IF descent. time or distance?

["V"]

hi all,

I have recently attained my ME Instrument Rating and am having a few troubles with finding a suitable Top of Descent point given:

-non controlled ie. no clearance required for descent
-unpressurised (so 500'/minute descent to keep the punters happy)
-piston engine (which we don't want to shock cool by pulling the power back to 17" MAP to keep the speed in the green on descent)
-arrive overhead the IAF/holding fix at the correct speed and height.

any suggestions folks?

time or distance to decide top of descent?

Cheers all!!

V

[the dean]

i have always used treble the altitude converted to distance...

so ...FL100 X 3 = 30 NM.works fine for me.....to decide you may on occasion ( if you know you are to be vectored around the airport for an approach at the other side ) have to ask radar to give you descent at '' 30 track miles '' instead...if you want to be accurate...otherwise the worst that happens is you get to clearance altitude a little further out...

was a very good article done on prune ( not sure which forum...maybe this one... back in december 06 on '' rules of thumb ''. maybe a search will reveal....

hope thats of some help...:ok:

the dean.

ps sorry...i see its uncontrolled..

well the same applies from your position to the fix...