I was given a few random practice questions from my instructor and was wondering if anyone could answer this one.

Cat B Aircraft conducting VOR RWY 24 approach at Perth. After reaching 8 DME, a left turn is commenced to track at 236. What is the maximum IAS after passing 8 DME inbound?

I assumed the answer was 130 KIAS from the AIP but the answer given is 185 KIAS....isn't that for CAT D???

cheers!

There be a danger in reading only bits of any requirements document ...

(a) ENR 1.5-14 para 1.16 gives you a general limit speed of 130 kt .. to which you refer.

(b) however, ENR 1.5-51/52 para 11.7 addresses the STAR to approach situation where ATC can request higher speeds (flow considerations - refer ENR 1.5-50 para 11.1.6).

However, there are some caveats -

(i) para 11.7.5 provides a get-out-of-jail-free card if the speed requirement is inappropriate for your aircraft/operation.

(ii) para 11.1.2 suggests that your piston twin won't be so subject

I think your instructor is being a bit precious with such a question. The protocol, clearly, is intended for the normal run of capital city aircraft .. ie motoring along a tad faster than your piston single ...

As always, the pilot should endeavour to fit in with ATC's handling of the flow problems .. but .. if that isn't going to work for some reason ... speak up and say so ... if necessary, making an alternative an operational requirement. It is the same for all of us at the start of our I/F life .. but you gain the confidence to run your ship the way you need to ... even if that means upsetting ATC on the odd occasion .. just tell them if you have a problem and, generally, they will accommodate you just fine.

(c) the VOR RWY 24 chart has an "ATC APCH SPEEDS" box noting the para 11.7 speeds.

Caveat - my I/R is a tad expired so there may be other requirements of which I am not aware but the above appears to be the answer to your question as I read the document.

Thanks for your detailed reply John! although I still have some queries...

When you say precious, do you mean that he's not giving me all the information needed for this question?

Also, the question never really referenced anything about ATC or STAR. The questions are more for the IREX exam rather than actual flying so if the intention was to use the ATC approach speeds then I think the information would've been provided.

There's also another question which is almost identical:
" An approach is being conducted for ALBANY RWY 14 NDB-Y approach in a CAT A aircraft. What is the max airspeed after 4 DME"

I got this one correct with 100 kts, but if I used the ATC approach speeds I would've received 160 kts?

cheers

(a) When you say precious ..

contrived, artificial. In this context, and presuming that you are in the small piston aircraft learning phase of things, the question is somewhat inappropriate and pretentious.

(b) the question never really referenced anything about ATC or STAR

Precisely. At your presumed stage of learning, it is unreasonable to expect you to have the detailed AIP, etc., knowledge that such a question infers. On the other hand, though, if/when you get to an I/F commercial job, such detail is entirely appropriate and expected.

(c) The questions are more for the IREX exam

I think that was pretty obvious from the question. One school of thought is that the intending IFR pilot ought to know the whole lot to the nth degree. However, horses for courses and training questions really should be reasonably appropriate to the level of licence held or sought.

(d) An approach is being conducted for ALBANY RWY 14 NDB-Y approach in a CAT A aircraft

If you go to my previous post and look up the AIP citations/read the section generally, the answer to this question will become quite obvious, very quickly. Two reasons why the previous situation doesn't apply here.

Ah I understand it now. Took me a while but after reading the references thoroughly and checking your answer, it makes sense!

Never really read any sort of material which informed me of the terminal area speeds so I was blown out of the water on this question. Considering the other speed questions were relatively easy, guess questions with such depth are good practice for the exam though?

I agree with you though, the question is a little advanced for what's being tested...

Thanks for your time and effort John!