descent planning

automation surprise cockpit automation continuous descent cross-country flying cross-country planning descent profile flight management system flight training IFR procedures instrument flying pilots discretion descent stabilized approach student pilot three-to-one rule top of descent VNAV

Cleared Direct Aug 13, 2026

V NAV, the Autopilot Mode That Flies the Descent, and Why Coming Down Is the Hardest Thing in the Cockpit to Automate

Radio Hangar explores V NAV, the Autopilot Mode That Flies the Descent, and Why Coming Down Is the Hardest Thing in the Cockpit to Automate.

Vector

ATIS Aug 2, 2026

Pilot's Discretion Descent - How to Build Your Own Descent Profile When ATC Hands You the Timing

Learn when to start a pilot's discretion descent and how to build a smooth profile using the 3-to-1 rule and groundspeed math.

Tower

Traffic Pattern Aug 1, 2026

The Top of Descent, the Three-to-One Rule, and Planning Your Arrival Before You Ever Reach Cruise

Learn the three-to-one rule to calculate your top of descent in your head and fly a smooth, stabilized arrival every time.

Pattern

Traffic Pattern Jul 28, 2026

The TOD Point, the Groundspeed-Times-Three Descent Math, and Planning Your Arrival Before You Ever Leave the Cruise Altitude

Learn the top-of-descent math - altitude-to-lose times three - so you arrive at an unfamiliar field calm, slowed, and ahead of the airplane.

Pattern