Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 59; Flight Crew Total 4900; Flight Crew Type 400
Situational Awareness; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airport; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
Flight was descending for approach into GTF from the northeast. There was a ceiling at approximately 6;000 feet AGL; and a visual approach to Runway 21 was anticipated once below the ceiling. After descending below the ceiling; a large airport complex with a long runway oriented to the southwest was observed. Both pilots believed this to be the GTF airport and it was reported in sight to ATC; who then cleared the flight for a visual approach to Runway 21. As the flight continued towards the airport; the pilots realized that this airport complex did not correspond to the GTF RNAV 21 guidance that was being used as an aid for the visual approach. The pilots visually located GTF further to the southwest and continued the visual approach to GTF. Post flight investigation revealed that the large airport complex initially observed was Malmstrom AFB (Air Force Base). Malmstrom AFB has a closed runway surface that is nearly identical in orientation and length to GTF Runway 21. However; there is little or no indication of the existence of this facility on IFR publications. Because the runway is closed; Malmstrom AFB is considered a heliport even though it visually appears to be a large runway similar to GTF. This prevents the facility from showing up on cockpit avionics displays and electronic moving maps; because heliports are excluded. The facility does also not appear on IFR enroute or terminal charts. It does appear on the VFR sectional chart; but only as a heliport. The VFR sectional chart does not convey the similarity of the complex to GTF. Recommend that Malmstrom AFB be depicted on IFR charts; so that pilots are better aware of its existence and similar appearance to GTF. Also consider whether the closed runway can be contained in navigational databases; so that it will appear on cockpit displays and electronic moving maps.
[Report narrative provided no additional information.]
Air carrier flight crew reported that during a visual approach to GTF airport the crew inadvertently flew toward a nearby Air Force Base with a runway complex that was nearly identical to GTF airport. The crew became reoriented and continued toward the clearance airport.