Handling A380 Traffic

Due to their wingspan and the wake turbulence they generate, A380s (and other Code-F aircraft) require handling procedures different to other aircraft. This page aims to provide guidance to controllers on how to control A380 traffic safely and efficiently.

Approved Aerodromes

The following UK airfields are capable of handling the A380:

• London Heathrow (EGLL)
• London Gatwick (EGKK)
• Manchester (EGCC)
• London Stansted (EGSS)
• Birmingham (EGBB)
• Glasgow (EGPF)
• Prestwick (EGPK)
• East Midlands (EGNX)
• Aldergrove (EGAA)
• RAF Brize Norton (EGVN)
• RAF Fairford (EGVA)

Additionally, the A380 may operate at the following airfields with significant restrictions:

• Farnborough (EGLF)
• Cardiff (EGFF)
• Kemble (EGBP)

Note

Historically, Manston (EGMH), Doncaster (EGCN) and Bristol Filton (EGTG) have seen A380 operations. These airports are now closed and no ATC services are provided. For flights to/from Manston/Doncaster/Filton:

Flights to Manston (EGMH)

Flights to Manston should be routed to leave controlled airspace clear of the Gatwick and Thames RMA prior to transfer to UNICOM.

Flights to Filton (EGCN)

Flights to Filton should route to the Filton NDB (OF) and be descended outside of controlled airspace. A UK FIS may be provided until the aircraft is established (themselves), before handing them off to UNICOM.

Flights from these airports joining the ATS route network shall depart on Unicom but must request a clearance prior to entering controlled airspace. Flights operating at closed airports shall do so on UNICOM.

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General Procedures

Procedures should be documented in the local vMATS Part 2, however controllers may reference the AIP for specifics, and should report any documentation issues to the operations team via discord, the forums, or the helpdesk.

VATSIMism

Following guidance from the VATSIM Board of Governors, pilots operating the A380 to/from non A380 compatible airfields should be advised that the airfield is not capable of A380 traffic. For airborne aircraft that are inbound to a UK airfield, a suitable diversion shall be offered from the list of airfields above. For aircraft departing from a UK airfield, they should be advised on stand - this means that controllers covering GMP should not allow A380 departures to aerodromes in the UK that are not on the above list.

Any disputes should be directed to the supervisor team via .wallop. As a reminder, CoC B8(b) states: “Pilots should select aircraft that are capable of utilising intended airports.”

ADC/AIR

Code-F/A380 Ground Movement Charts can be found in the AIP for the majority of A380 permitting aerodromes.

A limited number of stands that can accommodate the A380 are available. These stands can be found in the local documentation, or on this document. Controllers can check specific stands through UKCP.

Note

In the event that all A380 stands are occupied, aerodrome controllers should remotely hold A380s at a suitable location until a stand becomes available. Controllers may also use other heavy stands, where it will not affect other aircraft, at the pilot’s request. Efforts should be made to avoid holding airborne aircraft due to lack of stands, as the approach environment is expected to be busy. All delays resulting from lack of stands should be absorbed on the ground once the aircraft has landed.

Tower controllers should also be aware of the additional departure wake turbulence separation requirements for super aircraft:

Aircaft following a Super	Departure Wake Turbulence Separation
Super	N/A
Heavy	2 Minutes
Medium	3 Minutes
Small	3 Minutes
Light	3 Minutes

APC

Controllers must be aware of the wake turbulence separation requirements for the A380 (Super), outlined below:

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Aerodrome Specific Guidance

London Heathrow (EGLL)

ADC

Heathrow has multiple A380 stands:

A380s may taxi on the taxiways outlined on the EGLL Code-F Ground Movement chart., or with a yellow taxi line on the SMR.

Warning

A380 carriers using Terminal 4 when 09R is the departure runway must cross 09R and join A or B as taxiway S west of S6 is unavailable for A380s.

AIR

AIR controllers should be familiar with RECAT A (Super Heavy), outlined below, as it differs from the standard wake turbulence separation.

APC

A380 traffic on approach shall be instructed to maintain 160kts to 5 DME, if speed control is required, rather than the standard until 4 DME. This is due to the inability of the aircraft to slow to its' final approach speed. This is mitigated by the minimum spacing detailed below.

Director must apply the spacing below, at minimum, for successive A380 arrivals on the same runway.

• 09L | 4.5 NM
• 09R | 4 NM
• 27L | 4 NM
• 27R | 4 NM

Note

A380 inbounds on a separate runway do not require the above spacing. Controllers may wish to use the non-duty runway (TEAM) for some A380 traffic to avoid delays.

