Stage 02 • Great Rift Valley Depression

Masada (LLMZ) to Queen Alia (OJAI) via The Dead Sea

Earth's lowest exposed surface (-1,410 ft MSL), Judean Desert canyons, and the Moab Plateau

Distance 108.0 NM
Est. Time (150kts) 00h 43m
Target Alt -1,000 to 4,000 ft
Touch & Gos 2 Airfields

Departure: LLMZ (Bar Yehuda / Masada)

  • Elevation: -1,240 ft MSL (Negative Alt)
  • Runway: 07/25 (1,200m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: None (PPR)
  • Comms: CTAF 126.000 | BGN VOR 115.30

Arrival: OJAI (Amman / Queen Alia Int'l)

  • Elevation: 2,395 ft MSL
  • Runway: 08L/26R (3,660m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: Tower 118.100 | AMM VOR 114.30

Visual Route Map & Navaids (Great Rift Valley & Dead Sea Basin)

-1,410 FT MSL (LOWEST POINT) N E S W VAR 4°E (Mag °M) THE DEAD SEA JUDEAN DESERT MOAB MOUNTAINS BGN 115.30 AMM 114.30 175°M 042°M 038°M LLMZ Masada (-1,240 ft) LLEY Ein Yahav (T&G) Wadi Mujib Canyon VP OJAI Queen Alia (2,395 ft)

Navigation & Waypoint Breakdown

Ident Type Track (°M) Nav Aid / Frequency Dist ETE Landmarks & Flying Notes
LLMZ Departure -- CTAF 126.000 0.0 NM 00:00 Take off from Bar Yehuda / Masada at -1,240 ft MSL beneath the historic Masada Fortress.
LLEY Touch & Go 175° BGN 115.30 R-170 36.0 NM 00:14 Track south through the Arava Rift Valley floor; touch & go at desert strip Ein Yahav (-164 ft MSL).
MUJIB Waypoint 042° Visual Canyon Entry 34.0 NM 00:28 Recross the salt flats & Lisan Peninsula into Jordan; enter the dramatic mouth of Wadi Mujib gorge.
OJAI Arrival 038° AMM VOR 114.30 38.0 NM 00:43 Climb heavily from -1,000 ft up over the 3,500 ft Moab ridge onto the high plateau for Queen Alia Int'l.

Rift Valley & Negative Altitude Flying Tips

  • Negative Barometric Altitude: Set QNH carefully! Your altimeter will read below 0 ft MSL. MSFS avionics (like GTNXi / G1000) handle negative numbers, but pay close attention to ground clearance relative to radio altimeters.
  • Severe Thermal Downdrafts: Extreme desert heat over the hypersaline water creates strong sink holes near cliff faces. Maintain extra airspeed margin through canyon passes.
  • Climb Gradient Challenge: Climbing from -1,200 ft MSL to 2,400 ft MSL at Queen Alia requires gaining 3,600+ ft of altitude while traversing narrow mountain passes. Begin your climb early over the lake!

Digital Asset Pack

EFB / SkyDemon Route String

LLMZ LLEY MUJIB OJAI

Garmin TDS GTNXi Format (.gfp)

FPN/RI:LLMZ:LLEY:MUJIB:OJAI

Save as LakeTour_Stage02.gfp or paste into TDS catalog.

MSFS .pln File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>LLMZ to OJAI Stage 2 Landlocked Lakes Tour</Title>
        <FPType>VFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>Direct</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>3500</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>LLMZ</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>N31° 19 me' 41.00",E35° 23' 19.00",-001240.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>OJAI</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>N31° 43' 21.00",E35° 59 me' 36.00",+002395.00</DestinationLLA>
        <ATCWaypoint id="LLMZ">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N31° 19' 41.00",E35° 23' 19.00",-001240.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>LL</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>LLMZ</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="LLEY">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N30° 46' 00.00",E35° 12' 00.00",-000164.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>LL</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>LLEY</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="OJAI">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N31° 43' 21.00",E35° 59' 36.00",+002395.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>OJ</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>OJAI</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>