Can someone please explain this approach to me?It has you track intersections and then puts you in a holding pattern. It was a Circle to Land approach to runway 4 at KAVX via GPS VOR B.This approach almost doubles the flight length.Thanks!Barry

vor/dme -b,fly at 3200' to sxc vor, turn outbound on the 352 radial to 5 dme, the IAF, remain within 10 miles for the procecure turn, once inbound on the 352 radial of sxc descend to the mda of 2100', at sxc 2.8 dme if you don't have runway environment in site you miss the approach.

You need the approach plate, which you can get from http://www.myairplane.com/databases/approach/index.phpand don't forget to read the section on the GPS in the FS2004 "learning centre".The reason for the way such an approach is arranged, is so that you can always find the airport by following it, as long as you can find the SXC VOR by instruments.One problem with FS2004 approaches is that they place the procedure turns way too far out. Procedure turns are supposed to happen within 10 miles. In fact, it can happen anytime after you pass RIGLI outbound as long as you have enought room to make the turn at 3200 and descend to 2100 by the time you get back to RIGLI. I am also somewhat confused that the GPS does not include the minimum altitudes for the legs. I would have thought that would be rather simple once you have all the waypoints... In this case FS2004 has the turn almost 15 miles out instead of 10. Furthermore, if you do not fly the purple line all the way out then it will not update the GPS flight plan to the next waypoint (RIGLI on the way back in). There is a method for updating the GPS flightplan manually which you can read about in the learning centre.Once you pass RIGLI on the way in at 2100, you stay at 2100 until you see the airport, or get to 2.8 DME from the SXC VOR, whichever comes first. If you still do not see the airport, you must follow the missed approach procedure as shown on the plate... climb to 3200 and enter a hold on SXC on the 195 radial. While holding, you would then tune your radio back to the SOCAL controller and tell him that you have missed-approach, and he will re-clear you to try again...or you can request another destination.If you DO see the airport, you will NOT be lined up with your runway and you must "circle" to runway 04. You are seeing the runway now, so its just like a visual approach...enter a downwind by turning right from the inbound 172 heading to 220, and doing a normal downwind-base-final approach. If you were approaching for runway 22, you would turn left to 130 and cross the airport at 2100 feet, then left again to 040 to enter the downwind-base-final for 22. If you lose sight of the runway at any time during the "circle", you would do the missed approach thing... climb to 3200 and straight to SXC, enter the hold, call SOCAL controller. Real-life accidents happen when pilot doing a circle loses sight and thinks he will get it back again.Art

Thanks for the tips...I'll let you know if I have any more questions..Barry