MUI SOP

New York ARTCC

Standard Operating Procedure — MUI

Rev. 2 — Revised: 2025-02-06

Area at a glance

ICAO Code	Airport Name	Airspace
KMUI	Muir Army Airfield	D

Purpose

This document prescribes the procedures to be utilized for providing air traffic control services at Muir Army Airfield 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

Ground	MUI_GND	Muir Ground	121.625	HQ
Tower	MUI_TWR	Muir Tower	126.200	HP

Sector	Callsign	Frequency	Identifier	Combined Sector
Harrisburg (HAR)	MDT_SW_APP	124.100	HK	Primary TRACON
Lancaster (LRP)	MDT_SE_APP	126.450	HS
Ravine (RAV)	MDT_N_APP	118.250	HG
Reading	RDG_APP	125.150	RX	Covered by MDT TRACON 0000-0600 local time

Notes:

• When RDG_APP is not staffed, MDT TRACON may provide top-down services at RDG regardless of local time.
• When splitting MDT TRACON, split into HAR & LRP sectors first.

ATCT

Clearance Delivery

Exit Gate	Exit	Scratchpad
North (N)	GAAPP	GAA
	SEG	SEG
Northeast (NE)	ETX	ETX
	LVZ	LVZ
	FJC	FJC
East (E)	LRP	LRP
	PTW	PTW
	ARD	ARD
Southeast (SE)	DQO	DQO
Southwest (SW)	HAR	HAR
	BRNAN	BRN
	JST	JST
	VINSE	VIN
	THS	THS
	SCAPE	SCA
	GRAMO	GRA
	MRB	MRB
	EMI	EMI
Northwest (NW)	MCMAN	MCM
	PSB	PSB

Notes

1. While strict exit direction points are not required at MUI, the guide above may come in handy for directing pilots to proper exits for departing the area.
2. KIACK is only a valid exit of preceded by GAAPP. The route must therefore read GAAPP KIACK...
3. MCMAN is used for aircraft routed via V33/J64/Q62.

Position	Frequency	Code
MDT_N_APP	118.250	HG
MDT_SE_APP	126.450	HS
MDT_APP	124.100	HK
NY_CTR	125.325	N56

The table above lists the common frequencies used as departure frequency by MUI Clearance Delivery. The first available controller in this list should be handling departures.

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.

If there is no other controller online that would accept departures from MUI, use MUI CTAF (126.200).

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.

Notes

1. The initial altitude for IFR departures of all types is 3,000’ whereas higher may be expected in 10 minutes after departure.
2. There is no published departure procedure out of Muir. All aircraft must be cleared to their destination via radar vectors to an MUI exit.

Muir is a Class D airport. All VFR traffic must maintain two-way radio communication.

Ground

Departure Sequencing

Exit Gate	Exits
North	GAAPP, SEG
Northeast	ETX, LVZ, FJC
East	LRP, PTW, ARD
Southeast	DQO
Southwest	HAR, BRNAN, JST, VINSE, THS, SCAPE, GRAMO, MRB, EMI
Northwest	MCMAN, PSB

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.

Runway Ownership and Crossings

1. Closed runways shall be owned by Ground Control. The only time runways will ever be closed is during events, and closures must be authorized by the TMU. We do not simulate runway closures on VATSIM during standard day-to-day operations.
2. Transfer of runway ownership, between Ground Control and Local Control, shall be accomplished verbally (or textually).
3. Ground Control is authorized to cross all active runways with coordination with Local Control.

Aircraft Movement

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 possible, hold departures on the ramp until the inbound aircraft is clear of the outbound aircraft. You may use conditional taxi instructions to accomplish this.

Tower

Tower Procedures

Releases

Muir Tower will request individual releases from MDT TRACON for all IFR departures, unless previously coordinated.

Separation

The standard departure separation technique to be used is anticipated radar separation. When wake turbulence is a factor, use timed separation in accordance with FAA JO 7110.126A.

Radar (RACD)

This tower uses a DBRITE radar only and is not certified for any approach control services. By agreement with Harrisburg 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.

Aircraft Exiting the Runway

Arriving aircraft shall be issued a turn onto one of the taxiways adjacent to the landing runway to ensure the aircraft continues its taxi away from the runway exit. Handoff to Ground Control after the aircraft starts taxiing away from the active runway. Local Control will coordinate with Ground Control, as needed, to determine the traffic flow on the taxiways.

Runway Selection

Wind Speed	Direction	Depart	Land
0-4	Any	7	7
>4	340-159	7	7
	160-339	25	25

Departure Heading

IFR aircraft must be given runway heading, unless otherwise coordinated with the departure controller.

PHRASEOLOGY
Fly runway heading, wind (wind), runway (runway), cleared for takeoff.

Runway	Heading	Altitude
7	Runway heading	3,000’
25	Runway heading	3,000’

Missed Approach Procedures

1. The table to the right indicates the heading and altitude that need to be assigned to a missed approach or go-around prior to release to TRACON frequency.
2. If the conditions are VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions), then the Tower may keep the aircraft in the pattern and clear the aircraft for a visual approach in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65 § 7-4-3. Use best judgement to determine whether to keep the aircraft in the pattern or not.

Additional Information

1. Separation must be based on altitude initially during all missed approaches or go-arounds. Prior to issuing a climb to 3,000’, interval altitudes such as 2,000’ may be used to prevent converging targets from losing separation.
2. In order to prevent increased workload on the TRACON, consider issuing missed approaches or go-arounds speed restrictions.
3. Coordinate with TRACON as soon as possible and hand off when Local Control traffic is not a factor.
4. Sound judgment must be exercised when dealing with go-arounds or missed approaches. Deviate as necessary from the headings and altitudes listed on the table if using them would compromise safety.

Airspace

Class Delta. The tower owns 3,000’ and below within a 4 mile radius of the airport. The tower also owns below 3,000’ up to 6 miles from the airport along the runway 7/25 extended centerline, which laterally extends 1.5 miles on each side.

Departures

Aircraft should be given the most expeditious way out of the airspace, which should be away from the IFR flow.

Flight Following

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

Overflights

Allow overflight aircraft to cross over the numbers of the active runway. Make sure to give traffic advisories as necessary.

Pattern Work

All aircraft wanting to perform pattern work at MUI must be assigned left closed traffic for runway 25 and right closed traffic for runway 7.

All props should be at 1,500’ and jets at 2,000’. Adjust these altitudes when necessary to avoid overflights or IFR traffic flow.

TRACON

TRACON services for Muir are provided by Harrisburg TRACON.