Hello everyone, I have a quick question regarding approach procedures. I use general aviation aircraft pretty often and use the GTN 750. A lot of times when I program the final approach with the GTN 750, I am given a proc turn which basically circles the same waypoint. Is this a common occurrence and, if so, what is its purpose?  Just wondering.

Hello everyone, I have a quick question regarding approach procedures. I use general aviation aircraft pretty often and use the GTN 750. A lot of times when I program the final approach with the GTN 750, I am given a proc turn which basically circles the same waypoint. Is this a common occurrence and, if so, what is its purpose?  Just wondering.

The short answer is that a procedure turn allows a pilot to find an airport by navigating to its beacon (be that a VOR or an NDB) and then using that beacon perform a procedure turn to fly outbound before turning back in to intercept the ILS, VOR, RNAV or NDB to make a landing. It's known as the 'full procedure' and would really only be used at a big airport if the approach radar failed and crews were unable to be given vectors to the final approach course. You can imagine the chaos that would ensue at somewhere like Heathrow if everyone had to do the full procedure!

^couldn't have said it better myself.

Procedure turns are also sometimes included to allow an aircraft to lose altitude before making the approach.

Great explanations guys! Thanks a Million!

It's also the easiest way to make a 180 degree turn back to your course.

 

Vic

A Procedure Turn is nothing more than a course reversal maneuver in protected airspace.  This is not to be confused with a Procedural Track which is very similar. 

 

blaustern

Practise flying and entering published holds. Flying towrds RTT Rattenburg at LOWI requires a procedural turm and parallel entry if on the BRENO 2 A STAR in order to turn back to establish on the localiser for rwy 26. Even if ATC do not hold you there.