LOWI for pilots

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About this document

This wiki page is intended as a starter and briefer for first-time or inexperienced pilots to get into or out of LOWI/Innsbruck. The reason to write such a page is, that many people fly there. It is the default airport for X-Plane 9, is extremely beautiful to fly (great mountains, deep valley) and LOWI is quite challenging to fly. The result: VATSIM traffic regularly exceeds real-life traffic. Nevertheless, many pilots make fatal errors. They make controllers either laugh or swear and trigger go-arounds. If all VATSIM aircraft accidents around LOWI were real, the valley would be an enormous cemetery.

The structure of this document covers in sequence

  • arrival,
  • approach,
  • ground and
  • departure.

Charts you need to have

Do not even think of flying into Innsbruck without charts. Especially when flying online, expect diversion if you don't have them. The overview for all charts is [here at the VATSIM Austria homepage. You need to study the charts in advance to understand them. Browse them together with this tutorial.

Overview from the air

LOWI is in a deep valley which runs east-west roughly. At a more detailed look, you see that exactly at Innsbruck the valley bends. This narrows the options to reach the airport without hitting a mountain: For large birds, only east and west are possible. For VFR, two more add to it: from the North via Seefeld (NOVEMBER route) and from the south (BRENNER-SIERRA). To VFR, see later.

IFR approach

The [STAR chart] shows: You have two main approaches into the valley. There are two more which are visual and not charted. Be aware that all approaches lead to all runways - always with visual approach, some with steep turns.

Overview:

  1. LOC DME East approach with (1.a) runway 26 and (1.b) circling runway 08
  2. LOC DME West approach with (2.b) circling 26 and (2.b) double circling 08
  3. Visual BRENO approach
  4. Special Föhn approach

1. LOC DME EAST approach

... is the most common approach into Innsbruck. See the [LOC DME EAST chart here]. This approach is fairly easy, but it's like getting a thread into a needle's hole: Don't miss it.

Be aware, that the phrase LOC DME Eeast means something: It means that the beacon OEV behaves like an ILS: it has a fixed bearing (254°) and a glideslope. But it IS not an ILS: it does not end on the runway, which is 5° off to the right. You have to disconnect AP and land visually. See the [Visual Approach Chart] for details.

  1. Maybe you are told to enter the holding over RTT NDB (it's right around!)
  2. when cleared LOC DME East approach, you leave RTT NDB at 10.000ft (local QNH!) with 210° and grab the OEV (111.10) localizer and glideslope. Strictly, the glideslope is only an indicator and you have to follow the altitude limits on the chart, but you might as well do the other way around: grab the glideslope and monitor altitude and OEV DME.
  3. When established on the LOC, you are transfered to Innsbruck Tower (120.10) who will tell you wind, which runway to expect, and to report Absam (AB NDB). Continue descent on the glideslope, slow down to reach AB NDB at 160kts or less.
  4. Go-around is difficult, as there are mountains everywhere but behind you. You climb with 150kt or less (max rate!) and turn steeply left (1600m radius, that is roughly 25-30° bank) at 1DME OEV (don't fly over the airport). Watch your altitude before turning: You should have more than 3000ft or you hit terrain.

1a. Runway 26 for landing

This is the easy way, and still many pilots screw it up: After you reported AB NDB (OEV 6.3DME), Tower will clear to land. You disconnect your AP now and continue visually. If you don't see the runway: go around! Fly the go-around manually - too much terrain.

The one most common mistake here is to think that OEV is an ILS. Those folks smash some aircraft on the apron and hit the terminal building.

1b. Circling Runway 08 for landing

The other option is a visual circling approach to runway 08. The usual phrase for that is: 

LOWI_TWR LHA123, Innsbruck Tower. Wind calm, expect circling runway 08, report downwind.
  1. You disconnect the AP and level off at 3700m MSL - the chart is only a guideline, fly visually!
  2. After AB, you turn left 230° which leads you towards INN NDB. The route leads you over the green fields on the left side below the Patscherkofel. Scary, eh? Watch your altimeter and stay between 3700 and 4000ft. Caution: From here on, go-around is right around!
  3. Fly a right downwind past the airport.
  4. On downwind, Prepare your plane for landing (speed, flaps, gear).
  5. Watch your OEV DME meter decrease and increase again as you fly past it.
  6. At 3.5nm DME OEV, do a sharp right turn and descend into the valley.
  7. With a bit of training you find yourself head on runway 08 for landing.

Common mistakes are:

  • Too low: Pilots leave the AP with ILS on and get too low at AB. Disconnect early to level off at 3.700 (better 4.000) ft.
  • AP on: Pilots fly the circle with manual configuration of the Autopilot. But the AP does not know the valley and is too slow and not exact. Fly by hand, this is what pilots are here for.
  • Too high: Pilots don't descend at the final turn and end up too high, desperately dive and land way too fast. You have to turn and descend (again, by hand). It is a nice, gradual descent - no need for a vomit-dive.

