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 |
New York ARTCC
Standard Operating Procedure — Philadelphia ATCT and PHL TRACON
Rev. 19 — Revised: 2023-12-15
Area at a glance
ICAO Code | Airport Name | Airspace |
---|---|---|
KPHL | Philadelphia Intl | B |
KPHL | Philadelphia Intl | B |
- 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 | 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 |
ATCT
Clearance Delivery
Ground
- Departure Sequencing
Exit Gate | Exits |
---|---|
North Gates | MXE, STOEN, PTW, FJC, MAZIE, ARD |
South Gates | RUUTH, DITCH, OOD, DQO |
- Aircraft should be sequenced to depart in the following order:
- By alternating gate group.
- If not the above, then by alternating exit.
- If not the above, then by aircraft type largest to smallest.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Ground Control may taxi aircraft across runway 9L, 27R or 26 without coordinating with Local Control so long as
- That runway is being utilized for landing only (not takeoffs).
- 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.
- The crossing traffic must initiate crossing of that runway prior to any arriving traffic reaches a 2 mile final.
- The procedure must be completed no later than when the arriving traffic reaches a 1 mile final.
- Tower has the final authority to suspend or resume the prearranged coordination for runway crossing.
- Obstructions to Arriving and Departing Aircraft
- The areas of consideration at PHL airport where a taxiing aircraft could become a potential obstacle to departing or arriving aircraft are as follows:
- 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.
- Aircraft utilizing taxiway Yankee:
- 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).
- 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
- 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.
- When reaching 26:
- PHRASEOLOGY
Cross runway 26 at delta, hold short runway 27R at delta.
- When reaching 27R:
- PHRASEOLOGY
Cross runway 27R at delta, continue runway 35 via delta and sierra.
- It is suggested that departing aircraft exit the ramp as follows:
- East Flow: Spots 5, 6, 7, or 9
- West Flow: Spots 5, 8 , or 9
- 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.
- It is suggested that arriving aircraft enter the ramp as follows:
- East Flow: Spots 5, 8, or 9
- West Flow: Spots 5, 6, 7, or 9
- 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.
- Intersection Departures and Usable Runway Lengths
- 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.
- 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')
Tower
TRACON
Departure
Approach
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
- 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).
- 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:
- Call-sign
- Location at the airport
- ATIS code
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- Unchecked:
- 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
- Unchecked:
- 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
- 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.
- 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 | 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 |