When are you 'Established' on an Instrument Approach | Instrument Approach Clearances | 91.175

What does it mean to be "established" on an approach? Unfortunately, the definition is a bit fuzzy, but we can use some best practices to help us plan for a stable descent on an instrument approach.

[Doornail]

Another great video! As of a few hours ago I passed my instrument check ride and can say without a doubt your YouTube videos helped so much!

[mm]

Great video as always ! As an CFII I’m always making sure my students understand what “established”means. As you mentioned the FAA doesn’t provide clear guidance. However the military does. As a former F-15E WSO and instructor navigator we taught that established on a localizer is when the CDI comes off the wall just as you noted. I also make sure to include what established on a VOR means since they are much less sensitive and descending too soon can get you in trouble. We teach that establish on a VOR is 1/2 scale deflection of the CDI.

[firepilot]

Guys if you haven't signed up for this course you need too! I just passed my Instrument checkride and these videos were huge part of it! Great videos! Now onto commercial! Thanks again!

[abbieamavi]

yes! this is a very common issue I see students forgetting, and now that I'm a CFI, I'm trying to learn how to describe it to them so that it "sticks". thanks for this quick tip, great video :)

[Saml]

Now to make sure the DPE's are aware of the definition of established and all will be peachy. Otherwise, for the check ride I'll just descend when the needle is centered.

[gonetoearth]

Awesome video. One point I would make in very busy workload situations is in this example you gave one should not necessarily be inclined to "dive" down to 5000 at WUGAG as its not a mandatory altitude. There is a chance for a high rate of decent that would have to be remedied when the GS comes alive. Staying a bit higher is safer and you will pickup the GS INSIDE WUGAG as you will be below controllers in busy Class B airspaces are quite pro to help you out as you predictably intercept an ILS...Keep the awesome vids coming!!!

[valehedgehog]

Thank you for the top notch knowledge that you provides, I am now a CPL and IR holder.

[DylanCannon]

Great work Dan. I wouldn’t have passed my CFII without you.

[nealhere]

Doesn’t the procedure turn go opposite the arrow not the way you showed it? Love your videos all the time.

[mytech]

If flying a GPS RNAV and you have correctly selected gps on the CDI, the nac unit will automatically adjust the CDI scale to the +-1NM requirment and autmatically sequence to the appropriate leg, only with both the leg active and within max scale will you be established. I suppose you could manually select the leg before getting there, like maybe if you are being vectored, in which case when the needle is alive then you are within the required lateral navigation performance for that leg because of the auto scaling. (Autoscaling is required for device certification and you can only manally set a tighter scale than what it would otherwise auto select.)

[stuartcrutchfield]

As always a very helpful video! You are great at explaining flying concepts. I have purchased some of your courses and they are also very helpful!

[domaguayo]

On this very subject check out TWA flight 514 on 12/1/74. Misunderstanding about when to descend to final approach altitude. Confusion can be deadly. I had a similar clearance in the 70s while flying a Cessna 402 at night in upstate N.Y. Not sure how the altitude should be handled, I decided to arrive over the airport and then start my descent for the approach. Clearances back then weren’t as cut and dry as they are today. If you’re uncertain about the approach don’t be shy about asking when exactly to start down.

[jim_ratliff]

“The FAA definition of established on course requires the aircraft to be established on the route centerline.” FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook, Page 4-54, in the right hand column.

[oleksandrshevela]

Thanks!
Does term “establish” apply to feeder routes?
When can we descend to MEA feeder route?

[_carminati_]

Great video. How would a G1000 handle the procedure in a situation where you were coming in from sugar loaf? Does it automatically add the outbound leg and procedure turn?

[Flanksss]

I appreciate these videos a lot man, thank you

[FredericWuerth]

Does this also apply to being "established" in holds? Much like this video, I have heard many different answers to that question...

[diaryrecorded]

cool so as I understand then there are 2 definitions... half scale and when the need comes alive? THANK YOU!

[jeremiahstarke]

This video is how I busted my checkride which was descending before needle was centered on a lpv.

[austinfick]

AIM calls for .3 nm on approach not 1nm at the end there just a heads up. Great video