Pine Bluff, Arkansas ILS LOC RWY 18

The approach into this non-towered rural airport is surprisingly complex at first glance.

Jason Blair

Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 04:37 PM ET

Verified

[Reproduced with permission of Jeppesen. Not for Navigational Use]

Key Takeaways:

The Pine Bluff (KBPF) ILS to Runway 18 approach is complex, uniquely featuring three DME arcs originating from the PBF VOR for initial establishment from various directions.
Pilots must actively switch navigation sources from VOR to ILS/LOC when inbound and be aware that DME is not provided for ILS stepdown points or missed approach points.
Executing a missed approach requires a specific right turn to intercept a VOR radial, demanding careful attention to transition from ILS navigation to VOR guidance.

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A pilot will find the town of Pine Bluff in the heart of a rich agricultural area in the Arkansas River Basin south of Little Rock, Arkansas. While you might consider it a straightforward approach—with the non-towered airport’s single runway (18/36) served by an ILS to Runway 18—the approach plate is a pretty busy one when you first take a look at it

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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