ILG SOP

New York ARTCC

Standard Operating Procedure — Wilmington New Castle Airport (ILG)

Rev. 5 — Revised: 2026-01-13

Area at a glance

ICAO Code	Airport Name	Airspace
KILG	Wilmington New Castle	D

Purpose

This document prescribes the procedures to be utilized for providing air traffic control services at the Wilmington Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). The procedures described herein are supplemental to the New York ARTCC Standard Operating Procedures and FAA Order JO 7110.65.

Distribution

This order is distributed to all New York ARTCC personnel.

Procedural Deviations

Exceptional or unusual requirements may dictate procedural deviations or supplementary procedures to this order. A situation may arise that is not adequately covered herein; in such an event use good judgment to adequately resolve the problem.

Operational Positions

Position	Callsign	Radio Name	Frequency	Identifier
Clearance Delivery	ILG_DEL	Wilmington Clearance Delivery	119.950	6X
Ground Control	ILG_GND	Wilmington Ground	121.700	6Q
Local Control	ILG_TWR	Wilmington Tower	126.000	6O
ATIS	KILG_ATIS		123.950

Sector	Callsign	Frequency	Identifier	Combined Sector
North Departure	PHL_ND_DEP	124.350	1E	Primary Departure
North High	PHL_NH_DEP	126.070	1H	Always Combined
South Departure	PHL_SD_DEP	119.750	1V
South High	PHL_SH_DEP	126.600	1J	Always Combined

Sector	Callsign	Frequency	Identifier	Combined Sector
North Arrival	PHL_NA_APP	128.400	1N	Primary Approach
South Arrival	PHL_SA_APP	133.870	1S

Sector	Callsign	Frequency	Identifier	Combined Sector
Final Vectors 1	PHL_F1_APP	125.400	1F	Primary Final
Final Vectors 2	PHL_F2_APP	132.670	1L

Sector	Callsign	Frequency	Identifier	Combined Sector
Woodstown	PHL_WD_APP	127.350	1W	Primary Satalite
Dupont	PHL_DU_APP	118.350	1D	Always Combined
Pottstown	PHL_PT_APP	126.850	1P
Yardley	PHL_YD_APP	123.800	1Y	Always Combined

ATCT

Clearance Delivery

Exit Gate	Exit	Scratchpad	Radial
North	PTW	PTW
	FJC	FJC
	MAZIE	MAZ	SBJ 237
	ARD	ARD
	SBJ	SBJ
	MXE	MXE
	STOEN	STO	MXE 240
South	RUUTH	RUU	RBV 238
	RBV	RBV
	DITCH	DIT	CYN 274 / VCN 047
	CYN	CYN
	VCN	VCN
	OOD	OOD
	ENO	ENO
	DQO	DQO

Notes

1. DITCH is a valid exit for certain N90 airports. Reference the preferred routes section of this manual for more information.
2. White exit points must be preceded by a red or grey exit point. Examples of acceptable route strings include:

   OOD TEBEE ...

   MXE MXE278 PENSY ...

   PTW PTW320 SARAA ...

   RUUTH RBV ...

   OOD VCN PHL

Position	Frequency	Code
PHL_WD_APP	127.350	6W
PHL_NA_APP	128.400	6N
NY_CTR	125.325	N56
PHL_ND_DEP	124.350	6E

The table on the right lists common departure frequencies for ILG, and the order in which they should be used. Note that this table only serves as a guide. The actual departure frequency has to be determined based on coordination with the other online controllers.

Airway	Join
V3	North: MAZIE V3
	South: MXE V3
V29	North: PTW V29
	South: DQO V29
V123	North: RUUTH V123
	South: OOD V123
V157	North: RUUTH V157
	South: OOD V157
V166	West: DQO V166
	South: OOD V166
V170	North (West Ops): MXE V170
	North (East Ops): PTW V12 BOYER V170
	South: DQO V170
V184	North (West Ops): MXE V184
	North (East Ops): PTW V12 HAR V184
	South: VCN V184
V312	East: DITCH V312
	South: OOD V312
V378	MXE V378
V449	PTW CHLSE V449
V474	West Ops: MXE V474
	East Ops: PTW V12 BOYER V39 DELRO V474
J6	North: DITCH J225 JFK J37 ALB J6
	South: MXE PENSY J110 FLIRT J6
J42	North RNAV: DITCH J225 JFK HFD J42
	South: OOD J42
J48	RNAV: STOEN REEFI EMI J48
	Non-RNAV: MXE MXE278 PENSY J48
J60	PTW SARAA RAV PSB J60
J62	DITCH V312 DRIFT J121 SHLEP J62
J64	PTW SARAA J64
J77	North: DITCH J225 JFK J37 GANDE J77
	South: MXE PENSY J77
J80	North: DITCH J225 JFK J37 GANDE J80
	West: MXE PENSY J110 KIPPI J80
J110	MXE PENSY J110
J150	North: DITCH V312 CYN J150
	South: OOD J150
J225	DITCH J225
J230	MXE PENSY J110 LARRI J230
Q42	MXE PENSY J110 FLIRT BRNAN Q42
Q62	PTW SARAA J64 RAV Q62
Q75	STOEN Q75
Q409	OOD TEBEE HAYDO TRPOD Q409

