Real Life Training Scenario

October 5, 2016

Clearance Request

N316RM Request Tower to Tower IFR Fullerton : Glasair Sportsman type

GLSP/G

IFR Clearance KCNO KFUL

Cleared FUL via 260 Heading Intercept V394 SLI Direct : Climb and

Maintain 4000’ : Departure 125.5

ONTN9 (PDZ PDZ270 V394 SLI) All Acft:4,000‘ Modified to reflect clearance with solid red line!

RNAV (GPS) RWY 24 Approach Plate To Fullerton …

Following takeoff into Solid IFR : Radar Vector Left 210 approaching V394 :

One minute later another Left to 170

1. You then have a radio communications failure

2. What do you do? a) Fly direct to the assigned route (V394) b) Fly direct to the next fix (SLI) c) Other

You arrive at SLI (Clearance Limit) on your filed GPS IFR Flight Plan.

1. You are NOT VOR or ILS equipped (You filed /G – remember)

2. You discover there is no routing from SLI to POM, the published RNAV IAP for KFUL. You frantically pull up all the charts to Fullerton.

Three Approach Plates to Fullerton …

Which approach do you fly? a) RNAV GPS 24 b) VOR-A c) LOC/DME 24

For the approach you picked … a) How do you navigate it b) At what altitude c) Are you legal

The applicable rules from 91.185 in this scenario are … +++++++++ (1) Route. (ii) If being radar vectored, by the direct route from the point of radio failure to the fix, route, or airway specified in the vector clearance; +++++++++ (2) Altitude. At the highest of the following altitudes … for the route segment being flown: (i) The altitude … assigned in the last ATC clearance received; ++++++++++ (3) Leave clearance limit. (ii) If the clearance limit is not a fix from which an approach begins, leave the clearance limit at the expect-further-clearance time if one has been received, or if none has been received, upon arrival over the clearance limit, and proceed to a fix from which an approach begins and commence descent or descent and approach as close as possible to the estimated time of arrival as calculated from the filed or amended (with ATC) estimated time enroute. +++++++++

Since you only have GPS for navigation …

1. You would turn to intercept the flight plan route in the shortest distance possible.

2. When you arrived at SLI , you would depart SLI VOR and proceed direct to the POM VOR which is the IAP for the RNAV 24 approach. That is the only approved GPS approach! POM is on the 023 radial from the SLI VOR. That route takes you directly across the Class B airspace which is protected down to 2500’. This, of course, resurfaces 91.185 (c) (2) ; which says …

+++++++++ (2) Altitude. At the highest of the following altitudes or flight levels for the route segment being flown: (i) The altitude or flight level assigned in the last ATC clearance received; (ii) The minimum altitude … for IFR operations; or (iii) The altitude or flight level ATC has advised may be expected in a further clearance. ++++++++++ Which applies ?????

Questions? Brian Ringel CFI NEI

Richard Eastman CFI I MEI

Mike Jesch CFI ASME IA ATP

Jay Steffenhagen ATP CFII

Doug Galbraith CFIIMEI

Flight Rules Section 91.185