[ARC5] Radio Ranges

[Waldo Magnuson]

I’ve helped out a little with a friend who is a “Navigation Radio Beacon historian” and asked him (Tom Johnson) where was the last operating 4 course Radio Range in the US.  His answer is a little long but interesting, especially to those of us who actually flew the Ranges (me in Canada in 1966).  
Skip Magnuson W7WGM
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Hi Skip, 

Am interesting question!  And I don't have a sure answer.  At one time I subscribed to the government instrument approach charts.  From that information I wrote, in 2012,  "... the last Low-frequency Range (LFR) instrument approach procedure in the U.S., at Elkins, West Virginia, was deleted on January 16, 1969.  On August 25, 1960 there were 258 LFR's in the 50 states, down from a maximum of 440+ in the late 1940's."   

​The Library of Congress collection of historic Sectional Charts currently available from A through Little Rock includes the Huntington (WV) Sectionals from February 1934 through February 1969.  The February 1969 Huntington Sectional is available here: 
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3701pm.gct00089/?sp=2651 
​It shows the Elkins LFR then labeled "Randolph County."  Here's a wild guess:  The county kept the LFR operating, and paid for it, because it allowed lower minimums on the approach to their mountain-valley airport than the VORTAC about 11 miles to the west.  The 2018 lowest minimums for any instrument approach into Elkins are 1,100 and 1-1/4.  

Regarding the LFR's in North and South Carolina, I was able to check on 14 of the 15 in the two states.  All had disappeared by the April 1965 charts or earlier.  The one unknown was the LFR that had been at the Marine Corps station at Cherry Point, NC.  I doubt it was a late survivor as my impression (no data) is that the military abandoned their LFR's relatively early compared to the CAA/FAA. 

Their were 16 LFR's in Montana at one time.  The Butte, Glacier Park and Kootenai Sectionals gave me data on all except the Dillon, Miles City and Superior ranges.  The last survivors I did find were the LFR's at Helena and Whitehall.  Both were on the July 1965 Butte Sectional and both were absent from the February 1966 Butte Sectional.  Perhaps those who thought of Montana were thinking of the Airway Light Beacons, a reduced number of which are still operating in Montana today.  

I found some correspondence in April, 2011 from Dave Hykle stating, in part:  "Some trivia for you.... the last operational Range Instrument Approach procedure was located at Castlegar, British Columbia.  I still have the original chart dated 1980 !"   The U.S. Sectional Charts that overlap the border show Canadian LFR's at Kimberley (Cranbrook), Castlegar, Penticton, Comox and Nanaimo in British Columbia in early 1971 (Feb. 1971 Kootenai and April 1971 Bellingham charts).   

​Northway, Alaska does "ring a bell" with me.  It could be that last LFR.  I have no access to charts that would be helpful.  

Mexico also operated LFR's at least late in the 1960's.  The last Corpus Christi Sectional, February 1968, shows a LFR at Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  And the last Douglas Sectional, October 1967, shows at part-time LFR at Nueva Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico. ​ I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Mexico operated the last LFR. 

Final guesses:  Last U.S. LFR - Northway or elsewhere in Alaska or Elkins, WV.  Last LFR anywhere - Mexico or Canada or Alaska.  Enough! 

Tom J.  
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