Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to Fox News said that the ceiling was only around 300-500 feet. (n/t)

AOPA's airport server is down at the moment...
Larry J — (archived)

so I can't check the types of instrument approaches are available for Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport. From another source, the only runway suitable for a King Air A100 would probably be runway 9/27 (4215 x 100 ft). Runway 9/27 has non-precision approaches which typically have minimum descent altitudes of 600 to 800 feet. Runway 14/32 (2506 x 100 ft) is pretty short for a King Air and apparently has no instrument approaches. You can sometimes do an approach to one runway then circle to another runway but that usually has higher minimums and requires you to have the other runway in sight at all times. If the ceiling was indeed 300-500 feet and there were no precision approaches, it sounds like the pilot was attempting to bust minimums or was simply off course.

Non-precision approaches are quite a bit harder to fly because you have no altitude guidance like you do with an ILS. You're required to descend to (but not below) certain altitudes by certain points along the approach. Without altitude guidance, you have to get down to the target altitude quickly (sometimes 1000 feet per minute descent or more) and there's a lot less margin for error, especially if the crew was unfamiliar with the approach.

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (54 posts)