On behalf of Det’on Cho Logistics and Avalon Precious Metals, Direct Approach Consulting was commissioned to design a new GPS instrument approach to the Thor Lake (NT) runway.
Thor Lake is an exploration site currently with a 1006 ft private gravel runway. There are plans to lengthen the runway once the site actives increase, with the potential for much larger aircraft.
Direct Approach assisted CBR Technologies in having the aerodrome registered and published in the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS). Normally only runways over 1500 ft in length are registered and published in the CFS. However because registration is required to obtain an ICAO site identifier, a special case to have this site processed was required. The Thor Lake registration is complete, and the new identifier CTH2 issued.
The straight-in RNAV (GNSS) RWY 23 approach is a standard “T” design GPS approach to a minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 512 ft above aerodrome elevation, or just above the minimum permissible for an aerodrome that does not meet any TP312 OLS standards.
A standard flight check was completed on September 7th 2011 using a DHC-6 “Twin Otter” from Air Tindi. The approach checked perfectly, and is ready for submission to Nav Canada for publication in the R-CAP.
Direct Approach Consulting provides all types of instrument approach and departure design services, specializing in GNSS (GPS) fixed wing and helicopter approaches, and is qualified in TP308, TERPS, and PANS-OPS criteria. More information can be found at http://www.directapproach.ca
Edit: The unfortunate recent air accident at Yellowknife involving Thor Lake personnel in no way involved the new instrument approach described here.
Direct Approach Consulting Inc. 