Interactions with Helicopter Traffic

When an A380 departs 27L/09R, 4 minutes wake turbulence separation shall be applied to helicopters operating from the Terminal 4 HAP.

During Easterly operations, when A380 traffic departs on a CPT departure, helicopter traffic routing on the restricted portions of the helicopter lanes depicted below should be held.

The restricted portions of the helicopter lanes during A380 CPT departures are:

• H3 between Richmond and Thorpe
• H9 between Oxshott West/East and Bedfont

The controller responsible for the TC SVFR function should coordinate any helicopters using these restricted routes with AIR Deps to ensure the restrictions are complied with.

London Gatwick (EGKK)

Gatwick has 4 A380 stands - 172, 234, 235, 558

A380s may taxi on the taxiways outlined in yellow on the EGKK Code-F Ground Movement chart. AIR controllers are reminded that the A380 cannot arrive/depart from the northern runway (26R/08L)

Warning

Remember that A380 traffic crucially cannot taxi under the airbridge and must taxi via QB and RA.

VATSIMism

In case of all A380 stands being occupied, arriving A380s should be queued down the northern runway until a stand becomes available.

Furthermore, AIR controllers should be familiar with RECAT A (Super Heavy), outlined below, as it differs from the standard wake turbulence separation.

Manchester (EGCC)

Manchester has 4 A380 stands - 12 (preferred for emirates), 61, 62, 80

A380s may taxi on the taxiways outlined in yellow on the EGCC Code-F Ground Movement chart.

VATSIMism

Incase of all A380 stands being occupied, arriving A380s should be remotely held at a suitable location such as K4 or V4 (when landing 05R) until a stand becomes available.

London Stansted (EGSS)

Stansted has 8 A380 stands - 6, 9, 12, 13, 204, 205, 213, 214

A380s may taxi on the taxiways outlined in yellow on the EGSS Code-F Ground Movement chart.

Warning

Controllers should remember that when runway 22 is in use, arriving A380 pilots missing L will need to continue to the end of the runway to vacate, significantly increasing the runway vacation time.

Birmingham (EGBB)

Birmingham has 2 A380 stands - 54C and 85C

A380s may taxi on the taxiways outlined in yellow on the EGBB Code-F Ground Movement chart.

Glasgow (EGPF)

Glasgow has 2 A380 stands - 30 and 37

A380s may taxi on the taxiways outlined in yellow on the EGPF Code-F Ground Movement chart.

VATSIMism

In the event of stand congestion, aircraft vacating runway 23 are to be instructed to hold short of Apron November. Aircraft vacating runway 05 are to be instructed to hold abeam the ATC Control Tower.

Info

Incase of severe A380 congestion, Prestwick (EGPK) is nominated as a diversion airfield for A380 traffic inbound to Glasgow. Parking is available for one A380 on the taxiway between stand 3,4 and 5. Stands 3, 4, 5 and 6 must all be free of aircraft.

East Midlands (EGNX)

East Midlands has 1 A380 stand - 107

At East Midlands taxiways are severly restricted. A380 traffic cannot use taxiway A between W & G. Therefore, depending on runway direction, backtracking on the runway may be required.

Further A380 taxiway restrictions can be found on the EGNX Code-F Ground Movement chart.

Should a large number of A380 traffic be inbound to East Midlands, coordination between ADC and APC should be initiated quickly to begin holding to avoid significant ground congestion.

Farnborough (EGLF)

At Farnborough, A380 traffic can only park on the South Apron 1.

Therefore, A380 traffic can only enter or exit the runway via W.

Cardiff (EGFF)

At Cardiff, A380 traffic can only park at Stand 6 or at the BA Maintenance Centre.

A380 traffic can use:

• Taxiway A west of C
• Taxiway C
• Taxiway D
• Taxiway E

A380 traffic cannot use:

• Taxiway A east of C
• Taxiway B
• Taxiway F
• Taxiway G
• Taxiway H

Standard taxi routing can be found below:

Runway	BA Maintenance Centre (BAMC)	Stand 6 (via Taxiway D)
12	Vacate at C, left onto A, right onto E to stop and shutdown (tow into BAMC).	Vacate at C, left onto A, left onto E, vacate at D and continue ahead onto Stand 6.
30	Turn on the turn pad and then route as above	Turn on the turn pad, vacate at D and continue ahead onto Stand 6

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