LOWW - High Traffic Procedures
General
This document sets up general guidelines for working with large amounts of traffic at virtual LOWW Airport. They can always be modified by the controllers involved if deemed necessary. LOWW_APP can be divided into up to five Sectors:
| LOWW_APP | LOWW_N_APP | LOWW_S_APP | LOWW_F_APP | LOWW_N_APP |
| 128.200 | 124.550 | 129.550 | 119.800 | 132.470 |
| GND-FL105 | FL105-FL245 | FL105-FL245 | 1st Director | 2nd Director |
The decision which sectors are used shall be based on traffic Situation.
Handoffs
In preparation to high traffic events every controller should have a close look onto the handoff procedures which are described in the SAG Approach study guide (page 13).
| Never hand off an aircraft that is in or can become into a conflicting situation while it is still in your own airspace.
You are responsible for everything that happens in your sector. |
Sector Procedures
LOVV_CTR
LOWW Arrivals are handed of to LOWW_N/S_APP from LOVV_ CTR according to these guidelines:
| Arr. Rwys in use / Fix | TEMTA | BARUG | NIGSI |
| 11 / 16 | < FL150 | < FL150 | |
| 29 / 34 | < FL170 | < FL150 | < FL130 |
- They should be placed at least ten miles in trail.
- Handoffs should be completed by the time the aircraft reaches the sector border (This includes Transfer of Communication!)
- Speed assignments are entered into the scratch pad or the Euroscope tag.
- Non-standard routes and directs are subject to prior coordination.
- Controller has to be aware that directs to SID end points are possible without coordination if they do not interfere with STARs.
LOWW_N/S_APP (Upper)
The border between these two sectors is depicted in the Sectorfile.
Departures
Directs to SID endpoints are allowed without prior coordination, if the aircraft is always separated to all STARs outside LOWW_N/S_APP airspace. Departures to the south and to the west are handed off according to their Requested Cruise Level (RCL) if they can reach the associated sector within a reasonable distance (In some cases they might pass through LOVV_CTR or an APP airspace).
For Handoffs to Budapest, Bratislava or Praha Control check the respective LoA.
Arrivals
Aircraft are already cleared for a STAR inbound to one of these clearance limits:
Each of these points has got an associated holding pattern.
Upon initial contact with an aircraft N/S_APP points out the expected Approach for each aircraft. From their clearance limit Aircraft are vectored or cleared onto a transition. This should be pointed out to the next controller by putting a remark into the aircrafts scratchpad. A possible convention is:
- If cleared onto a transition the transition identifier (1m, 1n, ....) is inserted.
- On vectors the abbreviations vc11, vc16, ... are used.
This also indicates that the expected runway has been communicated to the pilot.
N/S_APP should descend aircraft to FL110 and start to build up a sequence. At some configurations (e.g. rwy 11 in use, aircraft via TEMTA – NERDU) aircraft are not very long under N/S_APP control so appropriate altitudes are especially important. Aircraft should be handed off to LOWW_APP in a way that further descend and speed do not pose a problem. High speed below FL100 is subject to prior coordination with LOWW_APP.
LOWW_APP (Lower)
Departures
Departures should be identified and climbed to FL100 or RCL if lower. Directs to SID endpoints are possible without prior coordination if the aircraft does not climb above FL100 and if the aircraft is always separated to all STARs outside LOWW_APP airspace. Flights are handed off to the next appropriate station according to their flight path.
Arrivals
LOWW_APP hast to form a sequence, descend, and hand the aircraft off to Director. At runways 11, 29 and 34 two downwinds can be established. At runway 16 this is only possible to limited extend due to LO(R)-15. Although forming downwind patterns is the best way to cope with big amounts of traffic, LOWW_APP has every liberty to modify the stream of traffic in order to build up a good sequence. Speed for Handoff to Director is 220 kn and altitude according to this table:
LOWW_APP and LOWW_F/D_APP are working closely together, so communication between them is very important.
LOWW_F/D_APP (Director)
The Director forms the final sequence. He has to work closely together with LOWW_APP and in case of departure operations on the same runway, also with LOWW_X_TWR. LOWW_F/D_APP establishes the aircraft on final. Recommended speed up to 4 nm final is 160 kn, whereas 180 kn should not be exceeded. When the aircraft is established on Localizer and no more instructions have to be issued they should be handed off to TWR.
Holding
Setting up holdings
If necessary LOWW_X_APP should set up holding stacks at these holds:
Aircraft above FL 105 are cleared in to the hold by LOWW_N/S_APP. If the stack exceeds FL110 LOVV_CTR has to be informed immediately. From this point on aircraft should be handed off to LOWW_N/S_APP at FL240 or RCL if lower and be informed of the holding taking place. Also LOWW_N/S_APP should be informed about aircraft with an RCL below FL240. This is to prevent aircraft from flying through the stack if APP can not contact them in time. If remote holdings in LOVV_CTR airspace have to be used, LOWW_N/S_APP should inform LOVV_CTR.
LOWW_N/S_APP should take care that he is still able to pass departures and overflights through the arriving traffic. According to traffic situation leaving open some holding levels should be considered.
Cancelling Holdings
In order to break up the holding patterns LOWW_APP starts to clear aircraft from the lowest levels out of the hold. Aircraft above have to be descended accordingly. LOWW_N/S_APP should handoff the lowest aircraft in his stack to LOWW_APP. LOWW_APP accepts this handoff as soon as he can take the aircraft and cancels the hold as necessary.
Transfer of communication should be carried out when LOWW_APP has accepted the handoff!
As soon as the level is vacated LOWW_N/S_APP can clear the next one to FL110 and initiate the handoff.
In a similar manner LOVV_CTR offers aircraft to LOWW_N/S_APP.