PHL SOP

New York ARTCC

Standard Operating Procedure — Philadelphia ATCT and PHL TRACON

Rev. 19 — Revised: 2023-12-29

Area at a glance

ICAO Code	Airport Name	Airspace
KPHL	Philadelphia Intl	B
KILG	Wilmington/New Castle	D
KPNE	Northeast Philadelphia	D
KTTN	Trenton Mercer	D

Uncontrolled Fields [Show]

ICAO Code	Airport Name	Airspace	Area
KCKZ	Pennridge	G	North
KDYL	Doylestown	G	North
KEVY	Summit	G	South
KLOM	Wings Field	G	North
KMQS	Coatesville/G O Carlson	G	North
KOQN	Brandywine	G	North
KPTW	Pottstown Heritage Field	G	North
KUKT	Quakertown	G	North
N10	Perkiomen Valley	G	North
N47	Pottstown Municipal	G	North
N57	New Garden	G	North
NJ74	Salem Airfield	G	South
17N	Cross Keys	G	South
19N	Camden County	G	South
58M	Cecil County	G	South
7N7	Spitfire Aerodrome	G	South
9N2	Philadelphia Seaplane Base	G	South

Purpose

This document prescribes the procedures to be utilized for providing air traffic control services at the Philadelphia Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and any of the positions within the Philadelphia TRACON and the airports it serves. 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	PHL_DEL	Philadelphia Clearance Delivery	118.850	6G
Ground	PHL_GND	Philadelphia Ground	121.900	6C
Ground (secondary)	PHL_W_GND	Philadelphia Ground	121.650	6U
Tower	PHL_TWR	Philadelphia Tower	118.500	6A
Tower (Secondary)	PHL_W_TWR	Philadelphia Tower	135.100	6B
ATIS	KPHL_ATIS		133.400

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

Position	Callsign	Radio Name	Frequency	Identifier
Clearance Delivery	PNE_DEL	Northeast Philadelphia Clearance Delivery	127.250	6M
Ground	PNE_GND	Northeast Philadelphia Ground	121.700	6K
Tower	PNE_TWR	Northeast Philadelphia Tower	126.900	6I
ATIS	KPNE_ATIS		121.150

Position	Callsign	Radio Name	Frequency	Identifier
Ground	TTN_GND	Trenton Ground	121.900	6K
Tower	PNE_TWR	Trenton Tower	120.700	6I
ATIS	KTTN_ATIS		126.770

Template:OperPositions-PHL-TRACON

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_ND_DEP	124.350	6E
PHL_NA_APP	128.400	6N
NY_CTR	125.320	N56

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 PHL, use UNICOM frequency (122.8).

If both North Departure and South Departure are online, then assign the departure frequency as follows:

• All aircraft routed via MXE, STOEN, PTW, FJC, ARD: North Departure on 124.35.
• All aircraft routed via OOD, DITCH, DQO, RUUTH, RBV: South Departure on 119.75.

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

NOTE: If the amendment ends with ".." then bypass the waypoint filed and use the next logical fix from the flight plan.

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. Therefore, PRD must be referenced for all departures.

Notes

1. The initial altitude for PHL jet departures is 5,000’ and for PHL prop/turboprop departures is 3,000'. Some intra-TRACON flights also have initial altitudes that are non-standard.
2. Aircraft requesting or assigned a final altitude of 4,000' or less shall be issued 3,000' initially.
3. Traffic departing PHL routed OOD V157 and PHL..ENO shall be issued an initial altitude of 3,000' unless otherwise coordinated.

PHL#

The normal DP to be used by aircraft departing Philadelphia is PHL # (pronounced Philadelphia (Version #), such as Philadelphia Two). It should always be assigned, unless the pilot indicates not possessing charts, in which case no departure procedure should be assigned and the pilot should be cleared to their destination via radar vectors to a proper PHL exit.

