VISUAL DESCENT POINT (VDP)

Distance (DME): For 3°  Approach:

Divide the MDA HAT by 300.  The result will be the distance to the end of the runway for the VDP.

Example: MDA is 450 ft. HAT

450 ÷ 300 = 1.5 NM

from the end of the runway.

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Timing:  (If No DME Available)

Take the first two digits of the MDA HAT and think of them as seconds:

Example: 450 ft. would be translated as 45 seconds. Subtract this number from the total timing required to the end of the runway. i.e; Look at your Jepps and see how much time it would take from the FAF to the end of the runway based on your approach speed... then subtract 45 seconds from it.

MDA is 450 ft. HAT and if time to runway is 3 minutes... then 3 minutes minus 45 seconds = 2:15. So you'd begin your Descent at 2 minutes and 15 seconds from the time you passed over the FAF.

* The MAP may not be co-located with the end of the runway... if that's the case... subtract or add as necessary.

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Rate of Descent - Technique

Airspeed ÷ 2 and Add a Zero

example:  120 ÷ 2 = 60

           Add a Zero = 600

600 fpm for 3° glide slope