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west such as Sitka which sits on the shore of the Gulf, but then gets stuck in the vicinity of PAJN because of the rising terrain to the east. This results in Juneau seeing 236 days of rain per year, whereas the average U.S. city sees 206 days of sunlight (Juneau locals joke that it rains 250 days per year and snows the rest). The city is also located at 58 degrees north – nearly two-thirds of the way to the North Pole, which translates to very short days and long nights in the winter. If you are a professional pilot flying business jets in the Northwest, it is in- evitable you will visit Juneau because of client needs and lack of other access. You also know, at best, the weather is going to be marginal VFR (typically 1,500 and 3) with the surrounding terrain and lack of ground equipment making standard straight in 200 and half-mile ILS type approaches not possible. In spite of the city’s importance, there are only two instrument approach procedures into the airport: an LDA X and an RNAV/ GPS both to Runway 08. There are no approaches from the east to Runway 26 because mountains are in the way. Of the two normal published approaches, the RNAV has the lowest minimums, which are 1,900 and 2, with the missed approach point 2.2 miles from the run- way. The final approach course is 069 degrees, but the runway is 080. All of this means that even on a good day, you will break out of the clouds at the missed approach point (MAP) at only 2.2 miles from the runway and not lined up. In a 130-knot jet that is less than one minute from touchdown, yet the airplane is still at 1,900 feet with the runway nearly at sea level. Given that kind of approach and the prevailing weather for most of the year, it is challenging to get into PAJN in anything but a float plane at 200 feet above the water. So, the FAA has devised a “Special Approach Procedure” that as you may have already guessed, requires specialized training, a simulator check ride and special pilot certification. It is for this reason that following my erratic takeoff, I am now banging around just west of the Barlow intersection heading for the Sisters VOR (SSR) to demonstrate my airborne prowess at making the spe- cial LDA-Z approach to Runway 08. The IFR minimums for this “special” approach are 1,020 feet and 2 miles if the airplanes final approach speed is 120 Aviation Insurance Resources Jet Shades Jet Journal August 2019 / TWIN & TURBINE • 29 Not for Navigation