Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

Just north of Jefferson City, the Kansas City Center controller cleared us to the Jeff City VOR, which was on the airport, to hold at 4,000 feet. I got out my instrument approach chart and studied the holding pattern and the VOR approach procedure. How can this be? Then my worst fears became reality.

VOR 52

VOR Weather Approach Runway 52

Pilot Institute

JUNE 9, 2025

The hold over “Kingston” VOR? Holding in Lieu of Procedure Turns Flying a ‘holding pattern’ is a great way to reverse your course and leave yourself pointing towards the runway threshold. Usually, it will be a ground-based navigational aid such as a VOR or NDB. Take a look at this chart. Yep, that’s a missed approach hold.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Crosswind Approach Knot 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Before RNAV, pilots had to rely on radios (NAVAIDs) and antennas on the ground such as VORs (Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range) and NDBs (Non-Directional Beacons). The minima table lists the DA and Height Above Threshold for each type of RNAV approach. Lets look at each type of approach and see how it works.

Approach 52

Approach Pilot Descent Airplanes 52