2. LOC DME West Approach

IF you come from France, Switzerland or the like, you are most likely nearer the the LOC DME West approach. This approach is more challenging, and if you fail, then you go around to RTT for the East approach.

Arriving at KTI NDB

Mountains to the West are higher, so you level off at KTI NDB at 13.000ft (local QNH!). There you might be ordered to enter the holding which is left around with 104° inbound vector.

Grabbing the localizer

The usual ATC phrase is: 

LOWI_APP: LHA123, cleared LOC DME West approach.

This means:

  1. SLOW DOWN YOUR PLANE! Descent is steep and with a large bird, it is unlikely that you manage it with more than 160kts. Descend flaps and reduce speed accordingly. If you are unsure, prepare for landing (speed, flaps, gear) at KTI.
  2. Make sure you have the localizer OEJ 109.70 tuned and receive a signal before leaving KTI.
  3. Turn your OBS to 67° radial.
  4. Fly out of KTI at 104°.
  5. Arm the localizer.
  6. Grab the OEJ 67° radial and descend whatching your DME indicator (you need to see the charts and descend with AP and v/s).

A thrilling experience to descend from the snow-capped mountains into the valley!

Most common mistakes at KTI

  • Too fast: The western descent is twice as steep as the eastern and any ordinary descent into an airport.
  • No localizer: OEJ (109.70) is NOT part of the standard FS2002 and 2004 sceneries (but included in X-Plane 9). Check in advance, if you have it. Check over KTI, if you have the right localizer. For MSFS, you need an add-on (a good payware is [Gianni's "Approaching Innsbruck"] at Aerosoft) If you happen to be on the way and realize that OEJ is not on your radar, then ask for a LOC DME east approach. It takes longer, but you won't crash.
  • Wrong localizer: Some pilots use the back course of LOC DME east (OEV), which gives smashing mountainous results and a nice wooden cross in the virtual airmen's cemetery opposite the runway.

Descending on the localizer

Once established on the localizer, you are handed to Tower. Bear in mind:

  • Watch speed, DME and altitude simultaneously.
  • Go-around is easy: 67° radial to OEJ and 65° radial out of OEJ to RTT. Don't miss it - mountains on all sides, and there may be arriving traffic on LOC DME East head-on (max rate of climb!).
  • Bear in mind, where the approach ends: NOT at runway 08, but at 5000ft altitude over Absam (AB NDB). This means: You fly over the airport at about 7000ft.
  • Arrive at AB NDB with 160kt or less. The final approach begins, and it is visual.

Most common mistakes at descent

  • too fast: Pilots who descend the glideslope with 250kts or more will unlikely to slow to 160 or below at the end and need to go around.
  • Dive for 08: Some pilots seem to think that the LOC DME east approach leads to runway 26 (wrong!) and LOC DME West approach leads to runway 08 (deadly wrong!). When you see runway 08, you are still 5000ft above the airport. Pilots who try end up with a smashing 300kt landing.

Two options are available again:

2a. Circling runway 26

Initial clearance from tower might look like this: 

LOWI_TWR: LHA123, continue,  wind 300° 8kts, expect circling runway 26, report AB NDB.

When you reached AB NDB, the airport is behind you, you have to turn.

  1. Disconnect the AP now!
  2. If you have more than 160kt, ask TWR to extend your downwind beyond AB or go around (or smash when turning)
  3. AB NDB is on the left side of the valley, so (see visual approach chart) you do a steep right turn into final (bank hard and be slow!), simultaneously descend visually to 3700ft. The valley has a step on the southern side and below 3700ft no turn is possible.
  4. When the runway is ahead, continue descent and land.

2b. (Double) Circling runway 08

LOWI_TWR: LHA123, continue,  wind calm, expect circling runway 08, report AB NDB.

This means that you have to circle twice:

  1. The first right turn leads you to the southern side of the valley (bank hard and be slow!) while holding altitude.
  2. Poceed towards INN NDB, descend 3700ft,
  3. prepare for landing (speed, flaps, gear)
  4. watch DME OEJ indicator increase to D14.1 OEJ,
  5. turn-and-descend onto final runway 08. You need to fly this by hand.

Most common errors at visual approach from LOC DME West

  • too fast at AB NDB (160kt or below) and turning anyway and chopping a lot of wood on the slope before ending in a coffin
  • Descending too fast after AB NDB and hitting the step in the valley at 3500ft: Maintain 4000ft or above while turning west.
  • turning into final too early (before D14.1 OEJ) and forgetting to descend

3. Special visual arrival BRENO

This approach is not charted anywhere and only at Pilots' request. When reaching BRENO, you can request a visual descent into the Wipptal, the valley leading from Brenner to Innsbruck. You are transferred to Innsbruck Tower, and then you fly on your own - usually with the request to report the airport in sight.