Filed Exit	Amendment
ARD	MAZIE V3 SBJ
BAL	DQO V166 BELAY V378 BAL
BELAY	DQO V166 BELAY
BRAND	East: DITCH
	N90: RUUTH
BYRDD	MXE
CHLSE	PTW CHLSE
CYN	DITCH CYN
DCA	DQO V166 BELAY V378 BAL DCA
EMI	STOEN REEFI EMI
ETX	PTW ETX
GXU	DITCH CYN
HAYDO	OOD TEBEE HAYDO
LGA	RUUTH V123 LGA
METRO	MAZIE V3 SBJ
	RUUTH V123 RBV
PENSY	MXE PENSY
RBV	RUUTH V123 RBV
REEFI	STOEN REEFI
SARAA	PTW SARAA
SBJ	MAZIE V3 SBJ
SBY	OOD TEBEE HAYDO SBY
TEBEE	OOD TEBEE
VCN	OOD VCN

Routing to certain airports in ZNY, ZDC and ZBW ARTCCs is pre-coordinated through letters of agreement (LOA). These routes have been added to the Preferred Route Database (PRD). Therefore, PRD must be referenced for all departures.

• The initial altitude for IFR departures of all types is 3,000’ whereas higher may be expected in 10 minutes after departure.

• There is no published departure procedure out of New Castle. All aircraft must be cleared to their destination via radar vectors to an ILG exit.

Wilmington is located inside Class Delta Airspace but it is in close proximity to Philadelphia Class Bravo Airspace. See the VFR Operations document for detailed explanation of applicable VFR procedures.

Ground Control

Departure Sequencing

Exit Gate	Exits
North	MXE, STOEN, PTW, FJC, MAZIE, PNE, ARD
South	RUUTH, DITCH, OOD, DQO

1. Aircraft should be sequenced to depart in the following order:
   1. By alternating gate group.
   2. If not the above, then by alternating exit.
   3. If not the above, then by aircraft type largest to smallest.
2. Coordinate with Local Control at the beginning of a shift if departures will “monitor” or “contact.” Also ensure to coordinate how Local Control would like departure sequence forwarded.
3. Before switching departing aircraft to Local Control frequency, ensure the aircraft is aware of his or her number for takeoff. This is important for engine start and warm up times.

Taxi Routes

1. As the taxiway system is simple, there are no pre-defined routings.
2. Since there are no parallel taxiways, you may use each taxiway as a two-way road whereby aircraft may be taxied in the opposite direction on the same taxiway at the same time. When you do this, ensure that both aircraft are told to watch out for the other. This procedure is only available to single engine props during daylight hours as they are narrow enough to be able to fit two abreast.
3. When the above is not available, hold departures on the ramp until the inbound aircraft is clear of the outbound aircraft. You may use conditional taxi instructions to accomplish this.

Local Control

Releases

• Releases from ILG are requested per aircraft unless PHL TRACON permits blanket releases.
• In order to depart ILG under an IFR flight plan, TRACON must issue a release for departure. Departure restrictions such as release times and clearance void times are necessary to separate departures from other traffic in the airspace or to regulate the departure flow. Through land line communications, tower will obtain a release from TRACON for a specific flight after which tower can then issue departure instructions and takeoff clearance

Separation

The standard departure separation technique to be used is anticipated radar separation. Only use timed separation if the pilot requests it.

