Chart Wise: New Orleans VOR DME 36L (KNEW)

A good GPS navigation system would help a lot on this Louisiana approach.

Jason Blair

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 09:28 AM ET

Verified

Here's a look at the approach to Lakefront Airport (KNEW) in New Orleans. [Image: Jeppesen]

Key Takeaways:

The VOR DME Runway 36L approach to Lakefront Airport (KNEW) is deceptively complex, with many details that can trip up pilots without a solid IFR GPS.
DME is explicitly required and critical for navigating stepdown fixes and the missed approach point, originating from either the Harvey (HRV) VOR or an IFR GPS.
The missed approach procedure is particularly intricate, requiring a switch between the HRV VOR and the RQR VOR, intercepting specific radials, and careful management of DME sources, making an IFR GPS highly advantageous.

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A pilot traveling to New Orleans might choose to avoid the business commercial airport to the west and instead fly into Lakefront Airport (KNEW) to be closer to downtown. Doing so, it might become useful to approach the airport via the VOR DME Runway 36L approach.

For what looks like a pretty straightforward VOR approach at first glance, there is a lot going on here that might trip up a pilot—and using a solid IFR GPS navigator would help significantly.