GPS approach question

"Ron Rosenfeld" wrote in message
...
....snip...
As to why ATC cleared via MAPOE instead of CIMAN, ATC may have felt that
would be a shorter route. ...snip...

There's no rule of which I am aware that says that if you are in the left
base area, that you need to be cleared via the associated IAF.



If the track from present-position to MAPOE is fairly close to 063... even
if technically in that IAF=CIMAN quadrant... would not the controller (and
the pilot) think it more convenient to go direct MAPOE and make the turn,
rather than having to swing out 5 miles to CIMAN and come back???

On Mon, 1 Nov 2004 10:13:58 -0500, "Icebound"
wrote:

If the track from present-position to MAPOE is fairly close to 063... even
if technically in that IAF=CIMAN quadrant... would not the controller (and
the pilot) think it more convenient to go direct MAPOE and make the turn,
rather than having to swing out 5 miles to CIMAN and come back???

That was the point I was trying to make. Except I would be looking at the
distance rather than the track.
--ron

Icebound wrote:
If the track from present-position to MAPOE is fairly close to 063... even
if technically in that IAF=CIMAN quadrant... would not the controller (and
the pilot) think it more convenient to go direct MAPOE and make the turn,
rather than having to swing out 5 miles to CIMAN and come back???

A procedure turn takes about 4 minutes to exectute (yes, I know there
are things other than the 45-225 turn that could be done faster).
Even a 172/Warrior class plane can cover 5-6 miles in that time, so as
long as you don't wait until the last minute and have to make some
extreme course change to head for the outer IAF, it's probably about a
wash either way. The faster the aircraft, the more the T-IAF comes
out ahead.

And, given that it's about a wash, I'd rather make two 90 degree turns
with a 5-mile straight leg and positive course guidance between them
than dead-reckon my way through a procedure turn.