Cardiff vMATS – Aerodrome Control
Edition 4 09th April 2008
Cardiff Tower (EGFF_TWR) 125.000MHz
Cardiff Tower covers all traffic on the ground, and in the visual circuit. Here is a summary of the responsibilities of Cardiff Tower:
IFR traffic will call Cardiff Tower for their Departure clearance whilst on the stand; at this point the controller should issue the appropriate SID and squawk code. If required, the controller should provide further information on the SID to the pilot. If the aircraft is not departing using a SID (i.e. is flying nonairways) then the aircraft may be required to receive its clearance on taxi; such a clearance will be obtained from Cardiff Radar. At the appropriate time (either after the clearance has been given, or before), Cardiff Tower will clear aircraft for start-up, and issue their taxi instructions and appropriate meteorological information (QNH).
Cardiff Radar (EGFF_APP) 125.850MHz
Cardiff Radar 125.850, when manned alone (i.e. without Tower or secondary Radar position) will cover all of the above and the following: Cardiff Radar provides positive control over all IFR departures and arrivals; including climb and descent instructions, turning instructions, traffic avoidance, traffic information, vectors to the ILS (or other requested approach, such as visual or SRA), and must ensure traffic separation at all times.
As well as control over IFR traffic; Cardiff Radar also controls VFR traffic; including Flight Information Service for departing and arriving VFR traffic, zone transit, and LARS (Lower Airspace Radar Service); Cardiff LARS covers a 40nm Radius from the aerodrome.
Cardiff Radar must ensure all standing agreements are met, and appropriate co-ordination is made with neighbouring units, such as Bristol Radar.
Cardiff Radar must provide Departure Releases at the request of Cardiff Tower. When issuing a departure release, the controller must take into account all other traffic; departures, arrivals, VFR traffic, and unknown traffic. For more information; see the Procedures for Departing Traffic section.
If Cardiff Radar 126.625MHz is online, then Cardiff Radar 125.850 only provides a service to IFR traffic. All VFR/LARS traffic will be worked by Cardiff Radar (LARS) 126.625MHz
VFR traffic parked on the General Aviation apron will start at their discretion and call Cardiff Tower for taxi. At which point, Cardiff Tower will instruct the aircraft to hold position and pass the VFR Departure Clearance, upon successful readback the controller will pass taxi instructions and the relevant meteorological data.
Cardiff Tower has control of the Runway (including landing and takeoff clearances) and visual circuit, as well as control over VFR traffic within the Control Zone (CTR).
IFR traffic, once they have received their IFR Departure clearance, requires a release from Cardiff Radar prior to their departure. Most of the time, there will be no restriction, other than the SID already assigned, and a takeoff clearance can be issued when safe to do so.
Here is a list of our SIDs, including the description, and airway/direction to join when using each SID:
Runway 30
SID Designator Explanation Airway/Direction
ERNOK ONE ALPHA (ERNOK1A)* Climb straight ahead. At I-CWA D4, at
or above 2300 (8.0%), turn right ontotrack 099°. Cross BCN VOR R200
above 3500 to intercept HON VORR233. Cross HON VOR D71.1 at 6000.
L9 Eastbound
BRECON ONE ALPHA (BCN1A) Climb straight ahead. At I-CWA D4, at
or above 2300 (8.0%), turn right to intercept BCN VOR R214, cross BCN
D15 above 3500, cross BCN D11 above 4500, cross BCN D6 at 6000 to BCN VOR.
N864 Northbound/L9 Westbound
EXMOR ONE ALPHA (EXMOR1A) Climb straight ahead. At I-CWA D4, at
or above 2300 (8.0%), turn left onto track 130° to cross BHD VOR R005
above 3500, intercept BHD VOR R009, to EXMOR. Cross BHD D51.7 at 5000.
N864 Southbound
Runway 12
SID Designator Explanation Airway/Direction
ALVIN ONE BRAVO (ALVIN1B) Climb straight ahead. At I-CDF D4.5,
at or above 2600 (8.2%), turn left onto track 002°, cross BCN D19 above
3500. Intercept CDF NDB QDR 060° to ALVIN above 4500. Cross HON
D65.2 at 6000. L9 Eastbound
BRECON ONE BRAVO (BCN1B) Climb straight ahead. At I-CWA D4.5,
at or above 2600 (8.2%), turn left to intercept BCN VOR R168, cross BCN
D18.5 above 3500, cross BCN D14 above 4500, cross BCN D6 at 6000 to
BCN VOR. N864 Northbound/L9 Westbound
EXMOR ONE BRAVO (EXMOR1B) Climb straight ahead. At I-CDF D2, at
or above 1350 (8.2%), turn right onto track 220° to cross BHD VOR R012
above 3500, intercept BHD VOR R009, to EXMOR. Cross BHD D51.7 at
5000. N864 Southbound
Notes:
*ERNOK1A SID Suspended – Due to the distance from, and strength of HON VOR; ERNOK1A has been suspended. Aircraft are now required to route BCN L9 and fly a BCN1A SID. Aircraft who file ERNOK L9 should be informed of the change and asked to refile. They can expect to be given a direct route to ALVIN once airborne.
ALVIN SIDs: Pilots of aircraft which are unable to maintain climb gradients to achieve FL80 by HON D61.7 must inform ATC for alternative clearance.
EXMOR SIDs: Pilots of aircraft which are unable to maintain climb gradients to achieve 5000 by BHD D51.7 must inform ATC for alternative clearance.
