Here's my problem: when flying to a non-ILS airport, how do I know at how many fpm to descend? There are two sets of situations in which I have that problem:1) In some cases I have approach info, but then the descend slope is expressed in % - how does that translate into fpm? 2) And in other cases I don't even have an approach chart, so ATC "dumps" me somewhere lines up with the runway and tells me to land visually (not too helpful for someone like me) - how can I figure out at what rate to descend?Thanks for any help

Mozart,3 degrees is considered a standard descent angle. Most ILS's are are set up for it give or take a degree.Now on this basis, a useful rule of thumb, is the descent rate is 5 times your speed. So if you are doing 100 knts, then you are looking to descend at 500 ft per minute.Only half the answer at this point, because the next question is when do you descend at a non ILS airfield. If you have DME in your a/c, just do a quick calculation.Say said 100 kt aircraft is 3000' above the airfield evelation, then a 500 ft per minute descent translates to 6 mins to land (or roughly 10 miles DME), or typically 4 mins to circuit height (1000') or routhly 7 miles DME. Hope this helps.Richard

Most important tip - use the VASI lights - this is what they are for.Just to the left of the runway you will a single/double row of lights.When you see them all red - you are too low, when they are all white - you are too high and when half of them is red and half is white - you are just right on the right slope. Using VASI lights I am able to land big transport aircraft on those short Caribbean runways (no DME, no VOR, etc) with great precision...ATC usually will line you up with the runways 5-7 miles out. At that point VASI lights will still be most likely all red. Just maintain your current altitude (do nit climb !) and wait until they start turning white. At that point commence your descent and working with throttle/pitch keep your descent profile just using those lights as your guidance.Keep arithmetic out of the cocpkit (like my instructor was always saying) - use VASI lights for those visual approaches and you wil be doing just fine. Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

Most approach charts have a GS-VS table as shown below.There you can read the required VS for a slope of 3 Deg.http://www.scandva.org/upload/eham27.gif