rate would be
at least 701 fpm between BOMAR and the
visual descent point.
Two mistakes I see frequently during
instrument rating practical exams both arise
from not connecting climb and descent rates
to climb and descent gradients correctly.
Without the paper approach plate books, the
climb/descent table takes an extra step to
find. I keep a laminated version of the table
on my kneeboard as well as in the Documents
section of my ForeFlight app. When planning a flight or briefing an approach, I like to
make the calculations quickly and accurately.
Thankfully, there is a chart for that. AOPA
CATHERINE CAVAGNARO owns Ace Aerobatic
School in Sewanee, Tennessee,
(www.aceaerobaticschool.com) and teaches
at Sewanee: The University of the South.
http://www.aceaerobaticschool.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019
Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com