Citationjet (C525/C526) - CJ I / II / III / IV
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 65; Flight Crew Total 11000; Flight Crew Type 220
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Diverted
Airport; Procedure; Weather
Enroute to SMO; and the marine layer rolled in 2 hours earlier than forecast. Reported ceiling was 700 feet broken. The tower had closed about 3 minutes before I commenced the GPS A approach; and the SoCal controller vectored me on to the approach and cleared me for the approach; adding that the last two aircraft had broken out at about 900 feet MSL. Inside BEVEY; that controller issued a frequency change to another SoCal controller; who then advised me that if I didn't have the airport at CULVE; I'd be issued go-around instructions. Without the step down at CULVE; there was no way I was going to see the airport. This all happened within a couple miles prior to CULVE. I briefly leveled at the pre-CULVE mins; but it was clear that it wasn't going to be remotely possible; so I initiated missed approach procedures. The SoCal controller claimed that these are restrictions when tower is closed due to all the arrivals into LAX. Whether or not that makes any sense; these restrictions are not published; and 2 miles prior to CULVE is too late to be issuing information of that importance to a flight crew; particularly when operating single-pilot. After the missed approach; I was vectored to VNY and landed without incident; as the weather was VMC.
CE525 Pilot is advised during the GPS A approach to SMO; that if the field is not in sight at CULVE (1;120 feet) a missed approach is required due to the Tower being closed. With a 700 foot ceiling the field is not seen and the flight diverts. The reporter believes that this restriction should be published as part of the approach and not announced at the last minute; especially to a single pilot aircraft.