Chart Wise: Rangeley Lake Seaplane Base (M57) RNAV (GPS)-C

IFR procedure mandates turn at FAF and requires human altimeter reading for Maine landing.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, August 05, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Keith Deschambeault has leased Rangeley Lake Seaplane Base since 2007 and uses it for his commercial operations. [Credit: Keith Deschambeault]

Key Takeaways:

This IFR approach to Rangeley Lake, Maine, is a rare procedure designed for float-equipped aircraft, culminating in a water landing rather than on land.
The approach involves a distinct flight path, starting at the SHINY waypoint, proceeding to the FAF at ZEMSI, and then making a less common right turn to FOXAL (Missed Approach Point).
It has unique operational restrictions, offering only circling minimums for Category A and B aircraft (not authorized for C and D), requiring a local altimeter setting from the seaplane base CTAF, and is strictly prohibited at night.

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There aren’t many approaches in the IFR system that let a pilot fly an instrument procedure that doesn’t terminate on land, but this one does. This approach brings a pilot to the northern port of Rangeley Lake in Maine.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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