Hellenic Division of IVAO, for the third time, presents "Do you have the guts III 2012!...the absolute event for the demanding pilots who ask something more than establishing on a localizer!
Samos is small island of the eastern Aegean Sea , covering an area of 478 Km2, located at just right of the Greek-Turkey borders, some miles out of the coast of Asia Minor. Famous for its wine, and the unique combination of beautiful beaches along rough mountains, Samos – the birthplace, among others, of Pythagoras, Epicurus and Aesop – is a favorite destination for thousands of – mainly – European tourists, every year.
Samos International Airport is named “Aristarchos o Samios” after the famous Ancient Greek Astronomer Aristarchos (310BC -230 BC) who was the first person to present an explicit argument of a heliocentric model of the solar system, by placing the Sun, and not Earth, at the center of the known Universe...
How to approach Samos Airport LGSM (IATA: SMI) is an airport used all around the year and is located at the South East part of the Island, actually at the only location possible for an airport due to the prevailing mountainous terrain. It serves domestic flights from Athens during the whole year, but especially during the summer season, many other airliners operate to Samos such as Air Berlin, Finnair, Jetairfly, SAS, Sky Express, Thomson, Transavia, TUI.
The sole runway on E-W configuration the 09/27, has a length of 2100 meters, surrounded from the west by mountains!
Runway 27 is rarely used both due to the close proximity of the final approach path with the Turkish FIR meaning additional expenses overflying and due to the “extreme” windshear reported on its short final, especially when north winds blow (… quite common for the island).
Thus the choice is one ... this of runway 09!!!.
Due to the mountainous terrain, no aircraft (except maybe some light ones) can perform a straight-in landing. The only way to approach is flying along the south coast of the main island visually, heading East, stabilize at around 1500ft AGL and when abeam the 09's threshold start an open left turn for a modified base heading NW, followed by a tight , whole descending – and almost terrifyingfor the right windows passengers – turn for final...
Sunday, 25 November 2012 from 13:00 UTC to 15:30 UTC experienced ATC's will be waiting for you! ...Do you have the guts?.
SCENERY: MANDATORY! - (Default LGSM is completely wrong placed by MS)
Greek Division is waiting YOU...
P.S. For Heavy aircraft users:
Heavies are a “no go” for LGSM as in reality (due to runway's length, weight specifications and the approach itself...) B752 max and this is rare...So please try to make it ...as real as it gets!
We will be waiting for you.
On Behalf of the GR Division
