Chart Wise: Rangeley Lake Seaplane Base (M57) RNAV (GPS)-C

IFR procedure mandates turn at FAF and requires human altimeter reading for Maine landing.

Jason Blair

Wednesday, August 05, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Keith Deschambeault has leased Rangeley Lake Seaplane Base since 2007 and uses it for his commercial operations. [Credit: Keith Deschambeault]

Key Takeaways:

The article details a rare IFR approach designed specifically for seaplanes, culminating in a water landing on Rangeley Lake in Maine.
The procedure involves specific waypoints (e.g., SHINY, ZEMSI, FOXAL) and a right turn at the Final Approach Fix (FAF), offering only circling minimums for Category A and B aircraft.
Key operational considerations include obtaining altimeter settings via CTAF for the lowest minimums, and a critical restriction that the procedure is "Not Authorized at Night."

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There aren’t many approaches in the IFR system that let a pilot fly an instrument procedure that doesn’t terminate on land, but this one does. This approach brings a pilot to the northern port of Rangeley Lake in Maine.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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