¶ LXGB Gibraltar Aerodrome Procedures
NOT FOR REAL WORLD USE
Parts of this document reference sections of the LXGB - LECS Letter of Agreement.
Controllers opening Gibraltar ATC positions must be familiar with the LECS - LXGB Letter of Agreement
¶ General
¶ ATC Positions
| Position | Network Callsign | RT Callsign | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR | LXGB_TWR | Gibraltar Tower | 131.200 |
| INT | LXGB_APP | Gibraltar Radar | 130.400 |
¶ Aerodrome Control
¶ Runway Selection
The most ‘in to wind‘ Runway should be selected. The preferred runway is 27 when the tailwind component is less than 5 knots and the runway surface is dry.
The 2000ft wind should be used for runway selection if the wind is 90 degrees to the runway.
¶ Altimeter Setting
- Departing aircraft are to be given the Gibraltar QNH prior to take-off.
- Arriving aircraft below the transition level are to be given the Gibraltar QNH.
- Aircraft remaining within the vicinity of Gibraltar (ie Helicopter flights) should operate on the Gibraltar QFE.
- UK Military aircraft are to be given the Gibraltar QFE prior to take-off and prior to commencing an approach unless otherwise requested.
Gibraltar QFE = QNH - 1 hPa
¶ CAT II/III Operations
Nil.
¶ Low Visibility Procedures
Visibility is less than 1500 metres and/or Cloud ceiling is 200ft or less
The aerodrome must close to all arrivals and departures.
¶ Air Control
¶ Responsibilities
- Absolute authority over all movements on the active runway and access via holding points.
- Control of aircraft within the vicinity of Gibraltar and operating visually around the Rock.
- All aircraft ground movements on the manoeuvring area.
- Clearance Delivery and issuing ATC departure clearances.
- Requesting departure clearances and releases from Sevilla ACC.
¶ Clearance Delivery
AIR must request departure clearance’s from Sevillia ACC for all departures from Gibraltar.
- Please see the LECS - LXGB Letter of Agreement for more information.
¶ CPDLC/ DCL
CPDLC is not used at Gibraltar.
¶ Stand/ Parking Allocation
| Civil Aircraft | Stands 1 - 5 |
|---|---|
| Military Aircraft |
North Apron (Fast Jet Dispersal) South Apron |
¶ Departure Releases
AIR must request a release for all departures from Sevilla ACC.
- Please see the LECS - LXGB Letter of Agreement for more information.
¶ Departure Separation
¶ Wake Turbulence
Wake turbulence separation minima on departure shall be applied by measuring airborne times between successive aircraft. Take-off clearance may be issued with an allowance for the anticipated take-off run on the runway; however, the airborne time interval shall reflect a difference of at least the required time separation. ATC does not have the discretion to reduce wake turbulence separation minima.
CAA Departure seperation minima must be applied between departing aircraft. Departure separation minima can also be found within the XU Quickview.
¶ Route
All departures from Gibraltar are subject to a route separation of 2 minutes.
¶ Transfer of Control
¶ Departures
Departing aircraft should be transferred to LECS_CTR (Sevilla Control) when airborne before passing altitude 2000ft.
If Sevilla ACC is offline, departures should be transferred to Gibraltar Radar (INT).
If all of the above sectors are offline, departures should be released to UNICOM.
¶ Arrivals
Gibraltar Radar will retain control of arrivals until:
- Point Y - SRA Runway 27
- Point X - SRA Runway 09
Transfer of Communications will take place as soon as the pilot reports the Runway in sight (for Visual approaches).
VFR Arrivals transfer of control/ communications takes place as soon as the aircraft reports the Runway in sight.
¶ Approach Control
Gibraltar Radar (INT) is responsible for providing approach control services to all civillian and military aircraft inbound to Gibraltar.
¶ Responsibilities
- Accepting inbound releases from Sevilla ACC for all inbound traffic.
- Control of inbound traffic from the release point until control is transferred to Gibraltar Tower (AIR).
- Radar Vectoring of arrivals for Surveillance Radar (SRA) or Visual Approaches.
- Provision of UK Flight Information Services (UK FIS).
