No Gyro Approach
When a directional gyro or heading indicator becomes unreliable, pilots may still complete an approach using controller guidance. Understanding the no-gyro approach helps pilots recognize how timed turns and ATC instructions support runway alignment without standard heading references.
Introduction to No Gyro Approach
- No-Gyro approaches are required to safely and accurately maneuver the airplane without the use of the attitude and heading indicators in the event of a failure
- This means horizontal maneuvers must be made in response to ATC instructions on a radar instrument approach
No-Gyro Approach Procedure
- Comply with the heading and altitude instructions issued by ATC
- Determine the desired rate of descent for the approach
- Begin a descent to MDA when instructed by ATC
- Set power and adjust pitch to establish and maintain the predetermined rate of descent necessary to ensure descending to and maintaining MDA prior to the missed approach point
- Perform the 5 T's
- Time: take the time
- Turn: To track the inbound course
- Twist: Verify that the OBS is set to inbound courses
- Throttle: Maintain 100 KIAS
- Talk: Make required reports
- At 1000' above MDA, callout (over the ICS), "1000 above MDA"
- At 500' above MDA, call out (over the ICS), "500 above MDA," and complete a GUMP check
- At 100' above MDA, callout (over the ICS), "100' above MDA"
- Leveling off at the MDA, set power to maintain altitude and set pitch
- initiate a descent from DA when the runway environment is insight
- Descend no lower than 100' above touchdown zone elevation when referencing the approach light system without seeing the red terminating bars or red side-row bars
- With the runway in sight and at the VDP, or, where no VDP is provide, in a position from which a descent to a landing on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvers, callout (over the ICS) "Runway in Sight, Landing"
- Set power and flaps appropriate for landing
- If no visual reference is in sight, continue to the missed approach point
- At the missed approach point, callout (over the ICS), "Missed approach," and execute a go-around, complying with the published missed approach procedure, or as directed
No-Gyro Airman Certification Standards
Conclusion
- Consider actual versus realized performance when doing any performance calculations
- Consider practicing maneuvers on a flight simulator to introduce yourself to maneuvers or knock off rust
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References
- Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Instrument Flying Handbook (9-5) Homing