What is your favorite unique, fun, or challenging instrument approach?
Posted by Random61504@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 69 comments
Something light and fun for anyone interested! So I've been helping a buddy and my brother get through IR and I've been giving them approaches in the sims. I was bored with the approaches near us so I've been trying to find unique and fun approaches to mess around on. Stuff that might have some unique procedures or could just be fun to practice (and also I just enjoy them for myself, too, so I'll definitely try whatever y'all have found!). What are some that you all know of? A couple of my favorites are the VOR-A at KAVX because of how short and quick it is, and the VOR rwy15 at KMTN because who doesn't love a DME Arc final approach course haha! What approaches do you guys have?
Lumberjack-1975@reddit
Try the approach to EGE, Vail Colorado that’s a good one.
legitSTINKYPINKY@reddit
The departure is fun too.
Lumberjack-1975@reddit
Yep.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Got a few fun approaches there at EGE!
phliar@reddit
I have a soft spot for VOR approaches where the station is not on the field and there is a turn at the VOR. A lot of things happening in a short time! Examples: KCCR VOR 19R, and KPIH VOR 03 -- which also has an arc option. (I have flown them both.)
Sad to say the CCR VOR is permanently notamed OTS since it's not part of MON.
time_adc@reddit
KLGB VOR 30
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Those look pretty fun, hopefully the VOR still works on our sims, I'll add those to the list, thanks!
Fourteen_Sticks@reddit
The RNP Y 15/33 into VQPR
abcd4321dcba@reddit
First time I did the VOR-A at AVX ATC was hella busy and I got handed off (freq change) about 20 seconds before I was in the pattern. Didn’t love that. Fucking awesomely fun airport to fly into tho.
Other than that, Sedona is clearly a top fav. The approach into Orcas Island (ORS Eastsound) is incredibly scenic in VMC and shoots you right over some local mountains and waterways, plus the missed is with Victoria terminal (kinda fun to talk to Canada randomly).
THEchubbypancakes@reddit
PAKN LOC BC 30 is a good one to do partial panel
andrewrbat@reddit
Theres a pretty cool rnp into fca/gpi
JJ-_-@reddit
VOR 19R at KCCR is a fun one
IM_REFUELING@reddit
Pretty sure it's gone now, but the Hi-ILS 21 at KROW, a.k.a. the Widowmaker. A true test of your instrument procedures, and if you're on steam gauges, your knob twisting speed.
ps2sunvalley@reddit
It’s not gone, but they made the descent a lot more tame in recent years.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Found a plate of it, that looks pretty fun!
Ok-Technician-2905@reddit
The LOC-D at KSEE is perfectly straightforward unless, like me, you neglect to note the descent profile is almost 7 degrees, and then approach asks for best forward speed until 3 mile final. Fun times. I broke out and couldn’t find the airport until I realized it was almost under my nose and I was still 20kts over flap speed.
pwdrums@reddit
Unrelated but KSEE has the best cafe.
taycoug@reddit
The RNAV-D to KMFR is similar to that. 6.9* on the last segment
Random61504@reddit (OP)
That sounds like a good one, I'll add that one to the list!
Red-Truck-Steam@reddit
Arcs. Any approach with arcs. Theyre so fun honestly.
PullTheGreenRing@reddit
I’ve always had a fascination with arcs, I really want to do one eventually.
ThermiteReaction@reddit
You'd love the VOR-A at KWVI. The arc is flown off a VOR at a nearby airport, so you fly the arc towards WVI instead of circling it.
Sad-Umpire6000@reddit
I flew that one plenty of times training for my instrument rating.
Discon777@reddit
Then you’ll love the VOR-15 at KMTN!
Random61504@reddit (OP)
The king of all arcs! Keep arcing until you find the runway, and if you don't, bring it around to arc on the missed!
Random61504@reddit (OP)
I agree! Love a good arc!
McCheesing@reddit
KMJX ILS/LOC 06 using no GPS — come in from the north to the IAF intersection for the offset HILO (cross-tune) before you intercept final—- and re-crosstune to define the FAF
https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/2510/05623IL6.PDF
554TangoAlpha@reddit
The LOC into Aspen, 2500 fpm down on final!
PilotL39@reddit
Canadian rockies specials:
RCAP RNAV Y RWY 15 at CBW4 RNAV Z RWY 15 at CYXT RNAV A at CYCG (actually perform the circle to land portion in the valley is tough in marginal conditions)
acfoltzer@reddit
BFI ILS 14R. Approaching the glideslope intercept, you realize you're too high and decide to go missed. What are your immediate action items?
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Gonna follow the LOC course, hit OVEZE at or below 1500, then climb to 5000 as I stay on the LOC course until D9.0, right 206° to hop on the 168° radial from SEA VOR then off to CIDUG to hold! That looks fun haha! Might show my instructor that to show his IR students, him and I would try to find fun approaches sometimes during my IR training! Thanks for this one!
acfoltzer@reddit
Glad you enjoyed it, and I hope your instructor likes it too! I think there are a few other approaches like this with a required descent on the missed when approach courses for airports overlap. VNY or BUR I think. This one I've actually flown for real, though under the foggles on a clear night so no drama ensued.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Haha I saw the at or below for OVEZE and had to double check, that sounded kind of low! Looks fun though for sure!
acfoltzer@reddit
Also, I probably should've asked what are you not gonna do immediately, that you will pretty much every time you decide to go missed? No "cram" in the CCCC!
