Do I have to fly an Instrument Procedure Turn as Published?

The answer to the question is: No & Yes.

In the United States the answer to the question is no. On an IFR flight plan the pilot will determine the point at which the turn will be made, type and rate of the turn. One option would be to fly the procedure turn as published, in this case the pilot would fly outbound from initial approach fix for a determined amount of time and make a left turn to 254 degrees for a determined amount of time followed by a turn to 074 degrees followed by a turn to intercept the inbound course of 119 degrees. The second option could be fly a teardrop procedure from the initial approach fix in this case would be 269 degree heading for a determined time followed by a 210 degree right turn to the inbound course of 119 degrees. Another option would be to fly a 80 degree/260 degree course reversal. So basically as long as the pilot stays on the side of the procedure turn barb, inside the protected airspace determined by distance or time and does not exceed the maximum holding airspeed you may fly the course reversal as desired.

Yes, you have to fly the procedure turn as published in international airspace. ICAO standards do not allow the pilot the option to choose how they wish to fly the procedure turn.

Robbie Johnson
Chief Pilot
http://www.aviationtraining.us