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 unique for culminating in a water landing, requiring float-equipped aircraft.
The procedure begins at the SHINY waypoint, tracks 064 degrees to the FAF (ZEMSI), then turns to 091 degrees to the missed approach point (FOXAL).
It offers circling-only minimums for Category A and B aircraft, necessitates obtaining an altimeter setting via CTAF, and is not authorized at night or for Category C and D aircraft.

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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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