Depending on which runway Tower has given you, prepare for steep turns either left or right when you reach the main valley and join the visual approach patterns for runway 08 or 26. You might try this a few times offline before going online. Don't attempt to do this at Föhn conditions, where violent and turbulent southern winds blow down the valley you descend in.

4. Föhn special visual arrival

Föhn is a particular weather phenomenon common to Innsbruck. A southern depression pushes northwards and gets caught in the mountains, sending high, gusty and warm winds down the mountains on the northern side. Typical conditions are winds far above 10kt and gust twice than that. Wind blows down the valley (southwest-northeast), turbulence is high, and much higher on the southern ridge of the valley where the wind forms rotors.

At Föhn conditions, runway 26 is the only choice. Foehn approach is available on request, and follows the northern ridge (where wind is calmer) until above the city of Innsbruck. There you fly a dog's leg (left-and-right in sequence) over the city until on 26 final and land. People get scared in the back seats.

VFR Approach and departure

... is really nice in Innsbruck. Be aware of the following points:

  • Innsbruck is a CTR, which means: Don't fly around uncontrolled. You have to say your intentions and cleared by Tower to do that. "Flying in the vicinity" is not an appropriate intention. "CTR" also means that you need to contact Innsbruck Tower 5 minutes prior to entry into the CTR.
  • VFR charts have changed at the beginning of 2012. This tutorial only covers the new situation. Unfortunately, there is no legal link to the new charts, as they are (c) Austrocontrol. The old chart [here] is out of date. A perfectly legal way is to [register with the Eurocontrol EAD service] and get all European real-life charts and NOTAMS for free.

A simplified VFR graph is this:

LOWI VFR routes old and new

VFR entry

From the North: Mostly coming from Munich, aircraft us the wide valley at Mittenwald and Seefeld. What is called the NOVEMBER route (NOVEMBER1-NOVEMBER2-WHISKEY2-INDIA) lets you approach the airport from the West. You should contact LOWI_TWR at NOVEMBER 1 at the latest.

From the East: ... comes up the Inn valley and is called the MIKE-route (MIKE1-MIKE2-MIKE3). Watch your altitude when approaching: Between 8.500ft and FL125, there is the Innsbruck III SRA - a special requirement area requiring you to register with LOWI_TWR 5 minutes prior to entry (as if it were a CTR). The reason for this SRA is the IFR approach it covers. If you come out the Zillertal (south of MIKE1: FOXTROT), then you could request clearance direct FOXTROT-MIKE2: You will climb high and descend fast, and the route crosses the LOC DME East approach, so maybe you are cleared FOXTROT-MIKE1-MIKE2.

From the South is the route down the Brenner valley (BRENNER-SIERRA). Caution: Half way from BRENNER to the airport you encounter the INNSBRUCK III SRA, reaching from 7000ft to FL125. You need to be cleared to enter this SRA, so report to LOWI_TWR at BRENNER.

From the West is the Whiskey-Route (WHISKEY1-WHISKEY2-INDIA) down the Inn valley. Caution: Innsbruck I SRA between 6000ft and FL125, and you need to register 5 minutes before entering it.

VFR Approach and Landing

... is quite eclectic - TWR will tell you which runway, where to hold and how to turn into final. DO NOT FLY NORTH OF THE AIRPORT without being told - so many virtual pilots lie buried under the virtual trees there.

VFR leaving CTR

... is just the other way around.

Want a nice VFR round?

  • Fly out November route and turn right at November 1, crossing the Karwendel until Achensee, where you can descend and enter CTR at MIKE1.
  • Or you continue across to FOXTROT up the Zillertal (FOXTROT), fly up to the glacier-covered peaks and descend the valley to BRENNER, reporting back to land.

On the ground

(see the aerodrome chart, which is [here].)

X-Plane Screenshot of LOWI

*The far eastern part is for General Aviation (GAC East).

  • The middle part of the apron is for larger birds.
  • Local General Aviation is at the very Western part in front of Hangars I, II and III.
  • In the western part is a "cutout" in the grass. On earlier charts, this was marked as helipad. Some choppers still use it.
  • Rescure and police helicopters operate from the "Flugrettungszentrum" (ICAO: LOJO), which is south of hangar III and the engine run stand. Local pilots pronounce it "Lojo" and don't spell it. LOJO is not part of any standard package. Giannis MSFS add on scenery has it, and X-Plane has it too.
  • The Apron has no predefined "stands" in real life. In real life, aircraft are handed off to the follow-me car. As there is no car at VATSIM, you are most likely to given instruction:
LOWI_TWR: LHA123, taxi to stand of your choice

IFR Departure

Caution (1): Innsbruck normally has no fixed runway configuration (unless required by wind). As heavy metal aircraft can only land runway 26 and only takeoff rwy08, expect to depart either way, or even be recleared from one direction to the other.