MrEatinBeaver@reddit
A fun arcing approach is the ILS into PADQ. PAJN has some fun ones. And the specials into PADU are interesting but probably wouldn’t translate in a sim but would be cool to try.
sdgmusic96@reddit
MFR - LOC DME BC VNY - ILS Z 16R VNY - LDA C ROA - LDA Z ASE - LOC DME E EGE - LDA 25
akstowaway@reddit
LOC BC RWY 22 at Homer (PAHO), especially when you toss in the arc!
Random61504@reddit (OP)
That looks fun, love a good arc! Thanks! Added to the list!
akstowaway@reddit
It’s one of my favorite airports to fly to. Just a beautiful area.
vismaypikachu@reddit
RNAV B into KRBG irl cause of the descent angle.
VOR-A at KPAE in sim or IRL is relaxing
AGroAllDay@reddit
Does the stack at 8500 count?
Random61504@reddit (OP)
We got a tiny stack near me but nothing too crazy haha... Usually...
GengisGone@reddit
I don’t miss the stack at all.
AGroAllDay@reddit
The stack is love. The stack is life
Ok_Twist_1687@reddit
I would make practice ADF approaches to commercial radio stations in Alaska for students to practice at altitude. I think ADF should be required knowledge, but I’m an Alaskan.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
That's pretty cool! I bet the views are great flying up there! Beats the endless corn fields of the Midwest haha!
Ok_Twist_1687@reddit
The mountains are majestic and the sky is expansive. Mountains will create their own weather and the sky can disappear pretty quickly. Keeps one on their toes, like no place else on Earth.
RCFLYER86@reddit
PAOM in Alaska has some interesting arc based approaches as well as an NDB approach if you really want to go crazy.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Those look pretty fun!
Prize-Bell-9545@reddit
LOC/DME-E at KASE
Random61504@reddit (OP)
I think I've heard of this one! Definitely a must try!
Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit
The approach doesn’t exist anymore but you can probably find the approach plates for it on flight sim sites
LOWI / Innsbruck Airport LOC-West approach
It’s a localizer circling approach. When you get to minimums. You do a visual 180 degree turn to the right to gain visual on the airport 6 miles behind you.
If you see it you circle to land 26 or line up to land 8
If you don’t see it you keep the right turn going until you do a 360 to reintercept the localizer outbound for the missed approach
RNAV has made those old LOC approaches obsolete with multi legs on a shallower glide path that lead you into a straight in approach today.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
That sounds pretty interesting, I'll have to try to find a plate for it! Thanks!
Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit
found one
https://ekladata.com/4mkr8lIUM9H_Aa0RSdxM_tI90Mc/.pdf
plate 11-3. then you follow the visual procedure on plate 19-1
Random61504@reddit (OP)
That looks fun! I gotta give that a try, thanks for the suggestion!
ThermiteReaction@reddit
For uniqueness, you have to look at the instrument procedures inventory, because it will tell you how unique your procedures are. I've flown both LDA and LOC BC approaches, but there are 24 and 40 of those, respectively.
Some of the rarer types are ILS/DME (just one, the COPTER ILS/DME 22L at EWR), LOC/NDB (LOC/NDB RWY 10 at HQU), and LOC/DME backcourses (seven, including one at KOSH).
Seriously, if you want to have fun in the sim, look at the procedure inventory, then put the type into the advanced search (just search "LOC/NDB") and you can get the entire list of rare categories.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
I never knew about that, that is pretty cool! Thank you! I'll be messing around on that for a while!
biggusfootusnz@reddit
The VOR/DME Z 24 at WB is pretty fun
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Those look pretty fun, thanks! I've never tried any approaches over there before! Love having sims and being able to do approaches from the other side of the world!
F1shermanIvan@reddit
Do any approach into CYXP, CYVM, or CYAB.
Have fun, and don’t hit anything. Do it at night too, just for the sake of it.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Love doing approaches at night for extra fun! Thanks for the suggestions!
Squinty_the_artist@reddit
The VOR-A into 61C feels challenging, not because it’s anything special, but because it’s a 25 mile final off a wobbly radial on a VOR that’s routinely below service volume, but somehow not NOTAM’d for this specific approach.
God help you if you try to do a full course reversal from out by Janesville on a bumpy day… we never did see the runway either.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
That one sounds interesting! Not sure if the sim will simulate the vot like that though haha! I'll give it a whirl, thanks! Was out over there at JVL for my IR ride!
dryemanada@reddit
LOC/DME BC-B into into KYKM….
Random61504@reddit (OP)
That looks like a fun one! Thanks!
dryemanada@reddit
Happy to share! Gonna shoot it for the first time in the sim next week!
Pilot0160@reddit
The RNAV RWY 5 into BLF is fun because you must start at an IAF, it’s 15° offset, and on the final approach segment you are going to be below the hilltop on your right pretty early.
The other one I really like is the VOR-A into HVS.
Random61504@reddit (OP)
Those look pretty fun on the plates! Definitely added to the list to give them a whirl on the sims, thanks!
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Something light and fun for anyone interested! So I've been helping a buddy and my brother get through IR and I've been giving them approaches in the sims. I was bored with the approaches near us so I've been trying to find unique and fun approaches to mess around on. Stuff that might have some unique procedures or could just be fun to practice (and also I just enjoy them for myself, too, so I'll definitely try whatever y'all have found!). What are some that you all know of? A couple of my favorites are the VOR-A at KAVX because of how short and quick it is, and the VOR rwy15 at KMTN because who doesn't love a DME Arc final approach course haha! What approaches do you guys have?
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