Letter of Agreement
New York ARTCC (ZNY) & Potomac TRACON (PCT)
Rev. 2 - April 7, 2020
- Purpose
- This agreement prescribes transfer of control procedures, radar handoff procedures, route/altitude assignments, and delegation of airspace between New York ARTCC (ZNY) and Potomac TRACON (PCT).
- Scope
- The procedures contained herein must apply unless prior coordination is effected.
- Disclosure
- vZNY and any other facilities mentioned in this document are affiliated with the Virtual Air Traffic Simulation (VATSIM) network. The procedures outlined in this document are intended exclusively for use in the VATSIM flight simulation environment and must never be used for actual flight or air traffic control operations. vZNY and any other facility mentioned in this document are not affiliated with the FAA in any manner.
- Transfer of Control Procedures
- General
- New York Center (ZNY) delegates to Potomac TRACON (PCT) authority and responsibility for control of arrival, departure, and tower enroute aircraft within the approach control area depicted on Attachment 1.
- Minimum radar separation between aircraft when transfer of control is accomplished shall be at least 10 nautical miles, constant or increasing.
- The Center/TRACON delegated airspace shall be the transfer of control point (TCP).
- Verbal coordination is required for overflight traffic on V39 and V143.
- Regardless of the facility requesting holding and/or altitude/route changes which will affect additional sectors in the adjacent facility’s area, each facility shall be responsible for completing all its own necessary internal coordination.
- Arrival Control
- IAD & IAD Satellite arrivals:
- Jet arrivals from LRP, (except those originating in the PHL Terminal Area) will be handed off to PCT descending to 15,000′. PCT will have control for turns of up to 45º right of course at the TCP. PCT is responsible for pointing out these aircraft to ZNY if necessary.
- Jet arrivals originating in the PHL, WRI, and RDG Terminal Areas will be handed off to PCT climbing to 14,000′ not in trail with other LRP jet arrivals.
- Jet arrivals from PSB/HAR, (except those originating in the MDT Terminal Area) will be handed off to PCT at or below 14,000′ descending to 13,000′. PCT will have control for turns of up to 30º left or right of course South of the centerline of V474.
- Jet arrivals originating from the MDT Terminal Area will be handed off to PCT at 11,000′ not in trail with other PSB/HAR jet arrivals. PCT will have control for turns of up to 30º left or right of course South of the centerline of V474.
- Prop arrivals from LRP/DELRO will be handed off to PCT descending to 12,000′.
- Prop arrivals from TROYZ# will be handed off to PCT descending to 12,000′ and 250kts.
- Prop arrivals from PSB/HAR will be handed off to PCT descending to 9,000’. PCT will have control for turns of up to 30º left or right of course South of the centerline of V474.
- Note: In the event of a simultaneous BWI or DCA prop arrival, the IAD prop will be descending to 10,000′.
- Prop arrivals from the MDT Terminal Areas must be handled via tower en route control (TEC).
- Note: TEC routes are low-altitude IFR routes that require no level of air traffic control higher than approach-control facilities. These routes can be found using the Preferred Route Database.
- PCT has control to change beacon code assignments for arrival aircraft south of the centerline of V474.
- Prop arrivals not capable of speeds greater than 210kts from the PHL and WRI Terminal Areas must be handled via TEC.
- IAD & IAD Satellite arrivals:
- DCA & DCA Satellite arrivals:
- ZNY must provide in-trail spacing between jet arrivals from MXE and LRP/PSB.
- Jet arrivals from MXE will be handed off to PCT to cross CLIPR or cross 20nm Northeast of BAL at 12,000′.
- Jet arrivals from LRP/PSB will be handed off to PCT to cross SKILS or cross 20nm North of BAL at 12,000′.
- Props from MXE will be handed off to PCT to cross TROYZ or cross 40nm Northeast of BAL at 11,000′.
- Props from LRP will be handed off to PCT at 10,000′.
- Props from HAR/PSB will be handed off to PCT descending to 9,000′.
