Alex Perry writes:

 > A lot of approach plates, needing a course reversal, either use a
 > procedure turn or a hold.  The former is easier, but needs a
 > depicted hold somewhere else in most cases, the latter.  Thus, I've
 > been given radar vector, direct to navaid when able, then hold, efc
 > for the approach at specific time.  So far, I've never had a hold
 > enroute, before getting into terminal airspace.

I haven't seen a hold instead of a PT yet in Canadian approaches, but
then I haven't looked at approaches for mountainous areas.  I can see
where a hold (possibly with a shuttle descent) could be valuable near
high terrain.

By the way, here's an interesting bit of trivia: Canadian approaches
have almost completely abandoned OMI markers (completely for middle
and inner).  Instead, at high traffic airports, they use an NDB a few
miles from the threshold for the FAF (and often the IAF as well), so
you have to use the ADF (or DME) together with ILS to establish the
FAF; there's sometimes another NDB off the far end of the runway for
missed approach.  It looks like I'm not going to see a marker light at
any point in my instrument training.  Here's an example from the
DAFIF (without a second NDB for the missed approach, since the VOR is
nicely lined up):

  
http://164.214.2.62/products/digitalaero/terminals/v0211/CANADA/OTTAWA_MACDONALD_CARTIER_INTL/V_ILS_OR_NDB_RWY_32.PDF

I can think of three advantages to switching from OMI to NDB:

1. ATC can still allow instrument approaches using the NDB (to higher
   minima) when the ILS is U/S.

2. ATC can vector traffic directly to the IAF or FAF more easily.

3. VFR traffic can use the NDB to line up in marginal VMC conditions.

Can anyone think of other benefits to throwing out the OMI markers?
What are the disadvantages?

As you might guess, it's rare to see an IFR Canadian plane without an
ADF radio, especially since the majority of approaches at smaller
airports are still NDB or NDB/GPS, and many smaller towns are joined
by NDB air routes rather than Victor airways.  Without RNAV, I could
not even fly to Kingston from Ottawa IFR without an ADF.


All the best,


David

-- 
David Megginson, [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.megginson.com/

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