Chart Wise: Canyonlands Regional (KCNY) VOR-A

Approach to Moab, Utah, airport requires precision, planning, and a little old-school know-how.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A general aviation airplane in the Moab, Utah, area [Credit: Redtail Air Adventures/Alice Gubler]

Key Takeaways:

The KCNY VOR-A approach is not authorized when the R-6413 restricted area is active, as the procedure turn would enter this area.
Despite being a VOR approach, DME or an IFR-capable GPS is required to identify key waypoints, such as the Final Approach Fix (THOWL).
This is an "Alpha" approach (VOR-A), indicating it is not aligned with a specific runway and requires circling to land, with circling prohibited for Runway 15/33.

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The close proximity to Canyonlands National Park might just be reason enough for a pilot to choose Canyonlands Regional Airport (KCNY) near Moab, Utah, as a next destination. If the conditions were less than VFR, they would be left with a choice of approaches that includes an RNAV GPS RWY 3 and a VOR-A. Let’s go old school on this one and dig into the VOR-A.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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