We had a requirement to visit LOWI prior to attending sim training, we set ourselves VFR weather minima insisted on an easterly approach and also practised a high energy go around from a baulked landing backtracking the ILS to MSA (which was good practise) at our home base.
Under those circumstances it is possible to self brief, we had handling and pax transportation already booked and payed for at MUC so if we didn't get in there was no drama. The pax were 90% convinced they were going to Munich
I agreed with the other crew members that:
If we didn't have the wx - Munich
any unserviceabilities - Munich
If they were approaching from the west - Munich
We additionally kept ourselves very light to ensure that we didn't try to hard on the day.
We also sourced some AOC briefs one from an Airline and in addition from a bizjet operator that was written around an old type that we used to operate so we ensured that we had a lot of performance to hand. Gotchas were the required gradients after approaching 26 and circling for the other end. And the height of the terrain once downwind.
we spent probably two days briefing it together. Theres also a very small benefit to get orientated using the videos available on you tube
Even having subsequently done it in the sim and probably meeting the requirements (I cant remember what they were) to have the special approaches authorised, I still wouldn't go there in pretty much less than the VFR conditions we insisted upon initially. Our sim instructor gave us a heavy OEI departure of 26 and theres not a lot of room for a clean up and being V2+10/-0 instead of V2+5/-0 gave us terrain warnings so check your performance
Theres a load of wx info available.
On the day we had good weather and did the straight in for 26 with no drama and on the way out took a VFR departure up the valley and then a direct KPT which was one of the most memorable departures I can remember.
So it is doable on a private basis, just do all your homework and if you have any doubts whatsoever MUC is for you.
I haven't meant to make light of the place - we got lucky with the weather, if you dont respect the place it will catch you out without doubt. We couldn't have been better briefed and had loads of perf in hand
Last edited by G-SPOTs Lost; 27th December 2009 at 12:17.