Radar

This tower uses a RACD radar only and is not certified for any approach control services. By agreement with Philadelphia TRACON, this tower will NOT radar identify departing IFR aircraft and will instruct a departure to contact departure control once the aircraft appears to be clear of any traffic. It is imperative that tower controllers observe departing traffic turning towards the assigned heading before handing off. VFR aircraft can and must be radar identified to receive flight following within the tower's airspace, otherwise it is not necessary.

Wind Speed	Direction	Depart	Land
0-4	Any	27, 32	1
5-15	170-259	27, 19	19
	260-349	27, 32	32
	350-079	9, 1	1
	080-169	9, 14	19
15+	170-214	19	19
	215-304	27	27
	305-349	1, 32	1
	350-034	1	1
	035-124	9	9
	125-169	19, 14	19

Departures from runway 1 shall be assigned heading 330 and departures from all other runways shall be assigned runway heading, unless PHL TRACON assigns a different heading in the IFR release.

• All ILG missed approaches shall be issued the published missed for the IAP being conducted.
• In order to prevent increased workload on the TRACON, consider issuing missed approaches speed restrictions in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65.
• If the conditions are VMC, Local Control can elect to have the aircraft enter the traffic pattern and remain Local Control frequency so long as coordination is effected with the TRACON.
• Coordinate with the TRACON as soon as possible and hand off when local traffic is not a factor for those aircraft not remaining in the traffic pattern.
• Sound judgment must be exercised when dealing with missed approaches. Deviate as necessary from the published procedure if using it would compromise safety.

Airspace

Class Delta

Wilmington Tower owns 2,600' MSL and below within 4 miles of the airport.

Wilmington airport is located under a Mode C Veil which requires all pilots operating within the circumference of the veil to have a transponder with automatic altitude reporting equipment.

Radar

Wilmington tower uses DBRITE radar only and is not certified for any approach control services. The following are the uses of the DBRITE radar at Wilmington:

• To determine an aircraft's exact location. This is accomplished by radar identifying the VFR aircraft through any of the techniques available to a radar position, such as having the aircraft squawk ident. Once identified, the aircraft's position and spatial relationship to other aircraft can be determined. Once initial radar identification of a VFR aircraft has been established and the appropriate instructions have been issued, radar monitoring may be discontinued; the reason being that the local controller's primary means of surveillance in VFR conditions is visually scanning the airport and local area.
• To provide radar traffic advisories. Radar traffic advisories may be provided to the extent that the local controller is able to monitor the radar display. Local Control has primary control responsibilities to the aircraft operating on the runways, which will normally supersede radar monitoring duties.
• To provide information and instructions to aircraft operating within Class B, Class C, and Class D surface areas. In an example of this situation, the local controller would use the radar to advise a pilot on an extended downwind when to turn base leg.
• To provide a direction or suggested heading. The local controller may provide pilots flying VFR with generalized instructions which will facilitate operations:

PHRASEOLOGY
Proceed southwest bound, enter a right downwind runway tree two.

Or provide a suggested heading to establish radar identification or as an advisory aid to navigation:

PHRASEOLOGY
Suggest heading two two zero for radar identification.

In both cases, the instructions are advisory aids to the pilot flying VFR and are not radar vectors.

Departures

All departures whose destination is known to be PHL should remain on the ground until an approval has been received from the PHL Tower that they are able to accept the aircraft into their airspace.

Flight Following

All aircraft should remain on the tower frequency unless the route of flight will or may impede the operations of PHL TRACON while operating inside the tower's delegated portion of the Class Bravo, or the aircraft will leave the tower's delegated portion of the Class Bravo.

Pattern Work

All traffic patterns at ILG are to the LEFT unless the pilot specifically requests something different or traffic warrants the use of right hand patterns.

All helicopters should be at 500’ AGL, props at 1000’ AGL, and jets at 1500’ AGL.

VFR Reporting Points

Pilots will often report a geographical location or checkpoint to verify and announce their location and position in relation to the field. Most VFR checkpoints are depicted on sectional aeronautical and terminal area charts.

TRACON

TRACON services for Wilmington are provided by Philadelphia TRACON.

Appendix

Changelog

Change	Date Published	Description
CHG1	23 Feb 2014	MAJOR REVISION. Updated to Wiki format. Separated from the PHL SOP.
CHG2	28 Jun 2014	Concordance with PHL SOP in regard to departure frequency.
CHG3	28 Sep 2014	New Castle is not a satellite anymore.
CHG4	22 May 2020	Amended the IFR Squawk Code Range.
CHG5	4 Nov 2024	Converted to new Wiki format.