Doug and Billy are now heading back up the coast and enjoying their first tailwind of the trip. Enroute from KTIX to KSSI, Doug coaches Billy on how to save steps setting up the approach to St. Simons on the GNS430. They use the VSR (vertical speed required) function to guide their way to VIXRY, the IAF of the requested RNAV approach for Rwy 04 into KSSI. The plate shows LNAV but the GPS displays LNAV+V once the 430 indicates approach mode so they've got vertical advisory all the way to an MDA. Once they get switched over to JAX Center, Billy requests a lower altitude. This is where the having VSR visible can help. Billy opts to hand fly the step downs into KSSI using the vertical advisory of the LNAV + V.

View from the pilot in training. What I learned...

"I'm hooked on the VSR field. I had plugged in the IAF VIXRY at 2,000'. The VSR was creeping over my preferred descent rate of 500 fpm so I immediately requested lower from ATC."

BW