How The Heck Do You Get Into Tofino?

[ahramin]

Looking at the CYAZ RNAV (GNSS) RWY 11 approach I cannot find any transitions to TEXEC and the MSAs for all quadrants are 7500'. 16 nm isn't enough track miles to drop from 7500' during the approach so how is this approach useable in IMC?

[AuxBatOn]

Shuttle descent at TEXEC??

[Hot Wings]

Looking at the CYAZ RNAV (GNSS) RWY 11 approach I cannot find any transitions to TEXEC and the MSAs for all quadrants are 7500'. 16 nm isn't enough track miles to drop from 7500' during the approach so how is this approach useable in IMC?

As published on the plate: “as required, shuttle descent to 3700’ at TEXEC.” inbound 018.

[ahramin]

Well there you are, I just didn't look hard enough.

Thank you.

[iflyforpie]

Slow to 140, put some drag out, and set 2000 FPM. Even if you’re a bit high at UDBIB you’ll be on profile well prior to the FAF.

I remember one time after doing a local test flight “Centre.. request descent and direct EBKAD”

“Uh.. you’re at FL200 and only 14 miles from EBKAD”

“Hold my beer.”

[iflyforpie]

Personally if it was me, though, I’d take T609 to NAGLI at 5700 feet and then direct TEXEC at 5700 then descend (a more reasonable 400 ft/NM). The airspace to the south of TEXEC is protected for the shuttle at 3700 plus it’s over ocean. I don’t think any terrain will come up and bite you.

[ahramin]

Personally if it was me, though, I’d take T609 to NAGLI at 5700 feet and then direct TEXEC at 5700 then descend (a more reasonable 400 ft/NM). The airspace to the south of TEXEC is protected for the shuttle at 3700 plus it’s over ocean. I don’t think any terrain will come up and bite you.

That's what I was thinking. I just figured out how to check it with Garmin Pilot and the highest obstacle within 5nm of the track between those points is at 2575' so I guess the minimum altitude would be 4600'. I had a look on Foreflight and a 6nm track width gives the highest obstacle as 30'. Looking at the VNC it's obvious the Garmin Pilot altitude is wrong but I can't figure out what's causing it, the profile view doesn't show anything above 400'.

[iflyforpie]

Just another glass mountain.

Story of my life.

TERRAIN TERRAIN

“Visual”

WHOOP WHOOP PULL UP

“Visual”

TERRAIN TERRAIN AVOID TERRAIN

(sigh) “Visual”

“I’m inhibiting Terrain”

WHOOP WHOOP PULL UP PULL UP

[Scubes76]

I've often wondered this and in fact after reading this post I flew this actual flight on my sim. So the way I see it, is most likely you will be talking to ATC anyways and leaving NAGLI you would be westbound so say at 6000' and you would be cleared direct to TEXEC maintain 6000 until TEXEC at which point you can start your descent seeing that you want to be roughly at 3700 at UDBIB to intercept the glidepath anyways. I guess the only question is that say you are not for some reason talking to ATC (comm failure) at all then initial thought is between NAGLI and TEXEC you would have to go up to 7500 unless you could verify on foreflight or paper chart the highest obstacle between both points and remain at least 2000' above that since you are in a mountainous region and not on an airway?

[digits_]

unless you could verify on foreflight or paper chart the highest obstacle between both points and remain at least 2000' above that since you are in a mountainous region and not on an airway?

I don't think you need to add 2000 ft in your situation, but I could be wrong. The 2000 ft is used to calculated obstacle clearance for MSA's and obstacle clearances on airways, but you are already going below the MSA at this point, so you are completely responsible yourself not to hit anything.

[iflyforpie]

You’ll just be cleared for the approach well before you’ve descended to any of those altitudes. It’s up to you do decide what altitudes you can safely use after you’ve received the approach clearance. You’ll likely be speaking to Hardy Radio out of 12,500 and just telling them what you’re doing in the broad sense (ie: cleared for RNAV RWY 11; TEXEC inbound, etc).