PHL# is basic and involves very little pilot navigation. In most cases, Local Control will assign specific headings to departing traffic depending on their departure exit. The only exception is from 2200 local to 0600 local, a special climb procedure is used when departing runway 27L/R for noise abatement. Climbs are pilot navigated courses flown from wheels up to 5,000’ or amended altitude.

PHRASEOLOGY
Cleared to (clearance limit), Philadelphia (version #) departure, radar vectors (exit); then as filed. Maintain (initial altitude), expect (final altitude) one zero minutes after departure. Departure frequency (frequency), squawk (code).

PHL Class Bravo VFR Operations

Operation	Departure Runway	Direction	Departure Instructions	Altitude	Departure Frequency
VFR w/ Flight Following (Props)	All	All	Fly runway heading	3000'	124.350 (Philadelphia Departure)
VFR w/ Flight Following (Jets)	All	All	Fly runway heading	4,500'	124.350 (Philadelphia Departure)
VFR w/o Flight Following (Props Only)	All	All	Fly runway heading	2000'	118.500 (Philadelphia Tower)

PHL is located inside Philadelphia Class Bravo Airspace. All VFR traffic must be issued a discrete squawk code, and a clearance into the Class Bravo Airspace.

FLIGHT FOLLOWING PHRASEOLOGY

PHRASEOLOGY
CLEARED THROUGH (THE PHILADELPHIA) BRAVO AIRSPACE, FLY RUNWAY HEADING, MAINTAIN (altitude), DEPARTURE FREQUENCY (frequency), SQUAWK (code).

NO FLIGHT FOLLOWING PHRASEOLOGY

PHRASEOLOGY
CLEARED OUT OF (THE PHILADELPHIA) BRAVO AIRSPACE, FLY RUNWAY HEADING, MAINTAIN VFR AT OR BELOW (altitude), DEPARTURE FREQUENCY (frequency), SQUAWK (code).

Ground

Departure Sequencing

Exit Gate	Exits
North Gates	MXE, STOEN, PTW, FJC, MAZIE, ARD
South Gates	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. Due to the complexity of the intersection at 27L, during departure pushes it is imperative that controllers keep track of the departure sequence and which aircraft are on which taxiways. The departure sequence MUST be properly forwarded to Local Control so that there is no confusion on the sequence.
4. 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.

Prearranged coordination for runway crossing

1. Ground Control may taxi aircraft across runway 9L, 27R or 26 without coordinating with Local Control so long as
   1. That runway is being utilized for landing only (not takeoffs).
   2. At the time the crossing clearance is issued, the traffic crossing that runway must be either holding short or in a position to cross the runway expeditiously without causing a safety risk to any arriving traffic.
   3. The crossing traffic must initiate crossing of that runway prior to any arriving traffic reaches a 2 mile final.
   4. The procedure must be completed no later than when the arriving traffic reaches a 1 mile final.
2. Tower has the final authority to suspend or resume the prearranged coordination for runway crossing.

Obstructions to Arriving and Departing Aircraft

1. The areas of consideration at PHL airport where a taxiing aircraft could become a potential obstacle to departing or arriving aircraft are as follows:
   1. Aircraft utilizing taxiway Yankee:
      • Could conflict with aircraft departing runway 27R (Simultaneous Approaches to Parallel Runways #2).
      • Could conflict with aircraft arriving and departing runway 9L.
      • Some simulators show hold short lines on Yankee. This ensures that when approaches to runway 9L are in use, aircraft will hold short of the approach path.

      PHRASEOLOGY
      Hold short of runway niner left approach on taxiway yankee.

1. • Taxiways A, A1, A2, and A3 are limited to Airplane Design Group III (wingspan up to but not including 118 feet) aircraft and smaller (B727/MD80/B737, A319, A320).
2. Controllers shall ensure that taxiing aircraft operating on non-intersecting runways do not become potential obstacles to arriving and departing aircraft.

