*** I have Auto-Enable Missed ON and have flown the following approach and gone missed with no problems before***
1) The Skip Hold LSK disables the Auto Enable Missed function in both the real IFD540 and the trainer. I discovered this in IMC at the MAP. I am really disturbed to see this behavior is not documented anywhere. I'm not talking about "Sequence Leg" when the active leg terminates at an altitude. I'm talking about NO GUIDANCE being provided after flying past the MAP, other than seeing the mileage start to increment. As I use the map page on final to read the datablocks for TO mileage and NEXT information, I didn't see the "Enable Missed" LSK during final until I switched to FPL on the first leg of the missed because of no guidance, got ready to attempt to sequence the next leg and was greeted with "Activate Missed" instead. Not the best time to wonder WTF the box is doing.
Real World situation recap: While established inbound on the required HILPT (course 90 deg) for VOR-A at KOKB https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/2206/05666VA.PDF, I was vectored north for military traffic. Once clear, I was given "Direct OCN". OCN is the VOR that serves as both the IAF and the FAF as well as the HILPT fix. One cannot program direct to a fix that anchors a Hold, so I was unable to go direct to the FAF as desired.
Thus, I programmed direct to the IAF listing of OCN instead, at the beginning of the procedure. I was now approaching the VOR from a direction that was NoPT, so I accepted the "Skip Hold" option and was pleased the the final approach segment turned striped. This fits the pilot's guide definition of "Skip Hold": "Displayed when the aircraft is within 5 nm of the FAF and the next leg is a database procedure hold. Pressing the LSK will sequence the active leg past the hold without entering it when the aircraft reaches the FAF. The leg after the hold will become active." It does NOT say "you are SOL if you still think the missed approach will auto-enable. Surprise!"
2) I used the trainer to see if this happened in all procedures with a HILPT. Nope. The VORDME-A for KRNM https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/2206/06667VDA.PDF allows me to Delete Hold from any approach direction, including a required PT direction. I do not get a Delete Hold option at any time during the KOKB approach. Delete Hold has no documentation in the pilot's guide other than to say "this is how you delete a hold." No explanation as to why this is allowed or not in a particular procedure.
The only difference I can see between the two approaches is that KOKB VOR-A has a HILPT fix that serves as both the IAF and the FAF and the hold fix for VORDME-A at KRNM is only the IAF. If this Skip Hold behavior is a "design feature" then it should be clearly documented and not be left to be a teachable moment at MDA in IMC.
Anybody got any ideas why this would happen or why I can delete a hold on one approach but not another?
Thanks.
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