Narrative:

I'm currently involved in a flying club that is teaching members how to use recently installed IFR GPS equipment. In reviewing the GPS taa approach; most pilots had many questions and were confused by the lack of definition and consistency when comparing what the aim says in section 5-4-5; what the aim figures show; and what is actually on a GPS taa approach plate. The wording in the aim states that the pilot is to complete the approach 'at the altitude depicted' on the approach plate. This sounds like a mandatory altitude but the aim diagrams show the altitude as underlined -- meaning at pilot's discretion altitude. This is further confused by looking at an actual GPS taa approach plate. Here the altitudes are shown in boxes and look like MSA's on other approach procedures. The end result is -- most pilots in our group do not have a clear understanding of the procedures and requirements for a GPS taa approach. This is a serious; potential safety issue. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter pointed out the contradictions. There is a good deal of confusion about these seemingly minor issues at his flying club. The reporter has been to his local FSDO and ATC procedures people and has only been able to obtain opinions about the meaning of what he sees as contradictions. So he feels he has no resolution to his misgivings. He is the local flying club's safety representative to the FAA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT RPTS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN AIM GPS TAA INSTRUCTIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS: MAINTAIN ALT VERSUS MINIMUM ALT.

Narrative: I'M CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A FLYING CLUB THAT IS TEACHING MEMBERS HOW TO USE RECENTLY INSTALLED IFR GPS EQUIPMENT. IN REVIEWING THE GPS TAA APCH; MOST PLTS HAD MANY QUESTIONS AND WERE CONFUSED BY THE LACK OF DEFINITION AND CONSISTENCY WHEN COMPARING WHAT THE AIM SAYS IN SECTION 5-4-5; WHAT THE AIM FIGURES SHOW; AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY ON A GPS TAA APCH PLATE. THE WORDING IN THE AIM STATES THAT THE PLT IS TO COMPLETE THE APCH 'AT THE ALT DEPICTED' ON THE APCH PLATE. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANDATORY ALT BUT THE AIM DIAGRAMS SHOW THE ALT AS UNDERLINED -- MEANING AT PLT'S DISCRETION ALT. THIS IS FURTHER CONFUSED BY LOOKING AT AN ACTUAL GPS TAA APCH PLATE. HERE THE ALTS ARE SHOWN IN BOXES AND LOOK LIKE MSA'S ON OTHER APCH PROCS. THE END RESULT IS -- MOST PLTS IN OUR GROUP DO NOT HAVE A CLR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR A GPS TAA APCH. THIS IS A SERIOUS; POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR POINTED OUT THE CONTRADICTIONS. THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF CONFUSION ABOUT THESE SEEMINGLY MINOR ISSUES AT HIS FLYING CLUB. THE RPTR HAS BEEN TO HIS LOCAL FSDO AND ATC PROCS PEOPLE AND HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN OPINIONS ABOUT THE MEANING OF WHAT HE SEES AS CONTRADICTIONS. SO HE FEELS HE HAS NO RESOLUTION TO HIS MISGIVINGS. HE IS THE LOCAL FLYING CLUB'S SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FAA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.