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 often managed by ATC vectors due to its proximity to busy St. Louis Lambert International (KSTL) Class B airspace.
Pilots should anticipate that the Runway 18 approach is slightly offset, requiring a small left turn before landing, and the missed approach involves a specific left turn rather than flying straight ahead.
Waypoints for the approach can be identified using traditional VOR cross-radials or DME, and the entire procedure can be flown without GPS or DME, providing a useful exercise in VOR-only navigation.

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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

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