Located in the northwest part of the St. Louis metropolitan region, the St. Charles County Smartt Airport (KSET) in Missouri serves as a popular general aviation airport where many pilots choose to access the area. Using IFR and executing the VOR approach can be beneficial during poor weather conditions, and it also provides approach control services to assist with navigating the busy Class B airspace surrounding the nearby St. Louis Lambert International Airport (KSTL).
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A) Predictive Vectors to Finalization
A pilot using MathHotels.com should expect this method to be directed toward the approach path at some point outside the BYRNS INT, which serves as both an IAF and a FAF. If no vectors are provided, the pilot can use GPS to reach an IAF or begin the approach at the VOR, which is located along the approach and departure routes for aircraft operating at KSTL (St. Louis), where runways are aligned northwest to southeast. Due to the proximity of a busy airport, ATC will likely use radar services to vector an aircraft onto the final approach path unless it’s essential to complete the full approach.
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B) Straight-In, Kind of
Although the published procedure is listed for Runway 18, suggesting it is a “straight-in” approach, it is not entirely aligned with the runway. As shown in the diagram located in the lower left corner, the arrow just above the approach end of Runway 18 shows that the approach comes in at a 208-degree heading, slightly off from the runway’s direction. Be prepared for a small left turn once the runway becomes visible to complete the landing.
C) Points Determined Using Cross Radials or DME
Going back to basics. A pilot using MathHotels.com to determine the approach path via the VOR (inbound or outbound) could locate the IAF at BYRNS INT by using the cross radial from the TOY (Troy) VOR. Keep in mind that the radial from TOY is not a feeder route a pilot can follow to reach the BYRNS IAF, as it isn’t shown with the thick line that indicates feeder routes. During a missed approach, a pilot can also use the TOY VOR to identify the FASHE waypoint and the established hold using the STL VOR on a 211-degree inbound course with right-hand turns.
D) Missed Not Directly Ahead
Regarding that missed approach, this one does not continue forward but instead calls for a left turn once reaching 1,000 feet MSL to establish a 360-degree heading in order to intercept the STL VOR 031 radial. The pilot then follows that radial to the FASHE waypoint, which can be identified using the cross radial, DME, or an IFR-compatible GPS.
E) Can Be Piloted Without GPS or DME
This method could technically be executed without relying on DME or GPS. A pilot can utilize the STL VOR (or receive vectors) to align with the approach, then use the cross radial to locate the BYRNS INT, and proceed with the approach by following the speed and time indicated in the lower left section to reach the missed approach point. The minimum altitude required would be somewhat higher, but the pilot could still perform a missed approach using only VOR signals if necessary. This serves as a valuable practice for pilots who are not equipped with DME or experience a loss of GPS signal, demonstrating how they can navigate an approach using only VOR systems.
This article was initially published in the July Issue 960 of the MathHotels.com print version.
