The RNAV GPS Z approach to Runway 3 at Santa Monica is so new (April 2017), many pilots might not yet even be aware of its existence. (Two additional approaches to SMO were commissioned at the same time.) This new approach comes with a handful of restrictions, many of which are significant enough to demand a pilot closely scrutinize the approach plate before the first attempt. Expect speed, climb, approach minimums and time-of-day restrictions, just for starters. It’s also an LP, not an LPV, approach, which translates into a more traditional non-precision-approach procedure. It’s worth noting the prevailing winds are coming from the west, putting the airplane in a tailwind at the completion of the approach.
Chart Wise: Training and Technique
Key Takeaways:
- The new RNAV GPS Z approach to Santa Monica Runway 3 is an LP (non-precision) approach introduced in April 2017 with significant restrictions, including no night authorization, speed limits, required climb gradients, and a 30-degree offset final approach course.
- The complex missed approach procedure features a maximum speed of 175 knots until 5,000 feet, nonstandard 5 nm legs, and a 290 feet per nautical mile climb requirement that directly impacts approach minimums.
- Pilots must be aware that the approach involves flying at a relatively low altitude over water, posing a potential safety risk for single-engine aircraft in the event of engine failure.
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