Chart Wise: Spirit of St. Louis ILS 26L

It’s a straightforward approach, whether you’re just getting your ticket, or you’re an old hand.

Jason Blair

Monday, May 06, 2024 at 09:07 AM ET

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Here's a step-by-step look at the approach to Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS). [Image: Jeppesen]

Key Takeaways:

The instrument approach to St. Louis Lambert (KSTL) offers multiple navigation transitions, including one from the STL VOR requiring a course reversal, and a direct, "NoPT" option from the TOY VOR.
Pilots must utilize various methods for Final Approach Fix (FAF) identification, such as IFR GPS, VOR cross-radial, ADF, or the outer marker beacon, as DME is not provided for this approach.
The full approach and a potential missed approach require significant frequency management, potentially involving up to four different VORs or localizer frequencies.
Key operational considerations include careful attention to the parallel runway (26L) upon breakout and executing a missed approach procedure that transitions to a different VOR (FTZ) to the west of the airport.

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The “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis proper has a big “middle of the country busy” airport that many pilots might choose to avoid—St. Louis Lambert International (KSTL). However, the Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS) just to the west of town offers a good alternative for a trip to this vibrant city with its co-conspiring jazz and barbecue scenes.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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