Roy Smith wrote in message ...
(Snowbird) wrote:
The towers don't show on the typical handheld or panel GPS

No, but I bet they do show up on the approach plate, if not explicitly,
then at least reflected in the MSA values.

Yes, they're reflected in the MSA values.

I certainly agree with you that ad-libbing an approach is a bad idea,
but as long as you're above the MSA, it's hard to see how you could get
into trouble.

I agree, but there are two big "ifs" which weren't explicit in
the original scenario:
1) you're w/in 25 nm of the navaid on which the MSA is depicted;
we've certainly started getting vectors for the approach more
than 25 miles out at times
2) you're above the MSA. For example, in one local approach I
mentioned, it's typical to vector small aircraft between 2000
and 2400 ft, but there's a tower farm just to the east of the
usual area. The MSA is 3100 ft. You'd need to be what, a good
4 miles out from the marker to intercept below glideslope?

I would think such scenarios (MSA much higher than typical MVAs
used for the approach) are pretty common. But I dunno.

Cheers,
Sydney