Premium on Safety - Issue 44, 2022 - 4

SAFETY SPOTLIGHT
increase the bank angle, and subsequently the angle of attack,
causing a stall and loss of control of the aircraft at low altitude.
Be extra vigilant about winds and ground speed on all segments
of the circle, especially on base. Our wind was coming from the
southeast and the circle was on the north side of the runway so
we needed to make sure that we established a crab into the wind
on downwind to remain within the protected area and to keep our
groundspeed in mind when determining when to make the turn
to final. With a headwind on base, we would be more likely to
undershoot than overshoot final.
Standard stabilized approach criteria dictates that we should be
on approach speed and glide path by 1,000 feet on an instrument
approach and by 500 feet on a visual approach. Ultimately, a
circling approach is a visual maneuver so our aim would be to be
stabilized on final approach, on speed and a three degree descent
angle (700 to 800 fpm) by 500' agl.
A missed approach should be executed any time there is doubt
that you will be able to maintain visual with the runway or runway
environment. In our case, we began the turn to downwind only to
decide that the flight visibility likely wouldn't allow us to maintain
visual with the runway throughout the pattern. We executed a
missed approach and continued to our alternate without incident.
Always keep in mind that the successful conclusion to a flight is
a safe landing, not that the landing occurred at the airport you
initially planned for.
-Kristine Hartzell flies as Captain for a Fortune 500 company.
Do you know your VDPs?ANSWERS ON PAGE 9
BY AMY LABODA, MANAGING EDITOR, USAIG PREMIUM ON SAFETY
SAFETY QUIZ
1 Assuming a properly flown approach, which of the
following flight conditions could result in a
false perception of being too high, resulting in an
excessively low approach?
A) Longer than usual runway
B) Uphill runway grade
C) Light rain or restricted visibility
D) Featureless terrain (black hole)
E) All of the above
2 What are some techniques that you could use to
mitigate the hazards of optical illusions while flying an
instrument approach?
A) Reference the PAPI for visual glidepath guidance
B) When flying an ILS approach, remain on the glideslope
even after sighting the runway
C) Anticipate the possibility of optical illusions and their effects
D) All of the above
3 Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding
the use of the VDP?
A) The VDP does not apply to circling minimums
B) You should begin your descent to the runway no later than
the VDP location
C) When flying using GPS navigation, the VDP will be included
as a waypoint on the approach
D) VDPs should be a consideration when flying ILS approaches
4 What is the significance of a published visual descent
point (VDP), identified by the V icon located 1.5
nautical miles from the runway threshold on the
approach plate?
A) You must initiate your missed approach (at the missed
approach point) if you cross a published VDP without the
runway in sight
B) It is the point from which normal descent from the MDA to
the runway may be commenced
C) It is a lighting array along the runway's extended
centerline, which, if visible, permits you to descend an
additional 100 feet
D) It is the farthest distance from the runway that the
PAPI is visible
5 Even though the chart states that circling to the
runway is not authorized west of the runway, ATC
is able to grant approval for these operations upon
request if you have an operational need.
A) True
B) False
4
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