Originally Posted by
robmckenna
The Airport also reported this as an undershoot. Considering the reported weather and the net result, could this be shades of Westjet at St Maartens?
maybe, maybe not. The GPS 04 Chart vs the NDB 04 chart raise the possibility that the crew were relying on the VNAV with a hard altitude at the MAP (HAMAX). That would be the codeing of the approach in the nav DB. The MAP is 2.2nm from the approach end of the runway. The lowest minima is not coincident with the normal continuous descent path to the runway for a 3 degree path. The lower MMA places the aircraft below the 3 degree path. (this minima has a required gradient in the event of a missed approach). In reduced visibilty, a crew that is busy and passes MMA with surface contact (and visibility...) needs to adjust the ROD or level off in order to intercept the correct path. The vis requirement would give the runway in sight at MMA, but any delay in recognition of the low path from the reduced MMA could put the aircraft close to the water.
Have seen a few too many of these recently, may be time for a change to some of our approaches.