¶ Area of responsibility
¶ Intermediate Approach
¶ Inbound Releases
The standard release points are:
‘West or North-West via UT100 and R10: LECS clears for SOVIS arrival and descent to FL90 Transfer to LXGB (Gibraltar Radar) over SOVIS’
‘North or North East via MGA VOR: LECS clears for PIMOS arrival and descent to FL90 [due to MEA FL85] Transfer to LXGB over PIMOS’.
LECS - LXGB Letter of Agreement
¶ Holding
| Hold | Inbound Course/ Direction | Level |
|---|---|---|
| ODLUK | 075/ Left | 4000+ |
| UPMUP | 305/ Left | 3000+ |
¶ Separation
A minimum radar separation of 5nm must be maintained.
¶ Surveillance Radar Approach (SRA)
Gibraltar Radar (INT) is responsible for providing SRA approaches to both civilian and UK military aircraft.
Gibraltar Controllers must be familiar with both the Civilian and Military SRA procedure’s.
The following SRA Phraseology should be used:
“Aircraft Callsign, This will be a Surveillance Radar Approach, Runway [09/27] with a 3 degree glidepath, Terminating at [Point Y/ X/ VDP1]. Check your minima and missed approach point, Procedure Minimum Descent [Altitude/ Height] 920ft, [QNH/ QFE] 1000”
1. VDP = Visual Decision Point (Military)
| Distance (NM) | Altitude / Height (ft) | ATC Action |
|---|---|---|
| +10 | 2500 | Notify AIR of SRA |
| 10 | 2500 | |
| 9 | 2500 | |
| 8.5 | 2500 | “Begin Descent NOW to maintain a 3 degree glide path” |
| 8 | 2400 | |
| 7 | 2100 | |
| 6 | 1800 | |
| 5 | 1500 | |
| 4.5 | - | “Check gear down, Acknowledge” |
| 4 | 1200 | Request Landing clearance from AIR → Issue Landing clearance |
| 3.5 | - | “Approaching point Y/ X/ VDP. Are you visual with the Runway?” |
| 3 | 900 | “Approach completed. After landing contact Tower 131.200. Out” |
- INT will instruct the aircraft to go around If not visual with the runway by Point Y/ X/ VDP.
- If AIR is unable to issue a landing clearance to INT at 4 miles - the aircraft must be instructed to go-around.
- If a pilot reports visual before Point Y/X/VDP they can be instructed to contact the Tower for the landing clearance.
- Civillian aircraft may temporarily enter Restricted Area LER-164 if under the control of Gibraltar ATC.
¶ Final Approach
¶ Approach Separation
¶ Wake Turbulence
The wake turbulence separation minima in the XU Quickview shall be applied to aircraft on final approach when:
(1) an aircraft is operating directly behind another aircraft at the same altitude or less than 1,000 ft below; or
(2) an aircraft is crossing behind another aircraft, at the same altitude or less than 1,000 ft below;
¶ Departures
‘If Gibraltar Tower is offline but Gibraltar Radar is online: after departure, all aircraft shall be
handed off to Sevilla ACC before FL90 (or the coordinated level) and before PIMOS, AMPIR or LINTO.’
LECS - LXGB Letter of Agreement
¶ Low Level Procedures
¶ Airspace
Gibraltar has no associated controlled airspace or MATZ and is situated in class G uncontrolled airspace.
¶ VFR Circuits
Not permitted at Gibraltar.
¶ VFR Inbounds/ Outbounds
VFR traffic inbound gibraltar will be provided a UK FIS by Gibraltar Radar and instructed to route own navigtion until Gibraltar is in sight. Once visual with Gibraltar, Inbounds should be transferred to AIR for joining instructions (Usually Join left/right base to report final)
- Local fixed-wing/ helicopter VFR flights are permitted to fly visually around the rock of Gibraltar.
- VFR Flights must not overfly the Rock or Harbour installations.
¶ UKFIS
Gibraltar Radar may provide UK Flight information services within its area of responsibility, outside of controlled airspace subject to controller workload. Traffic and Deconfliction services must not provided to aircraft below the ATC Minimum Radar Vector Altitude chart.