Monticello Flying Club Pilot Transition Manual: Mooney M20F
Page 31 of 42
IFR SPECIFIC PROCEDURES
APPROACH LEVEL/HOLDING
The transition from cruise-descent to approach level or holding requires only setting a
holding power setting and re-trimming to maintain altitude. The cruise rpm combined with 18"
MP should yield about 120 MPH (105 kts) in level flight. Adjust MP to maintain airspeed; a
change of 1" MP affects airspeed about five knots. For those who prefer a 105 MPH (90 kts)
approach, that would require about 15” MP setting. Lean the aircraft as necessary to ensure
smooth operation and save fuel, especially if holding.
IFR/ILS DESCENT
Perhaps the simplest configuration is the IFR/ILS descent from the approach level
configuration, which requires only that we lower the gear at glide slope intercept or the non-
precision FAF. This will result in a 500 FPM descent at the same airspeed with little change to
either power or trim. Pitch attitude will be about 3 degrees nose down. So if you like to fly your
approach at 120 MPH (105 kts), fly this speed until the FAF, and then lower the gear at FAF to
start your decent. If you prefer a 105 MPH (90 kts) approach, reduce the MP to about 16” (the
gear horn will sound) and slow the aircraft to 105 MPH just prior to the FAF. Then at the FAF,
just lower the gear to start your decent. Pitch attitude for a 105 MPH approach will be just about
level.
To adjust your descent to stay on slope, each inch of MP equals 100'/min, so adjusting
descent is just a matter of adjusting MP. If you want to add 15 degrees of flaps during the
approach, just add 1” MP to make up for the additional drag. If you need to level off at an
intermediate fix or at the MDH, just add 5" MP and trim for 105 MPH. When you are ready for
full flaps (runway in sight, landing ensured), just add the flaps and trim for level attitude which
will slow you to the normal landing (entering ground effect) speed of 80 MPH. It is good
exercise during your IFR practice approaches to occasionally carry 105 MPH all the way to the
DH to get used to this transition.
This is all for a normal length runway. If your approach is to a short runway, keep in
mind that you will need to slow to 75 MPH for landing so you will need to reduce MP by a
further 1” when you put in full flaps in order to slow to 75 MPH.
IFR/NON-PRECISION APPROACH
As always, pitch controls airspeed and throttle controls altitude. If you set up the airspeed
and MP as described above at the FAF, just lower the gear at the FAF and then further reduce the
manifold pressure (each inch of MP equals 100’/min) to achieve the desire additional decent rate.
Thus if you want 800’/min decent rate at 105 MPH (90 kts), set the MP to about 15” and slow to
105 MPH just before the FAF, then at the FAF lower the gear and reduce MP by 3” to 12” to get
the additional 300’/min. Just prior to reaching each step altitude or the MDA, add back this 3”
plus the 5” to stop the 500’/min decent, which in the case will be 20”. Once you reach the MAP
and if you don’t see the runway environment, go missed as described below.
IFR CIRCLING APPROACH
If executing a circling approach, power should be 18"mp, pitch attitude +3 degrees, and
aircraft slowed to 105MPH. Descent is not initiated, and flaps are not extended until on base leg
in a position for a normal landing. If visual contact is lost, execute the Missed Approach. In a
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