Vancouver IFR approaches?

[Robert M. Gary]

What are the odds that a pilot flying to Vancouver in July would need
approach plates?

-Robert

[Richard Kaplan]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
om...>

>What are the odds that a pilot flying to Vancouver in July would need
> approach plates?

If he plans to fly IFR the odds are 100%.


--------------------
Richard Kaplan, CFII

www.flyimc.com

[Peter Duniho]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
om...
> What are the odds that a pilot flying to Vancouver in July would need
> approach plates?

Low, I'd guess, especially given how dry our summer has started out.

That said, I'm not sure I really understand the question. If you want to
make the trip VFR, don't bring charts, and be willing to wait out some
weather. Around here, in July, you won't have to wait long, maybe not even
a whole day.

If, on the other hand, you are considering flying the trip IFR, bring
charts. They are easy enough to get, they aren't expensive, so just get
them and don't worry about what the "odds" are that you'd need to use them.

Just my two cents...

Pete

[Robert M. Gary]

> That said, I'm not sure I really understand the question. If you want to
> make the trip VFR, don't bring charts, and be willing to wait out some
> weather. Around here, in July, you won't have to wait long, maybe not even
> a whole day.
>
> If, on the other hand, you are considering flying the trip IFR, bring
> charts. They are easy enough to get, they aren't expensive, so just get
> them and don't worry about what the "odds" are that you'd need to use them.

I did order the "terminal charts" but when they came I realized they
do not include approaches. With the trip a week away, I'm just
wondering if its worth the $35 or so to rush out some approach plates
or if the odds are pretty good I won't need them.

[Peter Duniho]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
om...
> I did order the "terminal charts" but when they came I realized they
> do not include approaches. With the trip a week away, I'm just
> wondering if its worth the $35 or so to rush out some approach plates
> or if the odds are pretty good I won't need them.

It's unfortunate that your initial order didn't include the correct charts.
However, what is the total cost of this trip going to be? In the end, will
you really notice that you spent an additional $35?

I'm guessing the answer is "no", which to me means we're back to just
deciding whether you want to be prepared to fly IFR or not. Or if you
really want to look at the cost, it seems to me that $35 is a very
reasonable price to pay for being prepared. If it was $350 instead, then I
could understand the dilemma, but at $35 I don't (and I'm guessing only half
or so of that is related to the "rush" element...how much extra would it
have been had you had them included with the terminal charts?)

Pete

[Robert M. Gary]

"Peter Duniho" > wrote in message >...
> "Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I did order the "terminal charts" but when they came I realized they
> > do not include approaches. With the trip a week away, I'm just
> > wondering if its worth the $35 or so to rush out some approach plates
> > or if the odds are pretty good I won't need them.
>
> It's unfortunate that your initial order didn't include the correct charts.
> However, what is the total cost of this trip going to be? In the end, will
> you really notice that you spent an additional $35?

Clearly I asked this question the wrong way, so let me try again. How
many days on average, in July does Vancouver have weather low enough
to require an actual approach? In Sacramento, I know this number to be
zero. Is the number slightly greater in Vancouver?

-Robert

[Peter Duniho]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
om...
> Clearly I asked this question the wrong way, so let me try again. How
> many days on average, in July does Vancouver have weather low enough
> to require an actual approach? In Sacramento, I know this number to be
> zero. Is the number slightly greater in Vancouver?

It is greater. Whether it's slightly, I don't know. As I mentioned before,
it probably will be a lower chance this year than an "average" year,
assuming our current dry pattern persists.

That's just my own personal impression. Frankly, you're not really going to
get anything approximating an accurate answer by asking that question here.
What you really need to do, assuming what you want is an actual correct
answer, is to look up the historical data for Vancouver from an official
weather agency (either in the US or Canada).

If what you are really asking is whether Vancouver has a zero chance of IFR
weather, the answer to that is "no", as implied above. If the only reason
you'd have not bothered getting the approach charts is if the answer was
"yes", then I can see where you're coming from. Otherwise, I'll admit to
being unable to relate.

I hope that helps. :)

Pete

[Robert M. Gary]

"Peter Duniho" > wrote in message >...
> "Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Clearly I asked this question the wrong way, so let me try again. How
> > many days on average, in July does Vancouver have weather low enough
> > to require an actual approach? In Sacramento, I know this number to be
> > zero. Is the number slightly greater in Vancouver?
>
> It is greater. Whether it's slightly, I don't know. As I mentioned before,
> it probably will be a lower chance this year than an "average" year,
> assuming our current dry pattern persists.

Looks like Bellingham has the charts in stock. If it looks like I'll
need them, I'll just land there real quick and pick them up.
-Robert