how do i read an instrument approach plate?

Answer 1

WOW, so this question is extremely difficult to just type about but I'll give it my best.

It all depends on what kind you are looking at.

NOS plates (the cheaper ones): I'll be looking at the approach plate for the ILS RWY 5 at Hot Springs, Arkansas while explaning this so if you want to look at it go to http://www.airnav.com/airport/KHOT and scroll down to near the bottom of the page and download the PDF file for this approach.
Starting top left:
You have the main frequency for the nav aid you will be using, in this case it is the localizer frequency of 111.5. The "Chan 52" has to do will military purposes so just ignore it. The next box is your final approach course, that's the course that you will be at while approaching the airport. It happens to be exactly 050. The next box is telling you your runway information. It has the runway length(6,595 ft.), the touchdown zone elevation(515ft. MSL), and airport elevation(540ft. MSL). Moving over to the top right corner you have the name of the approach and the airport it's located at (ILS RWY 5 HOT SPRINGS/ MEMORIAL FIELD (HOT)). The next line just tells you basics that you need to know for that specific approach at that airport. Just read it and it's self explanitory. The next line gives you all your frequencies you will need for the airport and the approach (ASOS, ATIS, CENTER, TOWER, GROUND, UNICOM, ETC...). You then get to your diagrams of the approach. The easiest thing to do with this is find a key that tells you what each symbol means. The first diagram is showing you your horizontal view of the approach. You can start at many different initial approach fixes for this specific approach, each approach is different. Lets just say our initial approach fix is HOSSY (the Outer Marker identified by a NDB). you then travel outbound for a given amount of time on a heading of 230 and then start you procedure turn. Your procedure turn is always depicted on the plate. It will tell you which direction to go and what headings you should use. In this case it is a left turn to 185 outbound and then a standard rate right turn to 005 to intercept you final approach course of 050 by using the localizer. The diagram below that is the vertical guidance diagram. it tells you what alltitudes you can be at on specific points of the approach. Below this is the Minimum altitudes you can decend to for specific class aircraft and what specifically you are doing.

Explaining an approach plate is extremely difficult without somebody there to show you and help you through it. There are also Jeppesen approach plates which are extremely expensive and if you have the money to pay for them then surely you have somebody there to teach you how to read them so I won't go into how. I hope I've helped some, if you need more info just email me.

Answer 2

Luckily, the Us Govt. in theie infinite wisdom has re formatted the
"instrument approach plate" For years, Jeppesen has published
a much user friendlier version of the Govt't plates.

Looking at the newer one simply, top to bottom right to left, every thing is in the proper order. The porceedure name ie ILS 23R, NDB 16 etc, freq's to use, wx miniums, decent profile, missed approach proceedure etc. (For more detail have a look at http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/instrument_procedures_handbook/ espically like having the runway layout for more airports than just the big guys, makes planning your taxi eisier before you even leave home.

Answer 3

um..yeah there's SO much stuff on there nobody could possibly give you the answwer on this forum. Find a CFI-I and get some help from him/her. Then go buy some books on the subject and read them. I've been an airline pilot for years and I astill occasionally run across some symbol I don't recognise or some little quirk I wasn't aware of. Thats why Jeppesen gives you a glossary right in the front of the chart pack.

Answer 4

go to your nearest flight school and have someone show you...

Answer 5

dunno