LNS SOP

New York ARTCC

Standard Operating Procedure — Lancaster Airport (LNS)

Rev. 2 — Revised: 2026-01-14

Area at a glance

ICAO Code	Airport Name	Airspace
KLNS	Lancaster Airport	D

Purpose

This document prescribes the procedures to be utilized for providing air traffic control services at Lancaster 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	LNS_GND	Lancaster Ground	121.800	HN
Tower	LNS_TWR	Lancaster Tower	120.900	HM
ATIS	KLNS_ATIS		125.670

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 LNS, 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.
4. Traffic filed via EMI to join J48 should be re-routed via GRAMO VINNY EMI.

Position	Frequency	Code
MDT_SE_APP	126.450	HS
MDT_E_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 LNS 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 LNS, use LNS CTAF (120.900).

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 Lancaster. All aircraft must be cleared to their destination via radar vectors to an LNS exit.
3. Traffic filed via EMI to join J48 should be re-routed via GRAMO VINNY EMI.

Lancaster is a Class D airport. All VFR traffic must maintain two-way radio communication. See the VFR Operations document for detailed explanation of applicable VFR procedures.

Ground Control

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.

Intersection Departures and Usable Runway Lengths

1. Since departures can come from multiple taxiways, the sequencing for intersection departures is a bit more involved as it will require Ground Control to push strips 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 (number) AT (taxiway designator), TAXI VIA (instructions). RUNWAY (number) AT (taxiway designator) INTERSECTION DEPARTURE (remaining length) FEET AVAILABLE.

EXAMPLE
"Runway eight at echo, taxi via delta, echo. Runway eight at echo intersection departure, six thousand five hundred feet takeoff distance available."

8	13	26	31
E (6,510')	8/26 (2,680')	J (5,370')	B (3,100')
13/31 (5,490')	D (2,250')	H (3,170')	D (1,840')
G (4,730')		G (2.190')
H (3,700')

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.

Local Control

Releases

Lancaster 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 7110.126B.

Radar (RACD)

This tower uses a Remote ARTS Color Display (RACD) 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.

Wind Speed	Direction	Depart	Land
0-4	Any	26, 31	26
>4	350-170	8	8, 13
	171-349	26, 31	26

Notes

1. Normal runway usage configurations are:
   1. West Operations: Runways 26 and 31. Runway 31 is the designated primary departure runway.
   2. East Operations: Runways 8 and 13. Runway 8 is the designated primary departure runway.
2. Runway 13/31 is only ~4100’ feet long. Larger aircraft may have to use runway 8/26.
3. If visibility is less than 1 SM, runway 8 MUST be used as it is the only runway with an ILS approach.

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.

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.
2. The aircraft must be assigned heading 360 and climb to 3,000 feet prior to release to the TRACON frequency.
3. 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 2,900’ and below within a 5 mile radius of the airport.

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 LNS must be assigned left closed traffic. 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 Lancaster are provided by Harrisburg TRACON.