Doing a lot of flying around Military bases here, we often get asked to do certain approaches for controller training. Mainly the PAR. Sometimes the no gyro approach. ILS is a biggie too when it is in service (not that often). Just curious if Airliners or Comm crews get similar requests. Thanks.............................FE

I love the PAR approach. I used to fly a King Air into Destin, FL on a regular basis which is controlled by Eglin AFB. Apparently for certification purposes, the military controllers were required to work periodic PAR's, so every now and then I'd get asked if I would take one. I always said yes.

As long as you fly the controller's commands to the letter while using due diligence, it's a great and accurate approach..

Bernie, I agree with you. I used to like to fly an ILS WHILE I was getting GCA (PAR or ASR) approach directions. It was one of the most revealing things I've done in instrument conditions. You learn a lot about each type of approach by flying the other one and watching and listening carefully.

Unfortunately, p3flighteng1, the airline community is restricted from flying any approach procedure on which they have not been trained and are not authorized to perform (as issued in their operations specifications). So you don't see (actually "hear") such offers very often; and even less often will you hear someone agree.

We do get asked every now and again to participate in an SRA approach, and I generally compy. The most interesting of these were done at LCY where they appear to drop you down to 1,500' and give you a vector that takes you straight over Canary Wharf. But the only place we could have a PAR never has the operator available, so I haven't done one of these in years. However, just about every approach you do is an ILS so when you can (as AirRabbit nicely points out) legally do something else, it makes a nice change.

PM

I can assure you that following 2001, being requested to perform ASR or PAR for the purpose of helping military controllers keep sharp has been decreased to a grinding halt. I have made the effort to book slots, with DOD bases, to show my own students how those procedures were done outside of the book theory.
Today, in 2007, good luck in getting anything as a civilian flight, I have even been threatened of intercept in flight after showing up at the appropriate point and appropriate time following a telephone call right before departure.
It used to be much different, it used to be that civilian controllers had to perform those as well, no longer so.

Things is different in Europe. In general, you still go where you want and when want. Maybe you should remind them who pays their wages? (And then duck!)

PM

Ha Ha -- with emphasis on the DUCK part!