- PCT has control to change beacon code assignments for arrival aircraft within 30nm of BAL.
- DCA & DCA Satellite arrivals:
- BWI & BWI Satellite Arrivals:
- ZNY must provide in-trail spacing between jet arrivals from MXE and LRP.
- Jet arrivals from MXE will be handed off to PCT to cross 25nm Southwest of MXE or cross 40nm North of BAL at 12,000′ and 250kts.
- Jet arrivals from LRP will be handed off to PCT to cross 25nm South of LRP or cross 40nm North of BAL at 12,000′ and 250kts.
- Props from MXE will be handed off to PCT to cross TROYZ or cross 40nm north of BAL at 11,000′.
- Props from LRP will be handed off to PCT at 9,000′.
- Props from HAR/PSB will be handed off to PCT descending to 9,000′.
- PCT has control to change beacon code assignments for arrival aircraft within 40nm of BAL.
- PCT may vector BWI arrivals toward BAL South of the centerline of V408. It shall be PCT's responsibility to separate SKILS arrivals from those over TRISH.
- BWI & BWI Satellite Arrivals:
- Departure Control
- BWI, BWI Satellite, DCA, and DCA Satellite departures:
- ZNY must advise PCT when departure clearances will be on an approval basis only.
- Aircraft requesting 17,000′ or below must be cleared via the routes described in Attachment 3.
- Departures must be cleared to 11,000′ or lower requested altitude.
- ZNY has control for climb and/or turns 30° either side of course north of the centerline of the MXE267° radial.
- PCT may clear aircraft routed via LRP, direct LRP without coordination.
- BWI, BWI Satellite, DCA, and DCA Satellite departures:
- Overflights
- Verbal coordination is required for overflight traffic routed via V39/143.
- RNAV overflight traffic routed via T291 and T295:
- Must be at or below 11,000'.
- ZNY may clear aircraft direct BAABS without coordination.
- PCT may clear aircraft direct LRP or HAR without coordination.
- PCT BELAY Sector must coordinate northbound traffic routed via T291 at 9,000' through 11,000' with PCT BINNS Sector prior to transfer of control to ZNY.
- Holding
- General:
- When holding is necessary each facility will advise the other as soon as possible.
- Holding at SKILS or TRISH intersections:
- ZNY must coordinate the call sign, altitude, and time over the fix for aircraft in hold.
- PCT must accept transfer of communications and control of aircraft at 14,000′ and below and in delegated airspace in the holding pattern airspace areas and appropriate arrival routes as depicted on Attachment 4 from the highest altitude released by ZNY.
- PCT must release altitudes back to ZNY by stating the aircraft callsign and altitude vacated.
- Holding at BINNS intersection:
- When all available holding altitudes at HYPER intersection are occupied ZNY will hold at BINNS intersection above 15,000'.
- ZNY will hand off aircraft at 15,000′. Upon acceptance of a handoff by PCT, ZNY will transfer communications and control for turns of the aircraft within the BINNS holding pattern airspace and appropriate arrival route, as depicted in Attachment 4 at 15,000′ to PCT.
- PCT must release altitudes back to ZNY by stating the aircraft call sign and altitude vacated.
- Holding at RIKTR:
- ZNY shall hold aircraft at RIKTR above 12,000'.
