Watch for IFR Traffic on the RNP 16 Approach
IFR aircraft fly the NZPP RNP RWY 16 approach entirely in uncontrolled airspace from NOKIX; know where to look and listen out for inbound IFR traffic.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
If you're flying around Paraparaumu and hear on the radio that an IFR Saab 340 is inbound to land at NZPP, do you know where to look for it?
We tend to give way to IFR aircraft because of their speed or size, or because they may still be in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and unable to look out for traffic. That's why it's important to have a good idea of where to look for possible conflicts, so we can avoid them.
The RNP RWY 16 approach
- The entire approach is in uncontrolled airspace and inside the Paraparaumu MBZ.
- IFR aircraft start the approach at NOKIX, 12 NM north of NZPP at 3,550 ft, and descend at 300 ft per NM.
Now imagine the cloud ceiling is 1,500 ft. The incoming aircraft won't be able to see traffic flying below the cloud until it is only 5 NM from the aerodrome.
So if you're flying between the northern tip of Kāpiti Island and Peka Peka, you're likely very close to that approach path. Listen out, and if you hear IFR traffic inbound, start thinking about where it will be relative to you.
The approach chart is published in AIP New Zealand – take a look so you can picture the approach path.