I-05 Visual approach confusion
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 2:12 am
Hi everyone!
I tried on the I5 this weekend and made a terrible job at it. Haven't flown an airliner in a while, but I figured, I've been running SID's and Stars on Vatsim for years, so how hard can it be?
So, I filed the VNY2.DAG.KEPEC3 and entered it into my FMS in my A320, failed to double check the departure heading for RWY15 out of Burbank for VNT2, but realising my misstake after ATC taking notice after my departure. Quickly corrected and was given a nice direct to Palmdale.
So far, so good, then I was optimistically expecting a 25L/R approach since KEPEC3 a the jet approach. But, enroute the approach at 11000 just after IPUMY I was notified to expect a visual approach RWY 1L. Well, no biggy I punched in ILS-1L into the FMS for reference, and spent a bit too much time tinkering with the STAR selection, well, I don't really needed the STAR anymore since I was about to go visual. Still cruising along a 11.000, slowing down to 220 knots. Then just before NIPZO, I got the "cleared for visual approach RWY 1L". Then I panic'ed since I realized that I was only 5 miles to the RWY on my left and I had to descend something like 8000 feet to get there.
I my mind, the only way to perform this was to turn right in order to build enough distance to descend without going like a bullet into the ground, however, I didn't since turning right would mean that I have no visual of the airport since I would be turning away from it by several miles. Then as the seconds (minutes) ticked along I started thinking that maybe I should turn left head upwind 1L circling the airport, realizing that this would be rather hazardous and would violate KLAS airspace in more than one sense, so I promptly decided not to do that either. Trotting along, doing nothing ATC pointed out that I should be descending by now and they had noticed my vague lefty/righty heading wobbles, ATC gave me a vector heading right and all was good again (appart from me mid that heading happened to activate NAV-mode and started aiming for the ILS entry FIX for 1L and was as always called and corrected by ATC). I finally had the airport in sight in my right window, landed it, parked and had most correctly failed the I5.
My question is simply this, when I got the "cleared for visual approach 1L", does that allow me to turn right, i.e. turning my back on the airport (since it was on my left) in order to descend those 8000 feet and align with the runway in a safe way? Or should I have asked for vectors or gone "unable visual something..."?
Appreciate all and any feedback!
Btw, love Pilotedge I'm training for my real world PPL so getting a chance to practice these more advanced procedures and ATC communication is great!
Here's how the flight ended up, doesn't look too bad from 100.000 feet
I tried on the I5 this weekend and made a terrible job at it. Haven't flown an airliner in a while, but I figured, I've been running SID's and Stars on Vatsim for years, so how hard can it be?
So, I filed the VNY2.DAG.KEPEC3 and entered it into my FMS in my A320, failed to double check the departure heading for RWY15 out of Burbank for VNT2, but realising my misstake after ATC taking notice after my departure. Quickly corrected and was given a nice direct to Palmdale.
So far, so good, then I was optimistically expecting a 25L/R approach since KEPEC3 a the jet approach. But, enroute the approach at 11000 just after IPUMY I was notified to expect a visual approach RWY 1L. Well, no biggy I punched in ILS-1L into the FMS for reference, and spent a bit too much time tinkering with the STAR selection, well, I don't really needed the STAR anymore since I was about to go visual. Still cruising along a 11.000, slowing down to 220 knots. Then just before NIPZO, I got the "cleared for visual approach RWY 1L". Then I panic'ed since I realized that I was only 5 miles to the RWY on my left and I had to descend something like 8000 feet to get there.
I my mind, the only way to perform this was to turn right in order to build enough distance to descend without going like a bullet into the ground, however, I didn't since turning right would mean that I have no visual of the airport since I would be turning away from it by several miles. Then as the seconds (minutes) ticked along I started thinking that maybe I should turn left head upwind 1L circling the airport, realizing that this would be rather hazardous and would violate KLAS airspace in more than one sense, so I promptly decided not to do that either. Trotting along, doing nothing ATC pointed out that I should be descending by now and they had noticed my vague lefty/righty heading wobbles, ATC gave me a vector heading right and all was good again (appart from me mid that heading happened to activate NAV-mode and started aiming for the ILS entry FIX for 1L and was as always called and corrected by ATC). I finally had the airport in sight in my right window, landed it, parked and had most correctly failed the I5.
My question is simply this, when I got the "cleared for visual approach 1L", does that allow me to turn right, i.e. turning my back on the airport (since it was on my left) in order to descend those 8000 feet and align with the runway in a safe way? Or should I have asked for vectors or gone "unable visual something..."?
Appreciate all and any feedback!
Btw, love Pilotedge I'm training for my real world PPL so getting a chance to practice these more advanced procedures and ATC communication is great!
Here's how the flight ended up, doesn't look too bad from 100.000 feet