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View Full Version : Max intercept angle to be allowed to establish Final course


C.M
14th May 2018, 12:38
It’s been a long time since I had to tackle this issue , but I know from the early days of IFR training that you can have up to 110 degrees intercept angle with respect to the final approach course to be eligible to turn in and track the inbound course . It’s been suggested recently though that this is wrong and that the maximum intercept angle is 90 degrees . Anything more would require holding entry first to properly align you with the final approach course . At the end which of the 2 angles is valid ? I did a brief web search but no concrete statements found on this regard.
If you do know the answer can you please indicate the source?
thank you

aterpster
14th May 2018, 13:22
In the U.S. the maximum course change in RNAV procedures is 90 degrees, with a maximum of 70 degrees being the maximum optimum. Course changes from airways to ground based procedures can be up to 120 degrees. For course changes from airways onto RNAV procedures the limit is 90 degrees.

For radar vectors to the final approach course (usually an ILS) the controller is limited to a 30 degree intercept angle except within 2 miles of the "approach gate" where the angle is limited to 20 degrees.

For a procedures designer to avoid a procedure turn (or course reversal holding pattern) the intercept angle cannot exceed 90 degrees and descent gradient limits must be met. This would be at the intermediate fix, which is at least 6 miles from the FAF.