Letter of Agreement
New York ARTCC (ZNY) & L.F. Wade Intl. Airport ATCT (BDA)
Rev. 1 — Jan 2011
- Purpose
- This agreement prescribes transfer of control procedures, radar handoff procedures, route/altitude assignments, and delegation of airspace between New York ARTCC (ZNY) and L.F. Wade Intl. Airport ATCT (BDA).
- 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.
Delegation of Authority
New York ARTCC has been delegated responsibility for that airspace over the Islands of Bermuda by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), excluding the Bermuda Class D Airspace as depicted in Attachment 1.
Arrival Procedures
New York ARTCC shall:
- Call the Tower to forward an arrival sequence. Information will include, but is not limited to, call sign, sequence number, type of approach and arrival runway. Aircraft position information shall be provided if the aircraft is cleared for a visual or contact approach.
- Instruct arrivals to contact Bermuda Tower,
- If on a visual or contact approach prior to entering Class D Airspace.
- When flights are established on an IFR approach, prior to the final approach fix.
- When using non-radar procedures, when the flight has reported the final approach fix.
Bermuda Tower shall:
- Inform New York ARTCC upon cancellation of IFR, missed approaches and any unexpected maneuvers.
- Bermuda Tower may re-clear IFR arrivals for a visual approach when the weather conditions at the airport are reported at least VFR minimums. Bermuda Tower shall notify New York ARTCC when this option results in the use of a runway other than initially cleared.
Departure Procedures
Bermuda Tower shall:
- Request release for all IFR departures, verifying the runway to be used for each departure. Aircraft shall depart within three (3) minutes of release approval, unless otherwise coordinated.
- Have the authority to separate an IFR departure from an IFR arrival, within 20 miles of L.F. Wade International Airport, using visual separation in accordance with FAA JO 7110.65, as amended.
- Issue a Full Route Clearance (FRC/Oceanic Clearance) to all oceanic flights, excluding flights en route to the North American continent. All amended routes to flight plans shall be issued a Full Route Clearance (FRC), regardless of the destination.
- Issue Full Route Clearances to all departing aircraft after coordination with New York ARTCC and prior to the aircraft departing L. F. Wade International Airport.
- (New York ARTCC radar operations) Clear aircraft to fly runway heading with an assigned altitude of FL250 and to expect their requested altitude ten (10) minutes after departure. Aircraft shall be issued their requested altitude if FL250 or below.
- (New York ARTCC non-radar operations) Issue initial altitudes and departure routing, as specified by New York ARTCC.
- Transfer communications to New York ARTCC as soon as all separation conflicts have been resolved.
VFR/Special VFR Operations
- Unless otherwise coordinated, Bermuda Tower shall retain communications with all VFR aircraft.
- Bermuda Tower shall obtain authorization from New York ARTCC prior to approving SVFR operations. Bermuda Tower shall coordinate with New York ARTCC to suspend SVFR operations prior to an IFR aircraft entering the Class D airspace.
VFR Practice Instrument Approaches
New York ARTCC shall:
- Apply separation and procedures to VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches as specified in FAA JO 7110.65.
- Advise Bermuda Tower when the published missed approach procedure is authorized.
- Instruct arrivals to contact Bermuda Tower prior to the final approach fix.
Bermuda Tower shall:
- Coordinate with New York ARTCC the request for practice approaches.
- Advise aircraft requesting a practice approach to contact New York ARTCC.
- Coordinate with New York ARTCC prior to authorizing the published missed approach procedure, if not initially authorized by New York ARTCC.
Bermuda Non-Tower Operations
- New York ARTCC assumes control of Bermuda Class D airspace from 2300 to 0700 Atlantic Time [UTC minus four (4) hours]/Atlantic Daylight Savings Time [UTC minus three (3) hours], unless prior coordination is effected; during this time Bermuda Class D airspace reverts to Class E airspace. Bermuda operates on Atlantic Daylight Savings Time from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.
- In the event that an aircraft declares an emergency during Bermuda non-Tower operations and wishes to land at L.F. Wade International Airport, New York ARTCC shall notify, prior to releasing the airspace, the controlling facility shall provide a relief briefing and relay any pertinent information regarding aircraft movement/operations to the acquiring facility.
- During Bermuda non-Tower operations, Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and Air-to-Ground Remote Controlled Airfield Lighting (ARCAL) operating frequency shall be 122.8 MHz. Aircraft departing L. F. Wade International Airport shall contact New York ARTCC for IFR flight plan clearance delivery on 128.5MHz.
Traffic Restrictions
- New York ARTCC may turn departure aircraft when the aircraft is:
- at least three (3) miles from the runway, or,
- at or above one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet MSL.
- The New York ARTCC Area F FLM/(CIC) and the Bermuda Air Traffic Control Services Manager, or their designated representative(s), shall coordinate any restrictions to aircraft departing, or operating in the vicinity of L. F. Wade International Airport.
Airport Conditions
- Bermuda Tower shall forward information to New York ARTCC Sector 80 on the following:
- Active runway and prior to any runway change.
- NOTAM or condition affecting any runway or precluding a landing.
- Current Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) code.
- Any NAVAID or Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR)/Tower Radar Display malfunction.
Attachment 1 — Bermuda Class Delta Airspace