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. Ground Control will receive the handoff after the aircraft starts taxiing away from the active runway. Whenever necessary, adjust the ground traffic flow so as to allow arrival aircraft to exit the runway unimpeded.

Simultaneous Approaches to Parallel Runways #2

During a Simultaneous Approaches to Parallel Runways #2 (SAPR2) operation, taxi aircraft to runway 27R or runway 35 at Kilo taxiway for departure. (SAPR2 is explained in the Tower section, under the Runway Selection tab).

Runways 17/35 and 8/26 Restrictions

Runway 17/35 is limited to Airplane Design Group III (wingspan up to but not including 118 feet) aircraft and smaller (B727/MD80/B737, A319, A320). Runway 8/26 is available for props only and small regional jets. Runway 8/26 departures must utilize runway 8 and arrivals must utilize runway 26.

Aircraft Movement

Ramp entering and exiting spots (click to enlarge)

1. Almost all taxi routes require a runway crossing. It is required per 7110.65 that taxiing aircraft receive and read back a hold short instruction for each runway crossing whether or not the runway is active.

   PHRASEOLOGY
   Runway 35, taxi via alpha, delta, hold short runway 26.

1. When reaching 26:

   PHRASEOLOGY
   Cross runway 26 at delta, hold short runway 27R at delta.

1. When reaching 27R:

   PHRASEOLOGY
   Cross runway 27R at delta, continue runway 35 via delta and sierra.

1. It is suggested that departing aircraft exit the ramp as follows:
   1. East Flow: Spots 5, 6, 7, or 9
   2. West Flow: Spots 5, 8 , or 9
   3. NOTE: When a large departure push occurs during PHL West Ops, have aircraft taxi via Juliet to spot 2 and then exit the ramp. This procedure will allow a large amount of traffic to be sequenced via Yankee and Sierra to 27L.
2. It is suggested that arriving aircraft enter the ramp as follows:
   1. East Flow: Spots 5, 8, or 9
   2. West Flow: Spots 5, 6, 7, or 9
3. For PHL West Ops, arriving aircraft shall utilize taxiway Kilo as much as practical. For PHL East Ops, arriving aircraft shall utilize taxiway Juliet as much as practical.

Aircraft Movement Chart [Show]

From/To	27L	27R	9L	9R	35 (27s)	17 (9s)	8
A-West	J,Y,S,S1	J,N,K,H	T,K,K6	T,K,Y,S	J,N,K,E	T,K,E,E1	T,K,D
A-East	J,Y,S,S1	J,N,K,H	R,K,K6	R,K,Y,S	J,N,K,E	R,K,E,E1	R,K,D
B	N,S1	N,K,H	Q,K,K6	Q,K,Y,S	N,K,E	J,K3,K,E,E1	J,K3,K,D
C	K3,M,S1	J,K3,K,H	K3,K,K6	K3,K,Y,S	K3,K,E	K3,K,E,E1	K3,K,D
B	N,S1	N,K,H	Q,K,K6	Q,K,Y,S	N,K,E	J,K3,K,E,E1	J,K3,K,D
C	K3,M,S1	J,K3,K,H	K3,K,K6	K3,K,Y,S	K3,K,E	K3,K,E,E1	K3,K,D
D	J,K3,M,S1	J,H	J,H,E,K,K6	J,H,E,K,Y,S	J,H,E	J,H,E,E1	J,H,D
E	J,H,E,S,S1	J,H	J,H,E,K,K6	J,H,E,K,Y,S	J,H,E	J,H,E,E1	J,H,D
F	H/G/F,E,S,S1	G/F,E,H	H/G/F,E,K,K6	H/G/F,E,K,Y,S	H/G/F,E	H/G/F,E,E1	G,D
CargoCity	J,Y,S,S1	J,N,K,H	Z,S,Y,P,W	Z,S	J,Y,S,E	J,T,K,E,E1	J,T,K,D
UPSRamp	Y,S,S1	Y,S	Y,P,W	Y,S	Y,S,E	Y,S,E	U,S,D
GA(Atlantic)	A,D,S,S1	A,D,H	A,D,K,K6	A,D,K,Y,S	A,D	A,D,D1	A,D

