Stage 08 • Caspian Depression & Desert Salt Lagoon

Turkmenbashi (UTAT) to Balkanabat (UT1H) via Kara-Bogaz-Gol

Shallow hypersaline bay (-115 ft MSL), the narrow Caspian sea inlet, salt crust plains, and Karakum Desert dunes

Distance 128.0 NM
Est. Time (150kts) 00h 51m
Target Alt 2,500–4,500 ft
Touch & Gos 2 Airfields

Departure: UTAT (Turkmenbashi Int'l)

  • Elevation: -82 ft MSL (Caspian Depression)
  • Runway: 16L/34R (3,500m Concrete)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: Tower 118.100 | TMB VOR 112.30

Arrival: UT1H (Balkanabat Airport)

  • Elevation: 30 ft MSL
  • Runway: 09/27 (2,500m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: Tower 118.500 | NBD NDB 325.0

Visual Route Map & Navaids (Caspian Sea & Kara-Bogaz Basin)

GARABOGAZ INLET N E S W VAR 6°E (Mag °M) KARA-BOGAZ-GOL CASPIAN SEA KARAKUM DESERT TMB 112.30 NBD 325.0 355°M 085°M 175°M UTAT Turkmenbashi (-82 ft) Garabogaz Strip (T&G) Salt Flats VP UT1H Balkanabat (30 ft)

Navigation & Waypoint Breakdown

Ident Type Track (°M) Nav Aid / Frequency Dist ETE Landmarks & Flying Notes
UTAT Departure -- TMB VOR 112.30 0.0 NM 00:00 Depart Turkmenbashi Int'l at -82 ft MSL; track North along the eastern Caspian coastline.
GARABOGAZ Touch & Go 355° Visual Inlet 48.0 NM 00:19 Fly over the narrow canal inlet connecting the Caspian Sea to Kara-Bogaz-Gol; low approach at Garabogaz strip.
SALT_PAN Waypoint 085° Visual Salt Crust 35.0 NM 00:33 Cross the shallow teal lagoon to view extensive white mirabilite (Glauber's salt) evaporation crusts.
UT1H Arrival 175° NBD NDB 325.0 45.0 NM 00:51 Head South over the arid Karakum Desert dunes to land at Balkanabat Airport (UT1H).

Caspian Basin & Salt Lagoon Tips

  • Below Sea Level Altimetry: Turkmenbashi (UTAT) sits at -82 ft MSL, while the Kara-Bogaz-Gol basin drops to -115 ft MSL. Confirm correct QNH settings so your altimeter reflects accurate negative elevations.
  • The Caspian Waterfall Inlet: Water flows continuously from the Caspian Sea into Kara-Bogaz-Gol through a narrow 200m-wide inlet channel due to rapid evaporation in the desert.
  • Desolate VFR Navigation: The Karakum Desert features minimal ground landmarks. Keep VOR/NDB instruments tuned and rely on coastline and salt crust visual references.

Digital Asset Pack

EFB / SkyDemon Route String

UTAT GARABOGAZ SALT_PAN UT1H

Garmin TDS GTNXi Format (.gfp)

FPN/RI:UTAT:GARABOGAZ:SALT_PAN:UT1H

Save as LakeTour_Stage08.gfp or paste into TDS catalog.

MSFS .pln File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>UTAT to UT1H Stage 8 Landlocked Lakes Tour</Title>
        <FPType>VFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>Direct</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>3500</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>UTAT</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>N40° 03' 48.00",E52° 59 me' 30.00",-000082.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>UT1H</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>N39° 28 me' 50.00",E54° 21' 45.00",+000030.00</DestinationLLA>
        <ATCWaypoint id="UTAT">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N40° 03' 48.00",E52° 59' 30.00",-000082.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>UT</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>UTAT</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="UT1H">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>N39° 28' 50.00",E54° 21' 45.00",+000030.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>UT</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>UT1H</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>