No Gyro Approach

No-Gyro approaches are required to safely and accurately maneuver the airplane in the event of attitude and heading indicators failure.

No Gyro Approach

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

  • WARNING:
    All procedures are GENERALIZED.
    Use the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) procedures for specific aircraft performance and limitations.
    and/or current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Test your understanding of No Gyro Approach by completing the knowledge quiz, applying your knowledge in the interactive scenario, comparing your performance against the applicable Airman Certification Standards, and concluding with the topic summary to reinforce the key concepts before moving on to the next lesson.
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    No Gyro Approach

    No Gyro Approach Key Highlights

    • No-gyro approaches are radar-assisted instrument approaches used when aircraft heading indicators or gyroscopic instruments are inoperative.
    • Air traffic control provides turn instructions based on radar observations to guide aircraft toward the final approach course.
    • Pilots execute turns by starting and stopping turns in response to controller commands such as “start turn” and “stop turn.”
    • Standard-rate turns are normally expected during no-gyro approach procedures unless otherwise instructed.
    • No-gyro approaches require effective communication, situational awareness, and precise aircraft control during instrument conditions.
    • Controller workload and radar update timing can affect the precision of no-gyro approach guidance.
    • Pilots should advise ATC promptly when gyroscopic or heading instruments fail during instrument operations.
    • Limited instrument capability increases workload and emphasizes the importance of partial panel flying proficiency.
    • Missed approach procedures remain applicable during no-gyro approaches if landing conditions are not met safely.
    • Understanding no-gyro approaches improves emergency preparedness, partial panel proficiency, and overall flight safety.
    No Gyro Approach

    No-Gyro Approach Procedure

    1. Comply with the heading and altitude instructions issued by ATC
    2. Determine the desired rate of descent for the approach
    3. 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.
    4. 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
    5. At 1000' above MDA, callout (over the ICS), "1000 above MDA"
    6. At 500' above MDA, call out (over the ICS), "500 above MDA," and complete a GUMP check
    7. At 100' above MDA, callout (over the ICS), "100' above MDA"
    8. Leveling off at the MDA, set power to maintain altitude. and set pitch.
    9. 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
    10. 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"
    11. Set power and flaps appropriate for landing.
    12. If no visual reference is in sight, continue to the missed approach point
    13. 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 Approach

    No Gyro Approach Interactive Scenario

    Interactive Scenario

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    Scenario Complete

    No Gyro Approach

    No-Gyro Airman Certification Standards

    No Gyro Approach

    No Gyro Approach Knowledge Check


    Private Pilot

    Core Knowledge Review

    Review the foundational knowledge, key concepts, and practical considerations for No Gyro Approach.

    Foundational Immediate Feedback Answer Explanations
    Commercial Pilot

    Advanced Application

    Apply your knowledge of No Gyro Approach to advanced operational scenarios, risk management, and aeronautical decision-making.

    Advanced Scenario Based Risk Management

    Why Take a Quiz?

    Quizzes reinforce key concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for real-world decisions in the cockpit. Quiz material is representative of the information provided here and is not based on or sourced from the Federal Aviation Administration test bank.

    No Gyro Approach

    No Gyro Approach Conclusion

    No Gyro Approach

    No Gyro Approach References