Make Landing in the Windy City a Breeze!

It’s not just the winds that make landing in the Windy City a challenge, especially if you’re flying into Chicago Executive (KPWK).

There’s always a good chance the winds will favor Runway 34. The problem is, there’s no approach to that runway except for a circle from Runway 16 and 30, with relatively high circling minima. Add to that ORD’s Class B airspace is just 5 miles south of KPWK, and there’s a 5,000-foot runway to take into consideration, and you have a recipe for a challenging landing, no matter how experienced you are.

Fortunately, there’s a better option.

Honeywell’s RNAV (RNP), also called RNP-AR, was developed for airports just like this. The RNAV (RNP) approach for Runway 34 provides minima down to a DA (H) of 271’ and a comfortable 3.2° glide path. Whether you’re navigating mountainous terrain or Class B airspace, the lateral and vertical precision of RNAV (RNP) provides stable guidance down to the runway. 

Eligibility for the Approach

To get approval for the KPWK RNAV (RNP) approach you need a qualified aircraft, qualified pilots and proper regulatory approval: FAA letters of authorizations (LOA) or operations specifications. Operators of non-US registered aircraft should consult their regulatory guidance for RNAV (RNP) and special instrument approaches.

Aircraft Qualification
Eligible aircraft must be certified for:

• RNAV (RNP) to RNP 0.3 or RNP 0.1 lines of minima.
• Radius to Fix (RF) legs.

Pilot Qualification
Both pilots must:

• Be trained for RNAV (RNP) using a training program approved by the regulatory agency.  For operators of US-registered aircraft, this is already a requirement of LOA C384.
• Review the KPWK RNAV (RNP) briefing package prior to using the approach. An approved briefing package is available from Honeywell.