Chart Wise: St. Charles, Missouri, VOR Rwy 18

Filing IFR and flying the VOR approach can prove useful to reach this busy GA airspace.

Jason Blair

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

St. Charles boasts many picturesque views. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The St. Charles County Smartt Airport (KSET) VOR approach is a key method for pilots accessing the area, especially in bad weather or for ATC services near St. Louis Class B airspace.
Pilots should anticipate ATC vectors onto the final approach path due to the proximity of St. Louis Lambert (KSTL), and be prepared for a slight offset in the Runway 18 approach, requiring a minor adjustment turn.
This approach can be flown entirely using traditional VOR navigation, identifying waypoints via cross radials or DME, making it a valuable skill for scenarios without GPS or DME.
The missed approach procedure involves a specific left turn after reaching 1,000 feet MSL to a 360-degree heading to intercept the STL VOR 031 radial, rather than a straight-ahead climb.

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Situated on the northwest of the St. Louis metropolitan area, the St. Charles County Smartt Airport (KSET) in Missouri is a busy general aviation facility that many pilots use to get into the area. Filing IFR and lying the VOR approach can be useful when the weather isn’t great, and it is also a good way to have approach control services to help navigate the busy Class B airspace that overlays nearby St. Louis Lambert International Airport (KSTL).

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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