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This website provides audio
streaming, and the ability to hear all communications between the
control tower and aircraft at the Region of Waterloo International
Airport.
With the large amount of pilot
training, and pilots conducting 'practice instrument approaches', there
have been numerous email requests for an explanation of an instrument
approach. So, here's my brief explanation.
All pilots flying on
instruments, or IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) are obliged to carry
'Instrument Approach Plates' for their relevant airports.
In Canada, this instrument
approach information is found in a document called the Canada Air Pilot,
or CAP. Sample approach plates, and other important information
necessary to operate IFR from the Region of Waterloo International
Airport are available to view from the menu on the left.
These documents graphically
depict the specific procedure to be followed by a pilot for a particular
type of approach to a given runway. They depict prescribed altitudes and
headings to be flown, and the names of navigational 'fixes' or locations
where altitudes or headings often change. In addition, they also list
missed approach procedures and all required radio frequencies for both
air traffic control and all ground based navigational equipment.
In a nutshell, instrument
approaches are designed such that a pilot of an aircraft in cloud, or
with no visual reference to the ground, can navigate to the airport,
hold in the vicinity of the airport if required, then fly to a position
from where he or she can obtain sufficient visual reference of the
runway for a safe landing to be made, or execute a missed approach if
visual reference of the runway cannot be achieved at the minimum descent
altitude as stipulated on the approach plate.
For those interested in
learning more, there is a
good tutorial about approach plates located here. Hopefully this
information will let you follow the on-air conversation with greater
understanding. |
