Chart Wise: Sandpoint, Idaho (KSZT) RNAV (GPS) Y Rwy 2

Reaching the mountain region airport offers a unique approach path.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The biggest commercial draw to Sandpoint, Idaho, area is its thousands of skiable acres. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The approach path into Sandpoint, Idaho (KSZT) is complex, featuring multiple turns to navigate around mountainous terrain and obstacles.
The "straight-in" approach has a 15.85-degree offset, and circling maneuvers are prohibited to the west of Runway 2-20 due to surrounding terrain.
The published missed approach is intricate, involving climbs and turns to a holding pattern, and requires a critical minimum climb gradient of 310 feet per nautical mile to 8,100 feet, necessitating pre-flight aircraft performance checks.

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Whether you are headed to Sandpoint, Idaho, in the summer for some hiking, boating, fishing, or camping, or the winter for nearby ski resorts, getting into this mountainous airport can take a pilot on an interesting approach path.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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