NEL SOP

New York ARTCC

Standard Operating Procedure — NEL

Rev. 1 — Revised: 2026-01-13

Area at a glance

ICAO Code	Airport Name	Airspace
KNEL	Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst	D

Purpose

This document prescribes the procedures to be utilized for providing air traffic control services at Lakehurst 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
Ground Control	NEL_GND	Lakehurst Ground	118.370	MK
Local Control	NEL_TWR	Lakehurst Tower	127.770	MH

Sector	Callsign	Frequency	Identifier	Combined Sector
McGuire Approach	WRI_APP	126.475	MY	Primary TRACON

ATCT

Clearance Delivery

Exit Gate	Exit	Scratchpad	Radial
West (W)	ARD	ARD
	NAGGS	NAG
North (N)	RBV	RNV
East (E)	DIXIE	DIX	RBV 122
	MANTA	MAN
South (S)	CYN	CYN

Note

Exit fixes that are shown in gray can only be used for KWRI departures with transitions from a corresponding SID.

Position	Frequency	Code
McGuire Approach	126.475	MY
NY Center	125.325	N56

The above table lists the common frequencies used as departure frequency by NEL 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 NEL, use NEL CTAF (127.775).

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

• The initial altitude for IFR departures of all types is 5,000’ whereas higher may be expected in 10 minutes after departure.
• There is no published departure procedure out of Lakehurst. All aircraft must be cleared to their destination via radar vectors to an NEL exit.

Lakehurst is located inside McGuire Class Delta Airspace. All VFR traffic must establish two-way radio communication.

Ground

Departure Sequencing

Exit Gate	Exits
West	ARD, NAGGS
North	RBV
East	DIXIE, MANTA
South	CYN

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 would like the departure sequence forwarded.
3. Before switching departing aircraft to Tower frequency, ensure the aircraft is aware of their number for takeoff. This is important for planning for engine start and warm up.

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

Releases from Lakehurst are automatic unless WRI RAPCON requests individual releases.

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 7110.126B.

Radar (RACD)

This tower is equipped with a Remote ARTS Color Display (RACD) and is LRAC (Limited Radar Approach Control) certified. By agreement with WRI RAPCON, this tower shall NOT radar identify departing IFR aircraft and shall instruct a departing aircraft to contact Departure Control once they appear to be clear of any traffic. It is imperative that local controllers observe departing traffic turning towards the assigned climb or heading before handing off. VFR aircraft must be radar identified to receive flight following within the tower's airspace, otherwise radar identification 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.

Wind Speed	Direction	Depart	Land
0-4	Any	6, 33	6
5-15	000-089	6, 33	6
	090-149	6	6
	150-269	24	24, 15
	270-359	24, 33	24
>15	060-239	6	6
	240-059	24	24

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
6	Runway heading	2,000’
15	Runway heading	2,000’
24	Runway heading	2,000’
33	Runway heading	2,000’

Missed Approach Procedures

1. Missed approaches or go-arounds must fly runway heading or track the localizer until reaching the departure end of the runway, then be issued a heading, unless the controller determines that it would be advantageous to delay or initiate a turn early.
2. 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.

Additional Information

1. In order to prevent increased workload on the TRACON, consider issuing missed approaches or go-arounds speed restrictions.
2. Coordinate with TRACON as soon as possible and hand off when Local Control traffic is not a factor.
3. 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.

VFR Procedures

Airspace

Class DELTA. The tower owns 2,600’ and below within a 5 mile radius of the airport.

RADAR

The tower is LRAC (Limited Radar Approach Control) certified.

Departures

All departures whose destinations are WRI should remain on the ground until an approval has been received from the destination tower (or from WRI RAPCON) 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 WRI RAPCON 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.

Pattern Work

All props should be at 1,200’ and jets at 1,700’. Simultaneous pattern work at both runways is not allowed.

TRACON

TRACON services for Lakehurst are provided by WRI RAPCON.