APC | Biggin Hill (EGKB)¶
Airspace¶
Biggin APC operates beneath the LTMA Class A and has no delegated controlled airspace. Biggin Hill has a Class G ATZ centred on Runway 03/21, of radius 2.5 NM and upper limit 2000 ft AAL. However, TC Thames is the controlling authority for the part of the ATZ from 1900 ft AAL to 2000 ft AAL.
Inbound Procedures¶
Biggin APC will be given a 10 NM range check for all arrivals from City Director.
ILS/VOR Approaches¶
Biggin Hill shares STAR routings with London City. Two RNAV transitions are established from JACKO and GODLU and terminating at OSVEV, from which point traffic will be vectored parallel to the London City Runway 27 centreline, into the London City CTR/CTA. Once within the London City CTR/CTA, TMS DIR will descend the aircraft to 1800 ft, turn them left onto a closing heading and clear them for the ILS/VOR approach Runway 21. At this point, aircraft will be transferred to Biggin ADC.
Non-Precision and Procedural Approaches¶
Non Precision approaches will be vectored to final and transferred directly to Biggin ADC from City Director.
Aircraft requesting full procedural (including ILS) approaches from within controlled airspace will be handled by City Director via ALKIN, and transferred directly to Biggin ADC. Should City Director wish to descend aircraft holding at ALKIN below the base of controlled airspace, they will coordinate this with APC. In this situation, either controller may pass the approach clearance; which this will be shall be decided in the coordination.
Aircraft requesting full procedural (including ILS) approaches from outside controlled airspace will be handled by Biggin APC:
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Biggin APC will clear the aircraft to hold at ALKIN outside controlled airspace.
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Biggin APC shall coordinate the arrival with City Director, who will allocate an SSR code and an Expected Approach Time (EAT), which Biggin APC shall pass to the aircraft.
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At the EAT, City Director shall pass an approach clearance to Biggin APC, or shall amend the EAT if unable. If the traffic situation requires, City Director may request for the traffic to by transferred to them for the approach clearance.
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Once the aircraft is established on the approach, they shall be transferred to ADC.
Note
Biggin APC shall not clear aircraft for procedural approaches without coordination with City Director as all procedural approaches enter London City controlled airspace.
Visual and Circling Approaches (IFR Traffic)¶
Aircraft will be vectored onto the final approach course by City Director. They shall not be cleared for a visual approach until coordination with Biggin APC as part of the 10 NM range check. APC should prenote ADC about aircraft commencing a visual approach.
Due to airspace restrictions to the south of Biggin (the Gatwick CTR/CTA), aircraft wishing to land on Runway 03 (circle-to-land traffic) will be vectored to join the Runway 21 extended centreline and instructed to route via the left hand downwind to Runway 03.
Radiotelephony
GASNE, cleared ILS approach Runway 21, expect circle-to-land Runway 03
APC should prenote ADC about aircraft wishing to fly the circle-to-land approach, ideally as soon as possible after the 10 NM range check from City Director.
Holding Procedures¶
Biggin APC is responsible for the following hold outside of controlled airspace only:
| Name | Axis | Direction | Holding Levels | Leg Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALKIN | 238° | RIGHT hand | 1800 ft – 2400 ft (OCAS) | 1 minute | Max 180 kts |
Outbound Procedures¶
IFR Departures¶
IFR Departures will be cleared on a Standard Departure Route (SDR) and will follow the standard noise abatement (see IFR Departures). Should an aircraft wish to remain IFR but outside the ATS route network, they may not be required to follow an SDR – this shall be coordinated as below.
When departing traffic starts, ADC will prenote APC. At this time, APC should prenote Thames Director about the departure.
APC and Thames Director shall then coordinate the departure at a convenient time. Thames Director will confirm the SDR clearance and pass the allocated CCAMS SSR code. At this point, APC shall pass this clearance to ADC, who shall return the clearance to the aircraft.
Once aerodrome conflicts are resolved, ADC shall transfer departing aircraft to APC. APC shall ensure the aircraft follows the standard noise abatement, and once aircraft are clean of conflict and established inbound to DET either at 2400 ft or climbing to 3000 ft, APC shall hand the aircraft off to Thames Director with no delay, to allow further climb into controlled airspace as soon as possible.
VFR Departures¶
ADC will request clearance from APC for VFR departures. VFR departures shall be instructed to leave the ATZ via the requested cardinal direction, or as necessary for traffic management. All VFR departures will climb straight ahead for at least 1 NM before commencing their turn.
UK Flight Information Services¶
APC is encouraged, subject to controller workload, to provide a Basic Service to any traffic operating in the vicinity of Biggin Hill that requests one. However, other nearby units such as Farnborough LARS or Southend LARS may be able to provide a higher level of UK FIS beyond the vicinity.
APC is responsible for the provision of UK FIS for all aircraft outside of controlled airspace that are inbound to Biggin Hill and within 10 NM of the airport.