-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Spade ]
Posted At: Saturday, August 05, 2006 6:19 PM
Posted To: rec.aviation.ifr
Conversation: Help understanding Aspen VOR/DME approach
Subject: Help understanding Aspen VOR/DME approach

Paul Tomblin wrote:
In a previous article, said:

The plate is here-
http://www.airnav.com/depart?http://204.108.4.16/d-
tpp/0608/05889VDGC.PDF

While trying to fly the approach in the sim I flew to the MAP with
relative ease but had trouble getting low enough to make the runway
without getting too hot. Looking at the plate it seems a drop of
2380'
must be made between MAFMU and the runway in a lateral distance of
1.4NM, this is a descent angle of 15 degrees!


Well, yes, if you don't see the runway until the MAP and then want
to
land
on the runway ahead, you will have a very steep descent. But there
are
two factors mitigating that:
- you might see the runway earlier and
- it's a circling approach, so you can circle around airport to
descend
if
you need to.


At Aspen, circling around the airport is very risky business.

No kidding!! Isn't that why we all learned steep-turns-about-a-point?
Even the 360-overhead would be thrilling at Aspen.