B737 Descent and Approach Briefing

B737 SOP chapter 8, Descent Planning & Approach Briefing. By the end of this chapter you can cross-check a descent plan, gather arrival and runway information, and brief the approach's minima and threats.

• 4 pages
• 42 min of reading
• 12 question chapter check
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What this chapter covers

1. 1
   Planning the descentWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   10 min read
2. 2
   Arrival information and the landing checkWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   10 min read
3. 3
   The approach briefingWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   12 min read
4. 4
   Setting up for the approachWritten from standard 737 phase-of-flight operating procedure
   10 min read

737 descent and approach briefing terms

3 to 1 rule

About 3 NM of track for every 1,000 ft of height to lose.

Deceleration allowance

Often about 1 NM for every 10 kt of speed to lose.

Descent rate on a 3 degree path

About five times the groundspeed, so 140 kt gives roughly 700 ft per minute.

Top of descent

The computed start of descent, checked by the crew against a mental estimate.

Energy management

Comparing height, distance and speed throughout the descent and correcting high or low early.

ATIS

Arrival information: runway in use, wind, visibility, cloud, temperature, QNH and runway condition.

Runway condition code

Each third of the runway gets a code from 6, dry, down to 0, reported in the Global Reporting Format.

Approach briefing

PF-led shared plan covering arrival, approach, minima, missed approach, landing, taxi and threats.

DA/DH (decision altitude or height)

In a 3D approach, where a missed approach must start without the required visual reference.

MDA/MDH (minimum descent altitude or height)

In a 2D or circling approach, the level below which descent needs the required visual reference.

Stabilisation height

1,000 ft above airport elevation in IMC and 500 ft in VMC, per the FSF recommendation.

UNABLE

The right answer to a clearance that leaves too little room to be stable in time.

Try a question from this chapter

737 descent planning questions