Half Moon Bay RNAV (GPS) Runway 30

The GPS approach to Runway 30 could just end up being the approach any of us need to get below some marine cloud layers.

A. Turns from IAF to IF and Beyond

A pilot might start this approach from the SAPID waypoint and continue toward the airport using a 313-degree heading. Pay attention, as there is a turn at the JUMDA intersection to a new 302 track from there to the FAF of WOHLI and the airport beyond. This can be an easy thing to miss since most of the approaches we all fly keep one course from start to finish. On this approach, terrain to the south and east of the JUMDA intersection doesn’t allow for a straight line to be drawn to JUMDA for a pilot to establish on to the approach further out.

B. Low Minimums Thanks to WAAS LPV

LPV minimums are presented on this particular approach that takes a pilot and their aircraft down to 381 feet msl (327 feet agl). These minimums are available for aircraft equipped with IFR GPS systems capable of receiving WAAS signals. This is pretty darned low—almost down to the altitudes that most ILS systems take a pilot. If you don’t have WAAS capability, you might find yourself only able to go down to LNAV MDA minimums. These put a pilot at a higher 620 feet msl (566 feet agl). That just might be the difference sometimes between breaking out and going missed.

C. Step-Down if LNAV

A 2,020-foot minimum altitude is depicted at the MAVKC intersection. This is applicable according to the “2” ballflag for pilots who might be flying this approach in an aircraft requiring LNAV MDA minimums (non-WAAS capable aircraft that could go to LPV minimums). While an advisory glideslope may be given in many GPS systems that are non-WAAS, a pilot would need to maintain an altitude no lower than 2,020 feet msl until passing MAVKC in such an aircraft. This is commonly considered a step-down along the approach.

D. Missed Off the Chart; Another Turn

A pilot flying inbound on the 302 heading who needs to go missed will fly that heading outbound to the LAYKI intersection. Then they will need to turn to the SEEMS intersection for their hold on a new heading of 267 degrees.

An inset on this chart also visually depicts the missed approach and hold point because it is out of scale on the plan view to depict it there. A note in the missed approach instructions indicates that the pilot should “continue climb in hold to 4,000” when flying the missed.

This is a good cue that you might reach the missed approach holding point, which is only a total of 9 nautical miles from the airport before you reach the holding altitude. So, keep climbing as you enter and establish into the hold in this case.