Shooting the Approach

[FLLflyboy]

What do you all know about VOR/DME Approaches? I tried shooting it Rwy 9 at St. Maarten, but it doens't line me up with the centerline, just directs me to the on-field VOR. I know its not a precision approach, so I need to control the altitude, but shouldn't an approach line you up on the centerline? What am I doing wrong and what is the proper way of doing it?

[Tyler012]

Are you sure you have the ILS frequency plugged in?


Or are you saying the ATC is giving you the approach vectors and they're not lining you up correctly?

[FLLflyboy]

There is no ILS approach. Just a VOR/DME. I plug the frequency into the Nav radio, but it directs me right of centerline to the VOR, rather than lined up with the runway.

[Meck]

Afaik that's just normal since a VOR doesn't sit right on the runway, it's slightly left or right to it and since a normal VOR (not a DVOR) has some 2.5

[FLLflyboy]

[quote]Afaik that's just normal since a VOR doesn't sit right on the runway, it's slightly left or right to it and since a normal VOR (not a DVOR) has some 2.5

[olderndirt]

Your minumums for that approach are probably an altitude and dme distance.

[vgbaron]

What do you all know about VOR/DME Approaches? I tried shooting it Rwy 9 at St. Maarten, but it doens't line me up with the centerline, just directs me to the on-field VOR. I know its not a precision approach, so I need to control the altitude, but shouldn't an approach line you up on the centerline? What am I doing wrong and what is the proper way of doing it?

You have to read and understand the approach chart. The chart I looked at for the VOR Approach to 09 states that the approach course is offset 3 degrees from the runway. Also, VOR approaches essentially take you TO the navaid and then you follow the prescribed course in the chart which will , IN A NO WIND SITUATION, line you up close enough so that when you break minimum you sheould see and be able to reach the runway.

If there is a wind you have to adjust accordingly or you may not even be close to the runway.

VOR/DME approaches are called non precision approaches for a reason.

if you've never used it - try this site:

http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/index.htm

Vic