Coupled Visual Approach with IFD440 and DFC90

With the Software Update to 10.3.1.2 for the Avidyne IFD series pilots got the "Visual Approach" feature that enables a 3D coupled approach to ANY uncontrolled airport without an IFR approach. This works for every airfield for which the thresholds are in the Jeppesen database – in my experience it works even with the smallest grass strips.

These "Visual Approaches" (as Avidyne and Garmin call them) are VFR approaches and they guarantee NO OBSTACLE clearance so they should never be used in IMC.

What works best is to load and activate the "Visual Approach" and then select "Straight in". You then simply fly towards the displayed final track of the approach and make sure that you do so arriving at the virtual glidepath from below. Use HDG+NAV on the DFC90 autopilot to intercept the approach. The rest will work just like any other RNAV/RNP-GPS approach. "NAV" will start flashing when you intercept the final track and "GS" will start flashing and turn green when you arrive at the glidepath.

The Visual Approach will automatically disable itself at 200 ft above the ground.