| Designation |
ESP |
| Name |
Espichel |
| Position |
N38°25.4' W009°11.1' |
| Google Maps | N38°25.4' W009°11.1' |
| Frequency |
112.5 MHz |
| Type |
VORTAC |
| Geography |
Espichel VORTAC is located near Cabo Espichel, on the West coast
of Portugal. It is not exactly at the cape (the light house and the former
monastry), but a few kilometres inland. You can clearly see the beacon on
top of a hill when you drive over the (only) road towards the actual cape.
Reaching the beacon is tricky. When driving towards the Cape, just before
you reach a few cafes on the main road you need to take a left turn into a
small village just East of the beacon. Follow the signs for the football
fields and you cannot miss the beacon. A 4-wheel-drive car is not required
but would be nice to have. |
| Procedures |
ESP plays an important role in the Southern arrival and departure
routes to and from Lisbon airport, and is also a major fix in the international
airway system. Its function as a coast-in beacon from the Atlantic makes it
critical for navigation by planes not yet equipped with GPS receivers. |
|
| Photo 1 |
The Espichel beacon in the landscape. [...] |
| Photo 2 |
The beacon is a combination of a Doppler VOR (the circle of
orange balls) and a TACAN (the cylinder in the centre). [...] |
| Photo 3 |
The first beacon hut with windows! [...] |
| Photo 4 |
Airconditioners are required here! [...] |
| Photo 5 |
Yes, the GPS worked again, as always. [...] |
| All photos |