- General:
Attachment 1 – Airspace Delegation from ZNY to PCT [Show]
| Section | Altitude |
|---|---|
| A | 17,000 and below |
| B | 14,000′ and Below |
| C | 14,000′ to 5,000′ |
| D | 14,000′ to 7,000′ |
| E | 11,000′ and 4,000' Below |
| F | 11,000′ and Below |
| G | 8,000′ and Below |
| H | 8,000′ to 5,000' |
| I | 8,000′ only |
| J | 4,000′ and Below |
Attachment 3 – Departure Routes [Show]
| Departure Airport | Enroute Fix | Route |
|---|---|---|
| BWI and BWI Sats | HAR | VINNY.V31.HAR |
| LRP | VINNY.V93.LRP | |
| DCA and DCA Sats | HAR | VINNY.V31.HAR |
| LRP | VINNY.V457.LRP |
Attachment 4 – Holding Patterns [Show]
| Fix | Direction | Turn | Legs | Max Speed | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BINNS | Northeast | Right Turns | 1½ Minute | 265 kias | 15,000′ to 17,000′ |
| SKILS | North | Right Turns | 1 Minute | 210 kias | 12,000′ to 4,000′ |
| TRISH | Northeast | Right Turns | 1 Minute | 210 kias | 12,000′ to 4,000′ |
Attachment 5 – Adjacent and Overlying ZNY Airspace [Show]
| Section | ZNY Sector | Altitudes |
|---|---|---|
| A | Lancaster | 15,000' to 17,000' |
| B | Lancaster | 9,000' to 17,000' |
| C | Lancaster | 9,000' to 11,000' |
| Modena | 11,000' to FL230 | |
| D | Modena | 11,000' to FL230 |
| E | Middletown | 9,000' to FL210 |
| F | Modena | 12,000' to FL230 |
| G | Modena | 15,000' to FL230 |
- Attachment 6 – Satellite Airports
ZDC Satellite Airports [Show]
| Area | Abbreviation | Satellite Airport Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City Area | ACY | MIV, OBI, WWD, N87, 26N |
| Baltimore Area | BAL | ANP, APG, DMW, EDG, ESN, FDK, FME, GAI, MTN, MD31, W18, W29, W42, W48, W50, 0W3, 2W2, 9W8 |
| Dover Area | DOV | GED, 0N4, 33N |
| Washington Dulles Area | IAD | CJR, EZF, FRR, HEF, HWY, JYO, MRB, NYG, OKV, RMN, 2VG2 |
| Washington National Area | DCA | ADW, CGS, DAA, NDY, VKX, W00, W32, 2W5 |
ZNY Satellite Airports [Show]
| Area | Abbreviation | Satellite Airport Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Elmira Area | ELM | ELM, BGM, ITH, SYR |
| Harrisburg Area | MDT | MDT, CXY, LNS, MUI, SEG, THV, ZER, N68, N71, N79, N94, 58N, 74N, 9D4 |
| Islip Area | ISP | ISP, HWV, 23N |
| Islip Area East | ISPE | FOK, HTO, MTP, 03NY, 1N2, 21N, 87N |
| Islip Area North | ISPN | BDR, HVN, JSD, OXC, SNC, 42B |
| Kennedy Area | JFK | JFK, FRG |
| LaGuardia Area | LGA | LGA |
| LaGuardia Area North | LGAN | DXR, HPN |
| Liberty Area | LIB | SWF, POU, MGJ, MSV, NY35, N45, N69, N72, N82, N89, 06N, 20N, 44N, 46N, 5NY5 |
| McGuire Area | WRI | WRI, NEL, BLM, MJX, N12, N14, N73, N81, N87, NJ20, NJ24, NJ46, NJ59, NJ60, NJ69, NJ72, NJ75, NJ87, 19N, 2N6, 2N8, 3N6, 3N7, 46NJ, 6NJ0 |
| Newark Area | EWR | EWR |
| Newark Area North | EWRN | CDW, FWN, MMU, TEB, N05, N07, 1N7, 12N, 13N, 3N5, 4N1 |
| Newark Area South | EWRS | LDJ, SMQ, N51, 39N, 47N |
| Philadelphia Area | PHL | PHL |
| Philadelphia Area North | PHLN | CKZ, DYL, LOM, PNE, PTW, TTN, UKT, N10, N47, 3NJ6, 9N1 |
| Philadelphia Area South | PHLS | EVY, ILG, MQS, OQN, N57, NJ74, 17N, 58M, 7N7 |
| Wilkes-Barre Area | AVP | AVP, HZL, MPO, WBW, N13, N30, 70N, 76N, 8N4, 9N3 |