LTFH - SZF - Samsun

Climate & Weather
Samsun has a typical Black Sea climate with high and evenly distributed rainfall the year round. Summers are warm and humid, and the average maximum temperature is around 27 °C (81 °F) in August. Winters are cool and damp, and the lowest average minimum temperature is around 3 °C (37 °F) in January.

Precipitation is heaviest in late autumn and early winter. Snow is quite common between the months of December and March but this usually varies considerably from year to year, and the snowcover and temperatures below the freezing point rarely last more than a few days.

Westerly winds aloft can cause turbulence and windshear on final approach.

Approach

 * Tower will call itself Çarşamba tower (pronounced 'Charshamba')
 * Coming from HAVZA you can plan HAVZA1D (17DME arc) followed by ILS/DME Three (from EVLEK) for runway 13 if wind allows - don't forget to close any discontinuities in the route that might pop up.
 * Check/enter minimum altitudes for the arrival, they are not implemented in the FMS database.
 * Carsamba tower usually requests you to report each waypoint on the arrival and will clear you for descent down to the appropriate minimum.
 * If runway 31 is in use expect HAVZA 1K/1R followed by VOR/DME 31.

Taxi

 * The runway surface is smooth but undulating over its length, you will notice four distinct 'humps' especially on takeoff.
 * The apron is poorly lit, taxi lines can be hard to see at night.

Departure

 * Be careful when tower issues a direct after departure, Samsun is not equipped with radar or SSR - make sure terrain clearance is sufficient.

Alternates

 * LTAC - ESB - Ankara Esenboga
 * LTCG - TZX - Trabzon