IFR Checkride Guide
Chair flying / RNAV (GPS) Approach — LPV

RNAV (GPS) Approach — LPV

Fly a WAAS LPV approach to DA — loading and verifying the procedure, CDI scaling changes, and glidepath discipline.

Guided rehearsal is PremiumACS VI.B — Precision Approach

Pre-Approach (Five A's)

  1. ATIS/AWOS — weather, runway in use, expect which approach
  2. Altimeter — set current setting; cross-check altimeters
  3. Avionics — tune and IDENTIFY navaids, set courses, load the procedure
    Confirm the correct approach is loaded and the sequence matches the chart — waypoints, courses, altitudes.
  4. Approach briefing — brief the chart aloud
    Approach name and runway, final approach course, FAF and glidepath intercept altitude, DA or MDA, required visibility, missed approach point and first two steps of the miss, notes and lighting.
  5. Aircraft — descent/approach checklist complete, fuel pump and mixture per checklist

Setup

  1. Load (and verify) the approach from the database — never build it point-by-point
    Confirm waypoint sequence, courses, and altitudes against the chart. Check the database is current and NOTAMs for WAAS outages.
  2. Confirm the annunciated service level — LPV expected before the FAF
    If it downgrades (LNAV only), DA becomes the LNAV MDA — re-brief minimums or miss.
  3. Level 90 KIAS at the intermediate altitude; CDI scaling tightens approaching final

Execution

  1. Glidepath alive — configure: flaps below 109, gear if retractable“Glidepath alive”
  2. Glidepath intercept at the FAF altitude — 1,700–1,800 RPM, descend“Glidepath intercept, final descent”
  3. Track within ¾ scale, airspeed ±10 kt — bracket with small corrections
  4. 100 above — look for the runway environment“One hundred above”
  5. DA: references per 91.175(c) → land; otherwise immediate miss“Minimums — runway / going missed”

Recovery

  1. Landing: final flaps, normal approach speed, touchdown zone
  2. Or missed: full power, positive rate, follow the loaded missed approach — sequence the navigator
    Most navigators need you to unsuspend/activate the missed approach leg — know your box's button.

ACS tolerances

  • Lateral and vertical guidance within ¾-scale deflection (FAF to DA)
  • Airspeed ±10 kt
  • Before final: altitude ±100 ft, heading ±10°

Common errors

  • Not verifying the loaded procedure against the chart
  • Missing a service-level downgrade annunciation
  • Forgetting to sequence the navigator at the missed approach point
  • Chasing the tightening CDI near the runway