After flight plan ends

[Jasonwc777]

I have it understood that after the last waypoint in the flight plan, you proceed direct to the airport, what happens in this case if you are slant alpha? (can't proceed direct to airport)

[wmburns]

What I do is to plot the flight on Skyvector. Skyvector will draw a line from the ending VOR to the airport. This gives a course and radial to fly that will take you directly to the airport. Skyvector will also give the distance from the VOR which if your plane has DME, which can give a double check when over the airport.

If using paper charts just draw a line from the VOR to the airport. Read the course from the VOR compass rose.

Of course this gets more difficult when the ending point isn't a VOR. But you could still fly a rough course from the chart.

[Keith Smith]

Where possible, you should file a route that ends with a feeder or IAF for an instrument approach. If you were to lose communications or happen to be in a non-radar environment, you will have a flight plan that allows you to fly from wheels up to wheels down with terrain separation and navigation reception guaranteed throughout the flight.

That's the theory, at least. Practically speaking, you're going to be vectored for a visual approach or an instrument approach at your destination prior to reaching the last waypoint on your flight plan.

[Jasonwc777]

Got its, thanks
So say its a TEC route and it doesn't end in an iaf or feeder and ur slant alpha, I guess u would just notify the controller when reaching the airport?
Also I have seen ur workshops and I think that if you loose comms and route doesn't end in iaf or feeder, you go dct airport dct iaf/feeder to commence approach, but that's again, if you loose comms. Let me know if I'm wrong.
It happened because I was flying on PE tday and my last Waypoint was PDZ and I was approaching it (of course with comms haha), the controller didn't say anything and I started my turn dct to the airport, just halfway through the turn Peter gave me vectors for the expected Gps approach. I asked him if the turn I commenced dct to the airport was correct, and he said yes, so that's what I wondered what would've happened if I was slant alpha? Haha.

[Keith Smith]

I would say something prior to reaching the last fix.

[Pieces]

Unless you do lose communication, you should never get to a place where you don't have positive course guidance. As Keith mentioned, if you are approaching your clearance limit with out some sort of instruction, you should notify ATC.