Suggested Terminal Parking Guide [Show]

ICAO	Airline	Terminal	ICAO	Airline	Terminal
AAL	American Airlines	A-East	FDX	FedEx	Cargo
ACA	Air Canada	D	FFT	Frontier Airlines	A-East
ASA	Alaska Airlines	D	FLG	Pinnacle Airlines	D
ASH	Mesa Airlines	D	GJS	GoJet Airlines	D
ASQ	ExpressJet Airlines	D	JBU	JetBlue Airways	D
ATN	Air Transport International	Cargo	JIA	PSA Airlines	F
AWE	US Airways	A, B, C	LOF	Trans States Airlines	D
AWE	US Airways (international)	A-West	NKS	Spirit Airlines	D
AWI	Air Wisconsin	F	PDT	Piedmont Airlines	F
BAW	British Airways	A-West	RPA	Republic Airlines	B, C
CCI	Capital Cargo International	Cargo	SWA	Southwest Airlines	E
CHQ	Chautauqua Airlines	D, F	TRS	AirTran Airways	E
CPZ	Compass Airlines	D	UAL	United Airlines	D
DAL	Delta Airlines	D	UCA	CommutAir	D
DLH	Lufthansa	A-West	UPS	UPS Airlines	Cargo
EGF	American Eagle	A-East	VRD	Virgin America	E

Intersection Departures and Usable Runway Lengths

1. The sequencing for intersection departures is a bit more involved as it will require Ground Control to properly push the strip to the tower controller in the correct order.
2. For intersection departures, state the usable runway distance if that distance is not broadcast in the ATIS. Below is a list of usable runway lengths from common intersections. If the numbers are not divisible to 50, you must round them down to the nearest 50 feet before providing the information to the pilot.

   PHRASEOLOGY
   Runway two seven right at echo, taxi via left on kilo, hold short echo. Runway two seven right at echo intersection departure, seven thousand two hundred and fifty feet available

27L	27R	9L	9R	17	35	8
S2 (11,696')	H (9,301')	W (9,301')	S12 (11,479')	E2/D2 (5,410')	S (5,990')	A3 (4,701')
S3 (10,459')	K1 (8,799')	K6 (9,101')	Z (9,179')	E3 (4,498')	27R/9L (5,341')
S4 (9,980')	D (8,051')	K5 (7,700')	S11 (8,300')		K (4,940’)
S5 (8,300')	17/35 (7,598’)	T (7,250')	S10(8,061')
U (7,598')	E (7,201')	K4 (5,449')	S9(7,778')
S6(6,269')	F(6,860')	N (5,200')	S8(6,699')
S7(5,800')	C(5,400')		Y(6,476')
Y(5,324')	M(5,141')		S7(5,600')
			S6(5,298')

TRACON

Appendix

Ground Metering

Purpose

Ground Metering’s primary responsibility is to create a departure sequence before aircraft are taxied out for takeoff. Ground Metering sequences aircraft by alternating gate, exit, or type aircraft and then provides the active Ground controller with flight strips in that order. Philadelphia’s Ground Metering frequency is 121.9 (6C). Ground metering operation must be authorized by the TMU

Ground Metering Procedures and Phraseology

1. Once aircraft are ready to taxi, they will call Ground Metering on the published Ground Control frequency that appears on the airport diagram (121.9).
2. Aircraft calling Ground Metering should inform the controller of the following information; however, be aware that many pilots will call and advise “ready for taxi” and Ground Metering will have to find them on the field:
   1. Call-sign
   2. Location at the airport
   3. ATIS code
3. The Ground Metering controller shall inform the aircraft to hold short of the main outbound taxiway and monitor the active Ground Control frequency.

