Stabilized Approach

I was recently in a recurrent class with some VERY experienced international jet Captains and the question was asked, what is the definition of a stabilized approach and when do you need to be stabilized? Out of a room of 10 people, 2 had the correct answer. Before reading ahead, do you know the answer?

Now this can have minor differences from company to company, but either way there are 9 standard steps for defining what a stabilized approach is. To be honest, I went my whole career as a CFI only knowing about 3 of the 9. It wasn’t until I started flying jet aircraft that I became familiar with the rest.

In IMC you should be stabilized no later than 1,000 feet above airport elevation, and when VMC no later than 500 feet above airport elevation.

The following are the recommended elements of a stabilized approach.

The aircraft is on the correct flight path

Only small change in heading/pitch are required to maintain the correct flight path

The aircraft speed is not more than Vref +20 knots indicated airspeed and not less than Vref

The aircraft is in the correct landing configuration

Sink rate is greater than 1,000 feet per minute; if an approach required a sink greater that, 1,000 feet per minute, a special briefing should be conducted.

Power setting is appropriate for the aircraft configuration and is not below the minimum power for approach as defined by the AFM

All briefings and checklists have been conducted.

Specific types of approaches are stabilized if they also fulfill the following: ILS must be flown within one dot of the glideslope and localizer and during circling approaches the wings should be level within 300 feet above airport elevation.

Unique approach procedures or abnormal conditions requiring a deviation from the above elements or a stabilized approach require a special briefing.

You can find the Flight Safety Foundation ALAR tool kit here that goes into greater detail regarding the stabilized approach.