Chart Wise: St. Charles, Missouri, VOR Rwy 18

Filing IFR and flying the VOR approach can prove useful to reach this busy GA airspace.

Jason Blair

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

St. Charles boasts many picturesque views. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The St. Charles County Smartt Airport (KSET) VOR approach is primarily utilized for IFR conditions and navigating near the busy St. Louis (KSTL) Class B airspace, with ATC frequently providing vectors to the final approach path.
The published approach to Runway 18 is slightly offset from the runway, necessitating a minor left turn for final alignment.
Pilots should be prepared for a non-straight-ahead missed approach procedure, which requires a left turn and specific VOR radial intercept.
A significant feature is that this VOR approach can be flown entirely without GPS or DME, offering a valuable contingency option for pilots.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Situated on the northwest of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the St. Charles County Smartt Airport (KSET) in Missouri is a busy general aviation facility that many pilots use to get into the area. Filing IFR and lying the VOR approach can be useful when the weather isn’t great, and it is also a good way to have approach control services to help navigate the busy Class B airspace that overlays nearby St. Louis Lambert International Airport (KSTL).

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats.