RNAV approach consultation

[rj]

Looks like the RNAV approach is starting to come to fruition with a public consultation. I know this has not come cheap. There is a public drop in session at the airport 7th August 2-7pm. I will pop along, might be able to sell some books LOL!

www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/consultation

For those not familiar a RNAV approach is GPS based rather than having a physical ILS, loads of them throughout the world at smaller airports.

[controller]

Will there be other procedures for when GPS is not available, e.g. QRM? Will holding areas be defined?

[rj]

Controller what is a QRM? No mention of a hold that I saw looks like a straight e/w route presumably Farnborough will vector them onto the RNAV? Didn't see anything about go arounds and holds. Will try and go to the drop in session as I wonder what the minima is for RNAV?

[rocky14]

...you've opened a hornets' nest here Rob! Are your transmissions being interfered with...?

[controller]

Sorry, I'm an oldie Air Traffic Controller and radio ham! QRM is manmade "interference" and is something which occurs to GPS signals infrequently.

[controller]

I suspect that any radar vectoring to the RNAV by Farnborough would have to be paid for?

[chevvron]

Some years ago while I was still at Farnborough ATC and thus had easy access to the reference material, I tried designing an approach to 25 using the existing NDB/DME. I think I ended up with a minimum descent altitude of 620ft and min vis of 1200m due to the presence of the Bagshot Mast, which is the 'dominant obstacle' affecting an approach from the east. Many pilots will tell you this is almost a visual approach for regular Blackbushe users.
An approach to 07 wouldn't be much better as the Bagshot Mast would have to be taken into account as the dominant obstacle affecting a missed apporoch procedure for that runway.
Many people designing their own 'letdowns' fail to take a missed approach procedure into account, assuming they will successfully land first time so why do they need it?

An SRA to 25 would probably give the lowest minima as Bagshot Mast would be in the 'intermediate approach area' for such a procedure thus the controller could vector over it with only 500ft clearance rather than 1,000ft (ie 1236 ft amsl rather than 1736 ft) and the aircraft could descend to 246 ft above any further obstructions (Camberley Obelisk? - although that might be clear enough from the final approach track not to affect it or possibly the shooting ranges at Sandhurst with a danger height of 500ft agl ie about 700ft amsl) once clear of Bagshot.