neil on the web
aviation - time to see and go tool
Inputs
- Airfield Approach
- Some text to identify a particular approach.
- MDA
- Minimum Descent Altitude in feet.
- Elevation
- Airfield or Threshold elevation as appropriate.
- FAF to MAP
- The distance in nautical miles between the Final Approach Fix and the Missed Approach Point.
- Gradient
- The glide path gradient in feet per nautical mile. Many pilots use a rule of thumb of 300 feet per nautical mile. A three degree glide path has a gradient of 318 feet per nautical mile.
Results
- Feet Per Minute
- The descent rate needed to maintain a given glide path at a given ground speed.
- Time to go
- The time taken to fly from the Final Approach Fix to the Missed Approach Point at a given ground speed. Approach charts include a table of ground speeds and times when appropriate.
- Time to see
- The time taken to fly from the Final Approach Fix to when you should start a descent to land at a given ground speed (Visual Descent Point). You do not descend below the MDA until after acquiring the required visual reference. You cannot fly a stabilized approach beyond this point. One would normally use a three degree glide path but obstacles may dictate a steeper approach.