‘MARTHA’ Can Help Pilots Brief IFR Approaches

To fly safely in the IFR environment a pilot must be able to process a great deal of information quickly. Safe pilots must also have the ability to pivot when the information changes – especially when briefing an instrument approach to a particular airport.

IFR airport approach instructions are available from Jeppesen or the FAA’s National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO) and accessible via properly equipped electronic flight bags. Charts are updated every 56 days and the information can change – so pilots should develop a systematic approach to reviewing and processing the information.

MARTHA Helps the Brief

To do that, military-trained pilots often use the mnemonic acronym MARTHA.

Spelled out, MARTHA means:

• Missed approach – memorize first two steps
• Approach type and weather minimums
• Radio frequencies and radials off a VOR if they’re used to define fixed points along the approach
• Time, if it’s a timed approach
• Heading on final
• Altitude at the final approach fix – knowing how low you can go

But acronyms don’t work for everyone, said business aircraft pilot Sean Cunneen. “We fly with Jeppesen charts and we view shooting approaches as an avionics exercise as much as an aviation challenge. We start by getting the ATIS [weather and landing information] and then load the appropriate approach for the anticipated landing runway into the FMS,” Cunneen said.

“Next, we validate and verify we have the right approach loaded and review all the approach plate data. We ensure the approach plate is current, and that we’re looking at the correct plate (type, runway and airfield). We then check that the fixes, altitudes and speeds are correctly loaded in the FMS. After calculating the landing data, we’ll brief the approach from top to bottom, emphasizing any unique challenges the approach might have and how exactly the pilot intends to execute the approach all the way through the missed.”

It’s important to understand how the information goes together, said Karen Mitchell, a business jet pilot and former air traffic controller. The chart showing minimum safe altitude around the airport can provide additional information about obstacles and terrain. “Briefings should include the information on the approach plate and the runway information and taxi route (left or right turn off) to parking, as well as the airport environment,” Mitchell said.

Crew coordination is key. “The pilot flying will start with weather and NOTAMS, and how the crew will address conditions (cold temperature corrections to altitudes per applicable notes on approach plate), icy/snowy runway, wind shear or crosswinds, low clouds/visibility, icing on approach, etc. and brief the approach plate from top to bottom, including what to do in the event of a missed approach,” said business jet Captain Summer Martell.

“The pilot flying will state how they will fly the approach, and when/where they expect to be fully configured, and what/where their target speeds will be, and whether or not they will be using the autopilot and when/where they plan to disconnect it,” said Martell. “Additional questions or concerns by crewmembers will be asked and addressed. It’s also important to note the intended taxiway and the location and route to the FBO they intend to use.”

Review NBAA’s safety resources at nbaa.org/safety.