4. Air Control Procedures

4.1 General provisions

Air Control (AIR) is responsible for all aerodrome movements on runways and their associated taxiways. AIR shall also ensure separation between IFR aircraft that are arriving at and departing the aerodrome, as well as provide traffic information between IFR and VFR aircraft operating within the aerodrome control zone.

4.2 Preferential runways

At Ras Al Khaimah the prefered runway configuration is RWY34 which may be utilized with a tailwind of up to 5 knots.

4.3 Departure procedures

4.3.1 Standard departure points

At Ras Al Khaimah full length is usally used with the aiorcvrfat backtarckign the active runway. However some light acrft may be able to depart from S or N.

4.3.2 Line up and Backtrack clearances

Aircraft that have reached the runway holding points for departure shall be told to backtrack line-up once the runway is vacant and there is room to maneuver the aircraft onto the runway.

Example

Controller: "IGO26H, Backtrack line up runway 34"

Conditional line up instructions must also include the traffic that the aircraft is to follow, as well as the word “behind” at the beginning and end of the transmission. It is suggested to only have a maximum of two conditional line up clearances active at one i.e. one aircraft lining up behind a departure, and another aircraft lining up behind them.

Example

Controller: "A6-CTV, Behind the departing Cessna 172, Backtrack line up runway 35 behind."

Pilot: "Behind the departing Cessna 172, backtrack line up runway 35, behind A6-CTV."

4.3.3 Take-off clearances

Aircraft shall be cleared for take-off once adequate separation exists

Example

Controller: "IGO85W, wind 280 degrees, 13 knots, runway 34, cleared for takeoff."

Pilot: "Cleared for takeoff, runway 34, IGO85W."

4.3.4 Separation requirements

Aircraft shall be separated on departure in compliance with standard IFR departure separation minima or enhanced wake turbulence separation (eWTS) requirements. However same SID shall be separated by a minimum of 2 minutes. VFR aircraft may be instructed to maintain visual separation with preceding aircraft and given a take-off clearance if no wake turbulence separation minima exists. are able to achieve minimum separation requirements when reaching the respective Dubai CTA exit point.

4.3.5 IFR handoff procedure

IFR departures shall be handed off to Ras Al Khaimah Approach Radar. Where Ras Al Khaimah Approach Radar is offline, aircraft shall be handed off directly to the appropriate UAE controller.

4.3.6 Stopping a departure

Aircraft that have commenced their take-off roll may be instructed to stop immediately to avert a collision due to a runway incursion or any other dangerous situation.

Warning

The instruction to stop must be given early enough such that the aircraft does not reach its decision speed. Therefore, aerodrome controllers must be vigilant and remain aware of the location of traffic and all times as well as runway incursion hotspots.

Example

Controller: ABY728, Stop immediately, I say again stop immediately, vehicle entering the runway!

For aircraft that have been given a take-off clearance, but have not yet started the roll, they should be instructed to hold position and the take-off clearance must be cancelled along with the reason for cancellation.

Example

Controller: AXB764, hold position, cancel takeoff, I say again cancel takeoff, aircraft entering the runway, acknowledge.

4.4 Arrival procedures

4.4.1 Speed control

Although the radar controllers are responsible for separating arriving aircraft, the AIR controller shall still ensure that minimum separation is maintained until the preceding aircraft crosses the runway threshold. If it is apparent that minimum separation may not exist as provided in Wake Turbulence Separation (WTS) or minimum radar separation minima, AIR may use a tactical reduction in aircraft speed.

Example

Controller: IGO82M, Reduce to final approach speed.

Aircraft may also be instructed to maintain own separation visually, if speed control alone will not resolve the conflict. This shall only be done in VMC and with agreement with the pilot. If no other solutions are practical, the succeeding aircraft shall be instructed to go around.

4.4.2 Go around instruction

At any time should a runway become unsuitable for an aircraft landing, or separation minima is not met, aircraft shall be instructed to go-around.

Example

Controller: ABY78N, Go around, I say again, go around, acknowledge.

Once aircraft are observed to be safely climbing away, they shall be handed off to departure control.

Example

Controller: ABY78N, Climb to 3000ft via standard missed approach, contact Ras Al Khaimah Approach Radar 124.000.

4.4.3 Arrival taxi procedures

If an aircraft is unable to vacate via N or S they shall be instructed to exit the RWY on A or B, and then proceed to backtrack the RWY to exit on N or S.

4.5 VFR procedures

4.5.1 VFR departures

Once VFR aircraft are ready for departure, they should be cleared for take-off in sequence. As they begin their crosswind turn (the first turn after departure) they shall be instructed to report leaving the control zone.

Once aircraft are clear of the zone, they shall be instructed to remain outside controlled airspace and monitor advisory.

Aircraft climbing into controlled airspace shall be handed off to departure control.

Example

Controller: " A6-CTV, wind 330 degrees, 7 knots, runway 34, cleared for takeoff."

Pilot: "Cleared for takeoff, runway 34, A6-CTV."

4.5.2 VFR traffic remaining in the circuit

AIR control is responsible for managing circuit traffic. Circuits must always be conducted as stated in 2.8.3

Once aircraft are ready for departure, they should be cleared for take-off in sequence. As they begin their crosswind turn (the first turn after departure) they shall be instructed to report when they are on the downwind with their intentions.

Example

Controller: " A6-CTV, Report downwind with intentions."

Aircraft may request either a touch and go (where the aircraft lands and immediately takes off), a stop and go (where the aircraft lands, comes to a complete stop on the runway, then takes off), a low approach (where the aircraft flies low over the runway without landing), or a full stop (where the aircraft lands and vacates the runway).

Once AIR is aware of the aircraft’s request, they may be sequenced to the runway, with due consideration given to runway occupancy time.

Aircraft on the downwind should be passed the following information: - Expected runway; - Sequence; - Traffic information if applicable

Example

Controller: " A6-CTV, report final runway 35, number 1, traffic is a DA42 on a 3.5 mile final runway 34."

4.5.3 VFR arrivals

Inbound VFR aircraft shall be instructed to contact AIR with enough time such that two-way radio communications has been established before aircraft enter the aerodrome control zone. On first contact, AIR will pass circuit joining instructions, as well as any other pertinent information.