For you pilots out there, what is your favorite IFR approach?

Question

What is your favorite IFR approach to fly? Lets just say that it is VFR and you have the choice.

Answer 1

VOR/DME runway 13LR at JFK.

You track inbound on the CRI R-043, cross the VOR, then course change to the CRI R-041 to 2.6 DME. At that point you go missed approach or pick up the  lead in lights, which are sequence flashers that take you on a 90 degree course to the runway.   Go to http://www.airnav.com/airport/JFK and go to bottom of page to click on the approach chart.

Answer 2

I haven't personnally landed here. But people have told me that this is exhilerating. My friend knows a pilot who has a certification to land here so he went once. Amazing stuff...

Of course I'm taking about THE sloped runway in Courchevel, France.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

Answer 3

My favorite is always the visual approach, despite the fact that we still fly the ils. As far as challenging, I would have to pick the localizer back course approach. When you get used to flying the ils one way 99.9 percent of the time, and they you have to fly the back course instead, it gets you thinking.... but it really only applies if you're flying it with a vor head, and not an hsi

Answer 4

Try an IFR approach in San Diego coming in from the east.  You have to fly down the side of a mountain, flare out, go between some hi rise apartments and set down right on the threshold.  A nasty place even in good weather.

Answer 5

ILS Rwy 15R visual transition to Rwy 4L.

I liked the 13 mile VOR approach from Yardley VOR to NADC Warminster, Pennsylvania

Answer 6

If it's not in IMC and I'm flying IFR, I'll request the visual approach, I like it because it's relatively hassle free and you still remain under IFR. Its great. I like it going into Queenstown, NZ. Nothing but lakes and mountains flying into the airport. A place where Boeings fly between mountains every day...

As far as Instrument approaches go. I like VOR, ILS approaches. RNAV and NDB after that

Answer 7

ILS PRM runway 28R at SFO.  Its a fantastic view of the city.  And when conditions are bad enough to warrant a PRM, you get some really cool fog effects up against the mountains.

Answer 8

If you are not under the pressures of commercial heavy-weather flying, the most fun approach is an old-timey NDB approach.  Compass, stop watch, and ADF are all you need.  They were real pilots in those days.

Answer 9

Circle to land approaches can be fun.

While not done often, the ILS 1R, circle to land 30 is exciting at KIAD (Dulles, VA).

Answer 10

oh the good ol' days at Kai Tak airport with the IGS 13 approach. there was nothing better. imagine having everything hanging out then turning 300 feet above the buildings at 50 degrees angle of bank. i could see their tv through the windows. i'm sorry nobody else will ever be able to experience this anymore.

Answer 11

Castlegar, BC

It is considered one of the most challenging IFR approaches in the world.

It is a full procedure non-precision approach.  The outbound and inbound legs are offset to the field by 28 degrees and there are some wicked step downs over mountainous terrain (average about 5% decent slope).  Minimums puts you 3356 feet above the field with your last step-down starting 1.3 NM away.  Needless to say it is dive and drive not only due to prevailing visibility but due to terrain.

The approach is done OVER the hills to the right in this video of a VFR approach.  The field is behind the 'k**b' hill to the left (you have to fly over that too).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Fol_Oeq5...

I still can't believe they used to take 737s into this place.