Castlegar CYCG

[dutchman]

Hi all, I have family in Castlegar and try to head out there a few times a year. Been having some difficulties doing so in the past few weeks due to cancellations and weather. I understand that minimums are high due terrain, but have seen lots of cancellations even when the weather was forecast to be above mins. Have they recently changed? If so can someone post the minimums, I thought it was 2900 feet. Does anyone here fly this route from YYC or YVR? I heard that departure minimums have recently changed as well. Is this true? I am not trying stir the pot only trying to increase my chances of success when getting into and out of the area during fall winter and spring. Thanks in advance,
Dutchman

[kevind]

CYCG = Cancelgar

[Blue Yonder]

The RNAV has minimums down to 2900 & 3, because we're circling, company policy has us up this a hundred feet and a mile, to 3000 & 4.

There is also a movement with many of us to NOT fly the RNAV approach with our Dash 8s with only one FMS (we have it display the TAWS information), which leaves us flying the LOC DME E approach (3400 & 3 => 3500 & 4)

As for leaving Castlegar, yes many updates in the past couple of weeks. The latest, have the minimums at 3400 & 3 to depart.

So here we are heading into a place where when we can get in, we may not be able to leave.

Blue

[dutchman]

Thanks for your response. I wonder why they raised the departure minimums, thats getting to be pretty difficult then to get in and out of. Im also surprised
that the gps approach cannot get you lower what with the long
valley towards Trail.
Dutchman

[Blue Yonder]

I imagine that it has something to do with reliable satellite reception in the valleys. Coupled with the fact when you’re coming in from the North East to go over the airport, you are pointed straight at a mountain ridge.

Blue

[CCR]

I appreciate this is a moot point, but it would be really cool to see what an RNAV RNP approach would look like here and to what minima. Used to fly here during my CMA days and loved it. If the runway is 5000*148 a 600 or 700 could, in theory, do it. How about a YCG to OGG run?

[mbav8r]

My understanding is that Canadian used to run a 737-200 into Castlegar. After going in there with a Dash, my first thought was those guys were nuts and my second thought was those guys were nuts.

[kevind]

Pacific Western did it for years. I always enjoyed being a passenger flying into there. 737 down the kootenay river valley ...

I always wondered why the approaches where not set up more from the south. I guess the mountain right off the north end might make an interesting missed approach

Castlegar's city emblem in the 80's had a 737 on it.

[CYCG]

Funny while on the topic. Jazz lost and engine today 5 minutes out over the Kootenay river bound for YYC. Returned safely to land on 33 today at about 1215 local.

[ScudRunner]

My understanding is that Canadian used to run a 737-200 into Castlegar. After going in there with a Dash, my first thought was those guys were nuts and my second thought was those guys were nuts.

The freight pounders at my company go in and out of there in a Navajo daily and up until recently doing it Single Pilot ^ my thoughts exactly.

[quikfixxx]

The limits into Castlegar 5 years ago for Jazz were 2500 under an Op Spec approach. Nav Canada decommissioned a beacon (cant recall which one) and revoked the Op Spec.. limits since then have been 2900 for the RNAV approach. Recently they have been raised again to 3400 -- I'm not sure the reason for this latest change if anyone can comment? WAAS was supposed to have been approved long ago to improve this approach until the burocrats got involved. Does anyone know where this is at?

Roll back to the early 80's - Pacific Western used to land 737's at YCG successfully for years at limits significantly lower than current. Canadian (Regional) never flew 737's to YCG... just Dash 7's and 8's.

Here's another question. What are the limits into nearby Trail? If lower than YCG could Jazz not just fly the Trail approach and then fly up the river to YCG on low ceiling days? I recall Pasco used to do the opposite before they had their approach approved from the south into YZZ.

[GottaFly]

Here's another question. What are the limits into nearby Trail? If lower than YCG could Jazz not just fly the Trail approach and then fly up the river to YCG on low ceiling days? I recall Pasco used to do the opposite before they had their approach approved from the south into YZZ.

I'm not exactly sure how Pasco departs IFR out of trail since the CAP doesn't publish any departure procedure. I'd guess there is probably some OPS SPEC allowing them some kind of SPEC VIS departure. The CAP publishes arrival into Trail as 2973' AAE and 3SM.