I've been following this with interest and after travelling for a day, another three pages to digest!
OKC,
Thanks for your description of the 737 NG approach modes, particularly the IAN mode. You have answered a question I was going to ask before posting the following observation.
The 09 VOR plate posted early on in this thread shows a 2.38 degree descent path from from the FAF with crossing altitudes at various DME distances, including the MAPt. This is the first time I have seen an NPA plate with an approach slope. Out of curiosity, I checked the various altitudes with the 2.38 degree angle and they all agree. I then extrapolated the descent path and discovered that it reaches sea level exactly at the runway threshold. I find this surprising. I would have thought the TDZ would have been a better design criterion.
This seems to be a potential trap if a crew continued to use the IAN mode when continuing the approach after the MAPt.
Last edited by India Four Two; 17th Apr 2013 at 06:47.