We posted a video on “Mastering ILS Approaches” over on our FaceBook page. In the video, Bob Nardiello shares practical tips to make your approaches smoother and safer. (Watch “Mastering ILS Approaches video”)
Mastering ILS Approaches: Part 1
Comments from Facebook pilots:
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Good presentation, I look forward to more.
I worry about reconfiguring so close to the ground, at that point I am usually focusing on light airplane issues like figuring the cross wind, wind sheer, ground induced turbulence, etc. After an IFR approach I usually slow and start configuring for landing when I break out (around 290 feet at minimums) or at 500 feet AGL other wise.
One issue I do have is that I fly into a busy airport and often there is a Lear, Citation, or Turbo Prop behind my C-172 on approach. I try to maintain as much speed as possible until 500 feet or breaking out and then slow her down. I fly a lot of back country and “tiny” airports for work and pleasure so by training and habit I usually come in high (IE trees, Mountains, DA) and drop onto the numbers, then take the first exit clearing the runway for the plane behind me. Alternatively ATC would put me in a hold until there is a huge window. Also remember that if there is an adjacent commercial (as in Airline) runway, you have to be sequenced to allow for that traffic also when on an IFR approach. I use R-Nav backed up by ILS, backed up by a Garmin 395 and often cross reference them all at my base airport. Make sure you plug in the correct approach on the R-Nav … I check three times, when loading , when activating, and on final. I messed it up once but fortunately had a ILS approach on my other radio plugged in.