VOR approach- when to descend from the FAF

On 02/21/08 09:27, gatt wrote:
"Terence Wilson" wrote in message
...
When flying a VOR approach in which the FAF is defined by the VOR, is
it appropriate to start the descent to the MAP, or next stepdown,
immediately after overflying the VOR or should I wait until I have
positive course guidance for the final approach segment?

I ask because it can sometimes take 1-2nm for the CDI to move, which
may require a rushed descent to the MAP on some approaches.

I spend that minute or so making sure my heading and approach airspeed are
under control, and then simply catch up to the descent afterward when the
needle comes back. It'll be interesting to see how other people do it, but
that's the way I was trained.

-c



I was taught to begin the descent at station passage (using the 5 'T's).
It's never taken more than just a very few seconds for the CDI to start
coming back in. A minute seems awfully long.

By the way, if the needle doesn't come back in, I would go missed. The
first thing I do there is begin a climb. I really don't see how it causes
any problems to begin the descent at station passage (assuming that is
what the procedure calls for, of course).


--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane, USUA Ultralight Pilot
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA