Stage 01 • Tian Shan Alpine Circuit

Tamchy (UCFL) to Karakol (UCFP) via Lake Issyk-Kul

High-altitude saline giant (5,270 ft MSL) ringed by 16,000 ft Tian Shan peaks

Distance 125.0 NM
Est. Time (150kts) 00h 50m
Target Alt 8,500–10,500 ft
Touch & Gos 2 Airfields

Departure: UCFL (Tamchy / Issyk-Kul Int'l)

  • Elevation: 5,427 ft MSL
  • Runway: 07/25 (3,800m Concrete)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: TWR 118.100 | TMN NDB 425.0

Arrival: UCFP (Karakol Airport)

  • Elevation: 5,722 ft MSL
  • Runway: 07/25 (2,000m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL available
  • Comms: AFIS 122.300 | KRL NDB 380.0

Visual Route Map & Navaids (Kyrgyz Alpine Basin Detail)

N E S W VAR 4°E (Mag °M) LAKE ISSYK-KUL KUNGOY ALA-TOO RANGE (15,600 FT) TERSKEY ALA-TOO RANGE (17,100 FT) TMN 425 KRL 380 092°M 145°M 072°M UCFL Tamchy UAFG Cholpon-Ata (T&G) Kadji-Say Strip (T&G) UCFP Karakol

Navigation & Waypoint Breakdown

Ident Type Track (°M) Nav Aid / Frequency Dist ETE Landmarks & Flying Notes
UCFL Departure -- TMN NDB 425.0 0.0 NM 00:00 Climb out from Tamchy at 5,427 ft elevation; track East along the northern resort coastline.
UAFG Touch & Go 092° Visual Shoreline 32.0 NM 00:13 T&G at Cholpon-Ata strip right on the lake edge. Watch for high density altitude effects.
KDJ Touch & Go 145° Water Crossing 38.0 NM 00:28 Cross the deep blue open waters (~2,000 ft deep) to the reddish clay cliffs of Kadji-Say.
UCFP Arrival 072° KRL NDB 380.0 55.0 NM 00:50 Trace the southern shore past Jeti-Oguz red rocks into the high mountain valley of Karakol.

High Altitude Mountain Tips

  • Density Altitude: With the lake surface sitting at 5,270 ft MSL, lean your mixture properly for ground taxi and takeoff performance in piston aircraft.
  • Katabatic Winds: Thermal breezes roll down off the 16,000+ ft peaks enclosing the basin. Expect turbulence on short final when approaching shoreline grass strips.
  • Thermal Water Phenomenon: Issyk-Kul means "Warm Lake"—it never freezes due to slight salinity and geothermal activity, producing stunning indigo reflections against snowcapped peaks.

Digital Asset Pack

EFB / SkyDemon Route String

UCFL UAFG KDJ UCFP

Garmin TDS GTNXi Format (.gfp)

FPN/RI:UCFL:UAFG:KDJ:UCFP

Save as LakeTour_Stage01.gfp or paste into TDS catalog.

MSFS .pln File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>UCFL to UCFP Stage 1 Landlocked Lakes Tour</Title>
        <FPType>VFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>Direct</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>9500</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>UCFL</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>N42° 35' 32.00",E76° 42' 47.00",+005427.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>UCFP</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>N42° 30' 00.00",E78° 23' 30.00",+005722.00</DestinationLLA>
        <ATCWaypoint id="UCFL">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N42° 35' 32.00",E76° 42' 47.00",+005427.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>UC</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>UCFL</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="UAFG">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N42° 39' 00.00",E77° 05' 00.00",+005380.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>UA</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>UAFG</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="UCFP">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N42° 30' 00.00",E78° 23' 30.00",+005722.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>UC</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>UCFP</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>