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Old August 14th 05, 02:24 AM
Garner Miller
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In article , Roy Smith
wrote:

What would you do in this situation? ...
If you stay at the MDA (as 91.175(c) requires), it's unlikely you will ever
see the runway, as it will quickly disappear under the nose of the
airplane. Your GPS is providing you VNAV guidance, and you are already
above the synthetic glide slope. You're well above the minimums for a
contact approach, but since you're out of radio contact, you can't ask for
one; your current clearance is for the GPS-22. Continuing your descent
below the MDA, but staying above the VNAV glideslope it technically not
legal, but seems like a "no harm, no foul" kind of violation.

What would you do?


I wouldn't descent below MDA, no. That seems like a very bad idea. I
WOULD continue the approach to the MAP, though, rather than bailing on
it early.

Yes, the runway will quickly disappear under the nose, but note that
the circling MDA and the straight-in MDA are the same. Level off at
2080, and you'll likely see the runway before the MAP. Descend as you
circle to the right (since it notes no circling east of the runway),
and you should have plenty of room to set yourself up for a nice
landing. Even a normal traffic pattern altitude should keep you well
above the obstacles on the west side.

Nothing says you can't circle right back to the "straight-in" runway;
sometimes, that's the only way you can do it, and this seems like one
of those cases.

Hope that helps.

--
Garner R. Miller
ATP/CFII/MEI
Clifton Park, NY =USA=