I was flying the TBM from Miami to Key West International (EYW) my waypoints were VPLYY - SOMMY - GUCEL, which is the IAF for RNAV (GPS) RWY 27 to EYW. 

As I approached GUCEL (at 3 NM / 150 knots) I activated the approach and the G1000 did the usual 180° turn and created a new flight path N then W to CARNU, which is 29.7 NM N of GUCEL. 

Everything I read about RNAV tells me I can start the approach as I approach the IAF but the G1000 does not seem to agree. So, I tried again as I approached BURPY, which is the IF for the approach and is 18 NM WSW of GUCEL (IAF).

Again, the  G1000 made the new flight path looping N and W to CARNU, which was then 40 NM NNW of my present location.

Is it possible in the real world to fly direct to the RNAV IAF or IF and then begin the approach?   I cannot believe that a flight coming from Miami and flying SW along the keys would be required to divert 30 NM west to CARNU and then 30 NM back east to make the RWY 27 RNAV approach.

I can find NO ILS or VOR approach, or any other VFR approach to Key West - does than mean my only choice for VFR is the NDB to Rwy 9? 

How does it work in the real world?  

Edited September 19, 20205 yr by TacomaSailor

I don't know what messed up with your approach but I figure that the G3000 on the TBM is very much still a work in progress.

48 minutes ago, TacomaSailor said:

Is it possible in the real world to fly direct to the RNAV IAF or IF and then begin the approach?   I cannot believe that a flight coming from Miami and flying SW along the keys would be required to divert 30 NM west to CARNU and then 30 NM back east to make the RWY 27 RNAV approach.

Yes indeed: you can be vectored by the controller to the final approach segment or the final fix (IAF) to save time, fuel, or for sequencing.

48 minutes ago, TacomaSailor said:

I can find NO ILS or VOR approach, or any other VFR approach to Key West - does than mean my only choice for VFR is the NDB to Rwy 9? 

Yes. Unfortunately, there are only 3 instrument approaches for EYW: RNAV on both runways and NDB on 09.

https://skyvector.com/airport/EYW/Key-West-International-Airport

Incidentally, in real life, I found flying VFR to this airport to be a bit challenging. Depending on the traffic, you may have to dodge the airliners departing from runway 09 while keeping an eye on the traffic pattern of the naval base station (KNQX) just before (coming from Miami).

48 minutes ago, TacomaSailor said:

does than mean my only choice for VFR is the NDB to Rwy 9? 

Flying VFR using a NDB: I am confused.

I guess that you are referring to a visual approach following an IFR routing. You then may use the (offset) VOR EYW (2.8 nm from the airport) or the TACAN NQX (4.5 nm from the airport).

48 minutes ago, TacomaSailor said:

How does it work in the real world?  

I would suggest to watch some Steve1kenivo videos on his TBM 850 (I believe that he may have few videos of EYW since he is based in Florida):

https://www.youtube.com/user/steveo1kinevo

For reference, here is the Garmin manual for the TBM930:

https://static.garmin.com/pumac/190-02046-01_A.pdf

Section 5.8 covers the approaches.

Good luck!

Edited September 19, 20205 yr by GearUp180

57 minutes ago, TacomaSailor said:

As I approached GUCEL (at 3 NM / 150 knots) I activated the approach and the G1000 did the usual 180° turn

This is not real world. It is a known issue.  To avoid this Activate the approach before reaching that last fix before the IAF.  To confirm look at the flight plan page and you should see the first segment of the approach enunciate with the magenta bracket.  First segment = IAF to FAF.

Edited September 19, 20205 yr by fppilot