Help understanding Aspen VOR/DME approach

On Sun, 06 Aug 2006 01:33:35 GMT, "John R. Copeland"
wrote:


"SimGuy" wrote in message ...
On Sat, 5 Aug 2006 23:13:21 +0000 (UTC),
(Paul Tomblin) wrote:

In a previous article, said:
The plate is here-
http://www.airnav.com/depart?http://.../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.

Even if the runway is spotted well before the MAP, say at, ALLIX, it's
a very steep descent. At 100kts it is 1140fpm.

I'm not an expert, but this looks like a tough approach; the MA looks
challenging too. Would it even be possible in a 172 or would it would
too under-powered? I imagine you would want something with plenty of
extra oomph.

Yes, it *is* a tough approach.
I've flown it for real a few times, and I'm pretty sure it's *possible* to get
down without circling, but I've never actually done that.
(I have excuses, of course. :-))
Approach Control is accustomed to hearing requests for something
like a left 360 to lose altitude during final approach.
They've always let me maneuver however I've needed.

I wouldn't expect to see a loaded 172 making the 14000-ft initial altitude.
I've had 172s higher than that, but only when lightly loaded.

I suggest crossing Red Table slow, with gear and flaps already extended.
Set prop(s) at high RPM to increase drag, too, if applicable.
If you don't do that, you'll need to circle somewhere over the Roaring Fork River.
You don't need to reach the airport before circling, just be in VMC.
Remember that the northeast bank of the river is a high plateau,
and it's a noise-sensitive area that you should try to respect.

If you *do* circle the airport, you will scare the daylights
out of your passengers as you approach the base-to-final turn.
A rock wall fills your windshield!
You can look it up on Google Earth, if you wish, but I can tell you
that it looks worse in real life than it appears on Google Earth.

Thanks! Your explanation really helped. I will now go and try it in
the sim again, this time in a 182.