Caution (2): For most departures, you need OEJ VOR, which is not part of MSFS standard installations. Try X-Plane or look for an add-on, like [Gianni's "Approaching Innsbruck"] payware.

SIDs out of runway 08

standard SIDs via RTT

The following SIDs all have the same pattern: RTT2J, OBEDI2J, RASTA3J, UNKEN1J, KOGOL2J.

You are cleared to climb to FL160. You take off from runway 08 and fly visually until AB NDB (Frequency 313 kHz). There, you grab the 67° inbound radial of OEJ (109,70) and the outbound 65° radial of OEJ. The only trouble is: If you have the Standard FS scenery, there is no OEJ! Instead, you can fly manually to AB NDB and then fly direct RTT (303 kHz). Usually, ATC gives you a direct instruction after you are clear of peaks around 10.000ft.

Important: If Tower tells you "max rate of climb", then do so. It is likely that an LOC DME East inbound aircraft is on its way, which should be way below you. As a rough guess: If you don't have 5.500 feet above AB NDB, you are not climbing enough. Standard climb rate is 4,8% minimum until passing 6700ft.

visual turn: ADILO1J

ADILO is to the west. How to get there from runway 08? Look at the chart: it's straight out to AB NDB and OEJ VOR (109,70 KHz) where you should have minimum 6000ft, then a steep right turn to INN NDB (420) and to ADILO.

Important: This SID is definitely "max rate of climb" - you won't manage the turn above OEJ at high-speed-and-low-altitude. The chart says that you need to climb at least 8,8% (535ft/nm) until OEJ and then 6,5% until completion of turn. Minimum bank is 25°. To be on the safe side: Stay below 170kt for the turn and set the bank to 30°.

Rocket departure: KPT1Z

Only on Pilots' request, there is KPT1Z, a rocket-like direct departure. It is similar to ADILO1H, but you climb really hard (10% or 608ft/nm until INN NDB) to reach AB NDB at 5600ft or above, then make a steep right turn to meet INN at 9400ft (which is already almost clear of peaks). They you fly directly KPT VOR. Stay below 250kt (and well below for the turn) until 11000ft and have a bank angle of at least 25°.

SIDs out of runway 26

All SIDs out of runway 26 start with a 'visual manoevre: The valley up the Inn is steep, but shortly after the airport it widens a bit. When you take off, configure your plane for slow-speed-and-max-rate-of-climb. You do a slight right turn to follow the big wall (Martinswand), and once above 3.500ft (terrain below!), you do a steeep (30°) left turn and grab the 67° inbound radial of OEJ (109,70). Make sure you don't fly past the localizer to avoid the mountain.

Standard SIDs runway 26 via RTT

... are easy: After OEJ, continue at the 65° outbound radial of OEJ until RTT. You will most likely get a direct instruction after clear of peaks.

Steep right turn: ADILO1H

Adilo is to the West, but don't fly straight out west - there is some rock in the way. Instead, turn twice: after turning left onto 67° radial of OEJ to OEJ, there is a right turn to INN NDB and then further to ADILO. If you climbed max rate, you should be clear of peaks at OEJ and don't need to worry about the turn radius. If you are below 10.000ft, bank 30° and stay below 170kts. See the SID description in the chart: Climb minimum 6,5% (395ft/nm) until OEJ and 6,0% until completion of turn.

Most common error

...is to tune in the 67° bearing of OEJ into the VOR localizer or heading and engage the autopilot after takeoff. Why? Because most autopilots turn the shorter side, and the shorter side is a right turn! Expect smashing results in the Martinswand wall.

RNP 0.3 RNAV special performance departure rwy26: RTT1X

On pilots' request, and if your aircraft is equipped with GPS receiver of 0,3nm accuracy or below, there is a nice alternative: RTT1X. This SID uses a widening of the valley in the upper Inn for a turn. For this departure, you purely fly waypoints, and strictly spoken, this is the only non-visual departure from Innsbruck (try it in fog - you really need to trust your plane!). You fly LOWI-WI005, WI006, WI007, WI008, WI006, WI005, WI003, WI002 and RTT NDB. In real life, aircraft fly the SID until clear of peaks and then get a direct to the next waypoint.

(In real life, Air Berlin to Germany like to request this SID: They fly out to WI007 and are clear of peaks, turn north and show the Zugspitze to passengers!)

Visual climbouts

... are available on pilots' request towards either side. You are cleared for a visual departure along the valley. Once clear of peaks, you get a direct to the next waypoint of your route.

More information

Checklist

is an addition to show the sequence, when and where things have to be done, and can be found here: LOWI for pilots checklist

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