Final Approach Turbulence Wind Shear 
Plane and Pilot
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
To cope with these challenges, airline glass flight decks contain a vertical navigation function (VNAV) that keeps the autopilot, and the crew, on the right path to arrive at the final approach fix, or downwind leg, at speed and on altitude. Both of these approaches work with one significant caution. When to Start Down?
Air Facts
OCTOBER 14, 2024
Turbulence Air Facts Journal Space is infinite in its complexity. From trolling our imagination into creating giant rockets that carry us, humans, into space, the final frontier. And tampering our mental reserves with turbulent mischief. Turbulence is unpredictable. Similar mechanics are at play in clear air turbulence.
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Flying Magazine
MAY 3, 2024
The accident happened as the pilot was attempting to fly the RNAV 20 approach, which takes the aircraft directly over the potato processing plant with numerous vent stacks constantly in operation. The standard for airspeed after passing the final approach fix was 120 kias indicated, according to the Flight Maneuvers Description Manual (FMDM).
Air Facts
APRIL 14, 2025
Two More Concept Failures One recent general aviation fad that did not catch on, fortunately, was the continuous turn from downwind to final approach. There are many factors in play, but the short version is that a continuous turn to final is just a conventional traffic pattern with a really short base leg.
Pilot Institute
MARCH 6, 2025
VORTAC – VHF Omni-directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation VORTAC is a navigational aid operating in the VHF band that is used to provide guidance along airways, air traffic service routes, and intermediate and final approach tracks. It consists of two independent components VOR and TACAN. SIGMETs are issued by the AWC.
Air Facts
APRIL 24, 2024
But, with a frontal system approaching, the conditions were expected to worsen over the hours subsequent to our passing through, including the chance for moderate to severe turbulence. At first it was just gradually, then more decidedly, evolving into moderate turbulence. But the turbulence would continue to worsen.
Chess In the Air
JULY 4, 2022
Considering the delay in the AWOS reporting, it may also be helpful to proactively use the radio to ask anyone on the ground for the current winds (e.g. Microbursts are not the only source of severe wind-shear close to the ground. Sudden and very powerful surface winds can have various other causes. the local FBO).
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