A trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for some time in the Ozarks might just be on your vacation calendar. While there isn’t a public airport with an approach right in the town, Carroll County Airport (4M1) near Berryville is close enough to get you out to nature quickly. The approach to Runway 25 does have a few things worth noting as you prepare to go there.
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A) GPS Only; Standard T-Bar and Holding Restriction
The approach starts pretty typically, with a standard T-Bar GPS depiction and IAF waypoints offered at ONITY, EYOWY, and IZPUF to use depending on the direction from which the pilot is approaching. If the pilot was going to hold at EYOWY for traffic or to establish onto the approach, you can see a holding altitude at or below 6,000 feet msl and above 3,200 feet is depicted. Expect to do so at or between these altitudes.
B) Turn at the FAF
Unlike most approaches, the pilot will initially follow a 231-degree path to the FAF at RHUMB, and then make a turn from there. The pilot makes a turn at the FAF to a 248-degree track that will take them along a descent from the FAF crossing altitude at 3,200 feet msl to the MDA of 1,660 feet unless you are circling, at which altitude you would only descend to 1,700 feet msl or 1,980 feet depending on your approach speed.
C) WAAS, but No Giideslope
LP minimums are offered, which are the same as the LNAV MDA ones. LP (without the “V”) means that WAAS approach functions are offered helping lateral precision and that a vertical descent WAAS capability is not offered on this approach. This is not a “precision like” approach like so many LPVs, and the pilot should consider this a nonprecision approach.
D) Shorter Runway and Lights
Unlike many larger runways that have precision approach lighting systems, this runway only has Medium Intensity Runway Lighting (MIRL) and Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) that will help you find the runway coming out of the clouds or at night. Looking at the airport diagram in the lower left of the chart, you can also see a symbol for a rotating beacon and a “P” with a darkened circle around it next to the runway depiction indicating that PAPI will be available. These will all help you find the 3,500-foot runway, which doesn’t exactly leave you lots of extra room, especially if you are in a larger or faster aircraft.
E) Not for Bigger/Faster Planes
Approach minimums are not offered for aircraft that fly in approach speed categories C or D. If your aircraft has an approach speed of 121 knots or faster, this isn’t an approach for you. If you are flying a larger or faster aircraft, a flight to the slightly farther away executive airport in Rogers, Arkansas (KROG), with its longer 6,000-foot runway, might be where your conservative decision-making skills take you.
This column first appeared in the May Issue 958 of the FLYING print edition.
