Instrument Approach Briefings Have Key Elements

The purpose of an instrument approach procedure is to allow pilots to transition from the instrument environment to the visual environment. Instrument approaches come with clearly defined procedures that allow pilots to navigate to a point near a destination airport, ideally allowing the pilot to visually acquire the runway for landing. The part that is not clearly defined is how to brief an approach prior to commencing the approach. In most cases, it is left to the pilot to decide exactly how to brief the approach. Let's call it a technique.

Some pilots work for organizations that have their own set of standard operating procedures. Those who don't likely use the procedure taught by an instructor during training for their instrument rating. That is good.

Having a method to prepare both pilot and aircraft for the approach is key to the successful outcome of the instrument approach. It could be argued that today's modern avionics make preparing for an instrument approach easier than ever. While that may be true for the preparation portion of the approach, it is not necessarily true for the briefing portion. Pilots still need to check and verify that all is well with the aircraft's avionics and the associated navigation aids prior to beginning the approach.

When using ground-based navigation aids, frequencies need to be tuned and identified. Courses need to be set. Altitudes need to be verified. For those who use GPS, the system will often automatically set the frequencies and courses. However, pilots still need to verify that those GPS systems are set properly and functioning.

Another important part of the approach briefing is making sure that the pilot is also "tuned and identified" for the approach. Ideally, every pilot could recite the entire procedure from memory prior to crossing the final approach fix. The fact of the matter is that we don't live in an ideal world, which is why we keep the approach plate in front of us during the approach.

A common question that comes up is how to incorporate approach items into checklists. Like the approach briefing, the correct answer is to do whatever works best for you.

If you have missed important details in the past, reflect on those instances and find a place to verify your work via the checklist prior to flying down final. Checklists don't need to be complicated. There are 17 elements on the approach briefing guidance used at MnDOT, yet there are only a handful of items on our approach checklist. The idea is to have a standardized method of briefing the important elements of the approach, while also having a formalized way to verify that the critical items have been accomplished. For example, "Approach Briefing Complete" is a good checklist item.

At the Minnesota Department of Transportation, we provide our pilots with guidance on how to prepare for an instrument approach. The guidance includes the key elements of the procedure. Below is an excerpt from MnDOT's SOPs that details some of those elements, along with where they are found on an approach plate. This is just the method that we use, feel free to use whatever works best for you.

The approach briefing should include the following elements, as applicable. Items marked with * shall be included on all MnDOT crew's briefing for a visual approach.

1. *Name and type of approach, name of airport and associated city

2. *Airport elevation and/or touchdown zone elevation (TDZE)

3. Any applicable notes

4. *Communication frequencies

5. *Minimum Safe Altitudes (MSA)/obstacles

6. Approach procedure overview and profile

a. Initial and final approach fixes

b. Intermediate courses and altitudes

c. *Tuning and identification of NAVAIDs

d. Glideslope intercept altitude (if applicable)

e. Final Approach Fix (FAF) crossing altitude

f. Stepdown fixes and altitudes

g. *Circling procedures (if applicable)

7. *Applicable speeds

8. Decision Altitude (DA) or Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) and programmed in MFD (if equipped), set in radar altimeter (if equipped)

9. Timing (if applicable)

10. *Lighting types and how controlled

11. *Airport and Runway

a. Runway length, width and expected conditions

b. Displaced threshold location and/or Land and Hold Short (LAHSO) details

c. Airport configuration/after landing considerations

d. Airport "hot spots"

12. *Missed approach procedure/go around considerations

13. Missed approach responsibilities

14. *Type of callouts expected (standard or deviations

as appropriate)

15. *Wind considerations

16. *Traffic pattern direction (if applicable)

17. Considerations for converting from an instrument approach to a visual approach

Note: Items 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17 are not referenced on a chart, but they are addressed as part of the crew's briefing.