Here is a list of the Cardiff STARs:
Cardiff One Alpha
CDF1A
Cardiff One bravo
CDF1B
Cardiff One Charlie
CDF1C
Cardiff One delta
CDF1D
Cardiff One Echo
CDF1E
For detailed information on the Cardiff stars look at the charts here
VFR Departure Clearances
VFR traffic will start up at their own discretion, as there is no need for light aircraft to request start whilst parked on the General Aviation Apron. Aircraft will call Tower for taxi instructions, at which point they will be instructed to hold position and will be issued with their VFR Departure Clearance.
All VFR departures will route via a valid VFR Exit Route.
Here is a list of the Cardiff VFR Exit Routes:
Route
Designator & Runway Leave Zone At Route Maximum Altitude (QNH)
VFR St. Hillary (30/12) Bridgend Route north of St Hilary TV Mast
and leave CAS to the west routeing north of Bridgend at Junction 36 VRP.
1500ft
VFR Southeast (30/12) NE Flat Holme Lighthouse Route north of Barry
then north of Flat Holm Island, and leave CAS at the east/southeast
zone boundary. 1500ft
VFR South (30) N Minehead Route towards Minehead and leave the zone to the south. 1500ft
VFR South (12) N Minehead Route east of the quarry (1 nm west of
Cardiff airport) and leave CAS to the south towards Minehead VRP. 1500ft
VFR North (30/12) North Route between the St Hilary and Wenvoe TV masts and
leave CAS to the north. 1500ft
VFR Nash Point (30) Nash Point Route east of the quarry (1 nm west of
Cardiff airport) And leave CAS to the west along the coast, over water, via
Nash Point. 1500ft
VFR Nash Point (12) Nash Point Leave CAS to the west along the coast, over water, via Nash Point. 1500ft
VFR Wenvoe (30/12) West Cardiff Docks Route to the East of Wenvoe TV Mast
and leave the zone to the North East. 1500ft
VFR Departure clearances will be prefixed with the name of the appropriate Exit route. Here is an example:
“GABBC Hold Position, Cleared to leave the Cardiff Control Zone via the
Published VFR Wenvoe Departure, not above altitude 1,500ft”
Once VFR traffic is airborne, they will be handed to Cardiff Radar (LARS)
when approaching the CTR boundary. (This does not apply to circuit traffic).
VFR Circuit Traffic
VFR traffic wishing to remain in the visual circuit will remain the responsibility of Cardiff Tower. The circuit direction is normally to the north of the field (right hand off runway 30, left hand off runway 12). Once the aircraft calls up for taxi they will be instructed to hold position and issued with their circuit instructions.
“GABBC Hold position, cleared for a right hand VFR circuit runway 30 Not above height 1200ft QFE 990mb. Squawk 7010”
Upon successful readback the aircraft will be instructed to taxi. When the aircraft is ready for departure, they will be advised of the circuit direction and asked to report downwind with the takeoff clearance, like so:
“GABBC Right hand turnout VFR; runway 30 cleared for takeoff, surface wind 310 degrees, 10 knots”
When an aircraft enters the visual circuit, the tower controller must advise the radar controller(s) “the circuit is active”.
When the aircraft reports downwind, the aircraft will normally advise the tower of his/her intentions (to land, touch and go, leave the zone etc). The tower controller will then ask the aircraft to report final, taking into account other traffic on the approach, and applying the appropriate wake vortex separation. The circuit traffic may be required to orbit at a specific point, or in its current position; this serves as a holding pattern to give way to other traffic.
Example: “G-BC, orbit left hand in your current position until advised”
Or
“G-BC number two following a 737 on 3 mile final, caution vortex wake
recommended spacing is SIX miles; report final number two, orbit at the
end of downwind leg if necessary”
If there are several aircraft on the approach, then “Orbit left/right hand at the end of the downwind leg”
Cardiff VFR Entry Routes:
Route
Designator & Runway Entry Point Route Maximum Altitude (QNH)
Hilary TV mast, then as directed by Cardiff ATC. 1500ft
VFR North (30/12) North Enter Cardiff CAS from the north between the St
Hilary and Wenvoe TV masts, then as directed by Cardiff ATC. 1500ft
VFR Cardiff Docks (30/12) Cardiff Docks Enter Cardiff CAS via Cardiff
Docks, then as directed by Cardiff ATC. 1500ft
VFR Flat Holm (30/12) North of Flat Holm Lighthouse Enter Cardiff CAS via
Weston-Super-Mare, route north of Flat Holm Lighthouse towards
Lavernock Point, then as directed by Cardiff ATC. 1500ft
VFR South (30) N Minehead Enter Cardiff CAS to the south, then as directed by
Cardiff ATC. 1500ft
VFR South (12) N Minehead Enter Cardiff CAS from the south, remaining east
of the quarry (1 nm west of Cardiff Airport), then as directed by Cardiff
ATC. 1500ft
VFR Nash Point (30) Nash Point Enter Cardiff CAS via Nash Point, route along
the coast, remaining over water, then as directed by Cardiff ATC. 1500ft Route
VFR Nash Point (12) Nash Point Enter Cardiff CAS via Nash Point, route along
the coast, remaining over water and east of the quarry (1 nm west of
Cardiff Airport), then as directed by Cardiff ATC. 1500ft Route
Low Visibility Procedures
When the overall visibility drops below 3000 metres and the cloud base drops to 300 feet, low visibility
procedures shall be implemented. These are as follows:
- Aircraft are to be held at holding point B2 for runway 12, and A2 for runway 30
- Aircraft parked on the southside are to be held at holding point H
- Departing aircraft must be given their takeoff clearance before any inbound traffic on the ILS
- reaches 8nm from touchdown
- Taxiways E, F and G are closed
- Aircraft may only enter the runway via holds A1, B1 and H.
An ATIS message shall be added to ensure pilots are aware of the airfield’s LVP state. The message follows:
“Airfield Low Visibility Procedures In Force, Access to the runway is not available via taxiways E, F or G”
