Index   354 -- Page 355 -- 356

11/10/16
12/10/15                                                                                                     AIM



is not authorized due to an obstacle penetration that      VDA. The VDA and TCH information are charted on
would require a pilot to deviate from the VDA              the profile view of the IAP following the fix
between MDA and touchdown, the VDA/TCH will                (FAF/stepdown) used to compute the VDA. If no
be replaced with the note "Visual Segment-                 PA/APV IAP is established to the same runway, the
Obstacles" in the profile view of the IAP (See             VDA will be equal to or higher than the glide path
FIG 5-4-13). Accordingly, pilots are advised to            angle of the VGSI installed on the same runway
carefully review approach procedures to identify           provided it is within instrument procedure criteria. A
where the optimum stabilized descent to landing can        chart note will indicate if the VGSI is not coincident
be initiated. Pilots that follow the previously            with the VDA. Pilots must be aware that the
published descent angle below the MDA on                   published VDA is for advisory information only and
procedures with this note may encounter obstacles in       not to be considered instrument procedure derived
the visual segment.                                        vertical guidance. The VDA solely offers an aid to
     2. The threshold crossing height (TCH) used to        help pilots establish a continuous, stabilized descent
compute the descent angle is published with the            during final approach.

                                                    FIG 5-4-13
                                             Example of a Chart Note




     3. Pilots may use the published angle and             rate based on the VDA may exceed the capabilities of
estimated/actual groundspeed to find a target rate of      the aircraft and the pilot must determine how to best
descent from the rate of descent table published in the    maneuver the aircraft within the circling area in order
back of the U.S. Terminal Procedures Publication.          to land safely.
This rate of descent can be flown with the Vertical
                                                              l. In isolated cases, an IAP may contain a pub-
Velocity Indicator (VVI) in order to use the VDA as
                                                           lished visual flight path. These procedures are
an aid to flying a stabilized descent. No special
                                                           annotated "Fly Visual to Airport" or "Fly Visual." A
equipment is required.
                                                           dashed arrow indicating the visual flight path will be
                                                           included in the profile and plan views with an approx-
    4. A straight-in aligned procedure may be
                                                           imate heading and distance to the end of the runway.
restricted to circling only minimums when an
excessive descent gradient necessitates. The descent            1. The depicted ground track associated with the
angle between the FAF/stepdown fix and the Circling        "Fly Visual to Airport" segment should be flown as
MDA must not exceed the maximum descent angle              a "Dead Reckoning" course. When executing the
allowed by TERPS criteria. A published VDA on              "Fly Visual to Airport" segment, the flight visibility
these procedures does not imply that landing straight      must not be less than that prescribed in the IAP; the
ahead is recommended or even possible. The descent         pilot must remain clear of clouds and proceed to the


Arrival Procedures                                                                                        5-4-19