Chart Wise: Sandpoint, Idaho (KSZT) RNAV (GPS) Y Rwy 2

Reaching the mountain region airport offers a unique approach path.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The biggest commercial draw to Sandpoint, Idaho, area is its thousands of skiable acres. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Flying into Sandpoint, Idaho (KSZT) involves complex approach paths with multiple turns to navigate mountainous terrain and an offset final approach course.
The missed approach procedure is intricate, requiring climbing turns and a holding pattern, with circling prohibited to the west of the runway due to terrain.
A critical minimum climb gradient (310 feet per nautical mile to 8,100 feet) is mandatory for the missed approach, and pilots unable to meet this requirement must utilize an alternative procedure like the RNAV (GPS)-B approach.

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Whether you are headed to Sandpoint, Idaho, in the summer for some hiking, boating, fishing, or camping, or the winter for nearby ski resorts, getting into this mountainous airport can take a pilot on an interesting approach path.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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