LOWIINNInnsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck Airport
Offset localizer and RNP AR approaches in a mountain valley.
1,907 ftElevation
08/26 · 2,000 mRunway
Offset LOC, circling, FöhnKnown for
What to watch out for
- The airport sits at 1,907 ft in the Inn valley with terrain up to ~9,000 ft on both sides — there is no low-altitude escape route.
- No ILS at all. The standard approach is an offset localizer: the OEV beam runs 4° right of the runway 26 centreline and crosses it 0.2 NM before the threshold — you fly the needle until it no longer points at the runway.
- The RNP approaches to both runways are RNP AR (authorization required): RNP 0.3 legs through the valley, missed approach on RNP too — dual GNSS plus an IRU is required, DME/DME or VOR updating is not authorized.
- Landing on runway 08 after an approach to 26 means circling in the valley — a visual manoeuvre with terrain on every side.
- The missed approach is the critical constraint: a left turn at D-1.0 OEV capped at 155 kt with a minimum 25° bank and a 1,700 m turn radius — between the mountains.
- Crew familiarization is mandatory in real life: Austro Control requires training (VMC on site or in a simulator) before first use of the instrument procedures below a 3,000 ft AAL ceiling.
- Föhn — strong, turbulent southerly mountain wind — can make the final to 26 particularly rough.
Procedures
LOC DME East (RWY 26)
on siteRNP Z/Y RWY 26 & 08 (AR)
RNP 0.3 through the valley — needs the aircraft AND the crew authorization.
Circling to RWY 08
Break off the 26 approach and fly visually around the airport — terrain everywhere.
The numbers
- OEV localizer
- 111.10 · 254°
- offset 4° right of RWY 26 centreline
- Minima (5.0% climb gradient)
- OCA 3300 (1406)
- at D-3.5 OEV — better climb buys lower minima
- Missed approach
- MAX 155 kt · MIN 25° bank
- 1,700 m turn radius at D-1.0 OEV
- Holding fix
- RTT NDB 303 kHz
- hold at 9,500 ft
- Tower
- 120.100
Flying it in the sim
- ·Fly the missed approach on purpose before you need it — the 155 kt cap and the 1,700 m turn radius are the defining constraints of this procedure.
- ·Study-level airliners (A320 family) handle this well; check that your add-on supports RF legs if you fly the RNP AR approaches.
- ·Watch for the hospital helipad about 1.5 NM before the 26 threshold — it sits right under the approach path.
- ·Both runway ends have turnpads — a backtrack uses the full 2,000 m.
- ·Innsbruck Approach is regularly staffed on VATSIM — a good place to fly this procedure with live ATC.