Short Final: Vectors

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Citation 77E pilot, unfamiliar with the area, requested vectors to the RNAV 23 approach at Willow Run Airport.
  • Detroit Approach suggested vectors to final instead, citing the significant distance to the RNAV 23 approach.
  • The pilots accepted the vectors to final.
  • The anecdote highlights the practical considerations of choosing an approach based on familiarity and efficiency.
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On a recent LightHawk flight, we were approaching Willow Run, Michigan, just before sunset. The weather was clear enough for a visual approach to 23, but with the hour and the abundance of airports we hadn’t seen before, we thought it would be a good idea to utilize the RNAV 23 to make sure we were landing at the airport where we intended to land.

Us: “Detroit Approach, Citation 77E. We’re unfamiliar. Request vectors to the RNAV 23.”

Detroit Approach: “Citation 77E, that’s a real long way. You’d be very familiar by the time you landed. How about vectors to final instead?” We accepted.

Gabrielle Adelman
Watsonville, California

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