Welcome to IVAO United Kingdom

Aerodrome Control Procedures

Heathrow

Aerodrome Control

The TWR function at Heathrow is split between two controllers, AIR NTH and AIR STH. Each controller has responsibility for one runway.

Air North Controller:

AIR NTH is responsible for all movements on the northern runway (27R/09L). AIR NTH operates on frequency 118.700. If runway 27R/09L is in use for landing, AIR NTH shall be opened first.

Air South Controller:

AIR STH is responsible for all movements on the southern runway (27L/09R). AIR STH operates on frequency 118.500. If runway 27L/09R is in use for landing, AIR STH shall be opened first.

Ground Movement Control

Ground Movement Controller North:

GMC N is responsible for all ground movements on taxiways indicated in blue on the diagram above. GMC N operates on frequency 121.900.

Ground Movement Controller South:

GMC S is responsible for all ground movements on taxiways indicated in green on the diagram above. GMC S operates on frequency 121.700.

Ground Movement Controller West

GMC W is responsible for all ground movements on taxiways indicated in red on the diagram above. GMC W operates on frequency 121.850.

Ground Movement Planner

GMP is responsible for passing IFR departure clearances to aircraft. GMP operates on frequency 121.975. GMP must not clear aircraft for start/push. Once the aircraft has a clearance, they should be instructed to contact the appropriate GMC for start/push.

Aerodrome Traffic Monitor (ATM)

Heathrow is fitted with an ATM and this can be simulated on IVAO. It has a range of about 15nm and displays SSR labels with mode C read out. The ATM may be used to:

Determine the landing order, spacing and distance from touchdown information of arriving aircraft
Identify departing aircraft and validate the SSR codes.
Monitor the progress of over flying aircraft
Establishing separation between departing aircraft
Pass traffic information
Establish separation in the event of a missed approach
assist in taking corrective action when separation between arriving aircraft becomes less than the prescribed minima.

Wind Shear

When a pilot reports wind shear, this must be passed to inbound and outbound aircraft until the report appears on the ATIS. Reports should contain the following information:

Warning of the presence of wind shear
Height or height band and time the wind shear was encountered
Details of the effect on the aircraft

Braking Action

If there is a cause to believe that braking action is less than good, this must be confirmed and information should be passed to departing and arriving aircraft.