Understand an instrument approach course reversal, when it is mandatory, and when NoPT routes, radar vectors or ATC instructions mean you omit it.
An instrument approach course reversal is a published manoeuvre that turns an aircraft outbound and then back inbound to align with the approach course and, where designed, lose altitude. In real-world aviation, fly it when the chart depicts it and your arrival route requires it; omit it only when the chart or ATC authorises omission.
What manoeuvres count as a course reversal?
A course reversal is normally flown near an initial approach fix before the intermediate or final approach segment. It creates enough distance to turn onto the inbound course while remaining inside protected airspace.
- Procedure turn: A conventional outbound-and-inbound manoeuvre, usually shown by a barbed symbol. Unless the procedure specifies an exact pattern, the applicable rules may permit a recognised procedure-turn shape.
- Hold-in-lieu of procedure turn (HILPT): A published holding pattern used to reverse direction and establish the aircraft inbound. It is part of the approach, not ordinary delay holding.
- Base turn or racetrack reversal: Forms commonly found in ICAO procedure design. Their tracks, timing and entry requirements come from the chart and local procedure rules.
A DME arc, ordinary turn between approach legs, missed-approach hold or radar vector is not automatically a course reversal.
When is a procedure turn or HILPT required?
Under FAA-style procedures, a depicted procedure turn or HILPT is normally mandatory when the approach clearance and arrival route do not provide an authorised reason to omit it.
| Arrival situation | Course reversal |
|---|---|
| Procedure turn or HILPT depicted, with an ordinary approach clearance and no applicable NoPT route | Required |
Published transition or feeder route labelled NoPT | Do not fly it |
| ATC provides radar vectors to the final approach course | Omit it |
| ATC explicitly clears a straight-in approach | Omit it |
| Timed approach from a holding fix under applicable US procedures | Omit it |
| Chart says procedure turn not authorised or depicts no reversal | Do not invent one |
A direct clearance to the initial approach fix does not by itself cancel a published reversal. If ATC says only “cleared approach”, the reversal may still be required. Ask for clarification if your route, clearance and chart do not agree.
Outside FAA airspace, terminology and clearance practice can differ. The controlling instrument approach chart, local procedure rules and ATC clearance take precedence. Our practical breakdown of approach-plate symbols and profiles explains where to find the transition notes, reversal limits and minimum altitudes.
How do you fly a course reversal correctly?
Fly the published track or permitted reversal pattern while respecting its altitude, speed, distance and protected-side limits.
- Brief the reversal: Identify the fix, inbound course, manoeuvring side, maximum distance or timing, minimum altitude and any speed restriction.
- Cross the reversal fix correctly: Join from the cleared route and use the depicted hold entry, base turn or procedure-turn method.
- Remain inside protected airspace: Apply wind correction to your ground track and complete the manoeuvre within the charted distance. Do not extend the outbound leg merely because you are high.
- Follow the altitude profile: An approach clearance permits descent only as allowed by the published segments. Turning outbound does not automatically authorise descent below a segment minimum.
- Establish inbound: Intercept the published course, confirm sensible navigation sequencing and continue towards the final approach fix.
Do not add extra HILPT circuits solely to lose altitude unless ATC authorises them. If one reversal will leave the aircraft too high or unstable, advise ATC and request another solution. The remaining intercept, descent and missed-approach sequence is covered in our complete simulator instrument-approach workflow.
Can you skip the reversal if you are already pointed inbound?
A favourable heading does not remove a published course-reversal requirement. You need an applicable NoPT transition, vectors to final, an explicit straight-in approach clearance or another authorised exception.
“Straight-in approach” and “straight-in landing” are not interchangeable. The former can instruct you to omit the reversal; the latter describes landing from the final approach rather than circling and says nothing by itself about the earlier procedure turn.
Why does the GPS show an unexpected hold or turn?
The navigator usually displays a course reversal because the selected approach transition includes a HILPT or procedure-turn leg. Selecting a different initial fix, a NoPT transition or vectors-to-final can produce a different sequence.
Before deleting the leg, compare the loaded transition with the plate and clearance. Also check for mismatched chart and navigation-data cycles, which can produce different fixes or coding. Our guide to checking RNAV approach transitions and GPS sequencing covers this simulator-specific problem in detail.