   PHRASEOLOGY
   JetBlue Four Fifty-Two, Philadelphia Ground, hold short of Echo, monitor ground on one two one point six fife, wait for the controller to call you

Ground Metering VRC Procedural Settings

1. Because the metering operations require effective use of flight strips as control elements, the flight strip bay should be used and set up as follows.
2. Ground Control 121.65 (6D) should set the following options under Settings > General > Flight Strips:
   • Unchecked:
     • Auto-Add Arrival Strips
     • Auto-Add Departure Strips
     • Ignore Pushed Strips
   • Checked:
     • Delete Strip When Pushed Manually
3. Ground Metering 121.9 (6C) should set the following options under Settings > General > Flight Strips:
   • Unchecked:
     • Auto-Add Arrival Strips
     • Auto-Add Departure Strips
     • Ignore Pushed Strips
   • Checked:
     • Delete Strip When Pushed Manually
4. Both controllers will utilize the two-column flight strip bay (Settings > General > Flight Strips > Two-column Flight Strip Bay). Separators can be used for additional organization at the ATC’s discretion. Separators can be added by typing .sep NAME1|NAME2|NAME3 <Enter> (refer to VRC documentation for further details on separators).

Transfer of Control and Pushing Strips

1. After Ground Metering 121.9 (6C) has sequenced aircraft that have called for taxi, he or she shall push the strip in the appropriate sequenced order to the active Ground controller on 121.65 (6D) and advise the pilot to monitor that frequency. Ground Control 121.65 (6D) will receive strips in the left hand column of the strip bay and then will move them to the right hand column, in the appropriate order, once taxi instructions have been given.
2. After additional taxi instructions are not required, the active Ground controller 121.65 (6D) shall push the strip in sequenced order to Local Control and instruct the aircraft to monitor Philadelphia Tower on the appropriate frequency.

Changelog

Change	Date Published	Description
CHG1	18 Oct 2005	Initial release.
CHG2	27 Dec 2005	Added suggested vectors to final, brought frequencies up to date with POF, added "bookmarks".
CHG3	20 Oct 2006	Added departure/arrival flow diagrams and other changes.
CHG4	23 Mar 2007	New airspace, new departure/arrival flow diagrams, added video map, expanded instrument approach procedures, removed unneeded positions.
CHG5	20 Jul 2007	Updated flow diagrams touch-up and typo fixes.
CHG6	31 Jul 2008	Updated to PHL8, touched up flow diagrams, position ID fix/changes for TRACON.
CHG7	14 Mar 2014	MAJOR REVISION. Total SOP overhaul with many procedural changes. Updated to Wiki format.
CHG8	25 May 2014	Update the pattern work table. Clarified the assignment of departure frequencies with both ND and SD are online.
CHG9	04 Sep 2014	Distances of parallel runways were added.
CHG10	02 Nov 2014	Airspace delegation chart was updated. A new video map was added showing the STARs that transition through/above PHL airspace. New procedure regarding prearranged coordinated for runway crossing was added in Ground section. Stylistic changes.
CHG11	04 May 2015	East and West Tower positions were explained. Precoordinated runway crossing was expanded to include runway 26 as well.
CHG12	16 Jan 2016	Departure headings for 17/35 were amended. Wake turbulence separation recategorization.
CHG13	26 Jan 2019	Runway Distances for 27L/9R were Amended.
CHG14	21 Jul 2019	Amended the IFR departure headings. Fixed some broken links.
CHG15	22 May 2020	Amended the IFR Squawk Code Range.
CHG16	20 June 2020	Removed PNE as a valid exit (VOR decommissioned). Updated "Common Amendments" section.
CHG17	10 Mar 2021	Minor phraseology. Updated positions. Added colloquialisms. Clarified LAHSO/LUAW. Updated "Common Amendments" section.
CHG18	09 Jun 2021	Minor formatting changes.
CHG19	19 Mar 2023	Updated VFR procedures.
CHG20	27 Apr 2023	NEC ACR changes to Common Amendments