G Farris wrote:


Looking at the RNAV approach plate for Martinsville, I notice that the missed
approach altitude is lower than the obstacle clearance altitude required to
make another approach. This means, after a missed, you would have to climb out
of the holding altitude to reach a safe altitude to make a second try on the
same approach. I thought that was contrary to TERPS procedures.

I assume we're talking the RNAV 12 approach. Where the missed is to go to
ULAKE at 3000 but the initial is 5500.

The missed approach altitude is only necessary to provide safe transit from
the final approach segment to the holding fix (and to hold there). There's
no requirement to get from the holding fix back to an IAF to "have another
go". The vagaries in designing the missed approach involve the slop in the
pilots flying to follow the missed approach procedure.

What is telling is that if you start on the approach and don't make it to the
final segment, you're kind of in limbo when below the MSA if you need to bail.
Of course in this approach, that's sort of a moot point as the FAF is above the
missed approach altitude and everything is on a staight line from the IAF to the
holding fix.