There are three instrument approaches at SEE (as of 17 June 2021):
- RNAV (GPS) RWY 09L
- RNAV (GPS) RWY 17
- LOC-D
The two RNAV approaches are straight-in to runways 09L and 17, respectively. The LOC-D approach is aligned with runway 27R but has no straight-in minima. The -D
in the approach name indicates that fact.1
The fact that the suffix is -D
implies the existence of LOC-A, LOC-B, and LOC-C approaches at SEE. These approaches do not exist. Why, then, is the LOC-D approach named that way? Did the other approaches exist at one point and have since been removed?
In general, is there any way to look up the historical instrument approaches at any given airport?
1 7110.65 4–8–1a Note 6: "Alphabetical suffixes with a letter from the beginning of the alphabet; for example, A, B, C, denote a procedure that does not meet the criteria for straight-in landing minimums authorization" and AIM 5–4–5a3(a) "Circling only approaches are identified by the navigational system providing final approach guidance and a letter (e.g., VOR A)."