Last month’s Clinic took us to western Kentucky where we wrangled a circling-only VOR-A approach. In September, we untangled an ILS/GPS hybrid in upstate New York. For another take on a ground-based approach using GPS, plus a circle-to-land, we head to Alpena, Michigan on the shore of Lake Huron. The lake’s a frequent source of low-level clouds that often arrive at inconvenient times to obscure useful things like runway thresholds.
We’re (barely) equipped for RNAV, with a basic GPS approved for en-route and terminal navigation. To sweeten the deal, the on-field VOR (APN) is out of service and Runway 7/25 is closed. With a 15-knot breeze from the south, Runway 19 is best, but the VOR and RNAV approaches are NA. Not a big deal; the 1500-foot ceiling works to descend via the ILS 01, break out and coordinate with the tower to fly a downwind for 19. This seems like a good plan, except…
