New Diagram of the further West/Southwest Valley Practice Areas is now posted. Be sure to check it out, this is a very busy area when combined with Luke Approaches. The powerpoint and JPEG Versions are available for you.
ATCA training areas – Powerpoint
Popularity: 41%
Our mission is to provide information and recommended best practices to improve pilot awareness and decision-making with the ultimate goal of reducing accidents, incidents, and pilot deviations by making an ongoing effort to:
On Feb. 15, 2009, we launched a new Web site that contains more interactivity, more access to all of our work, and the ability to stay in touch with us via RSS feeds providing instant updates.
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Cleared for takeoff.
Fly straight out til advised.
Popularity: 6%
Starting this May, a new rule will require all pilots operating in the vicinity of Luke Air Force Base’s student jet transition training areas to be on frequency with Luke Approach.
Altitudes and boundaries of the new mandatory communications area with Luke RAPCON will be charted on the May 2010 VFR Sectional.
Popularity: 78%
UPDATED - PDF version of the KIWA Arrival and Departure Procedures LOA.
KIWA – Local Flight School VFR Arrival & Departure Procedures
(click each image to download the PDF)
Popularity: 19%
There is a new skydiving operation near Casa Grande Airport. Click the image below to view the current drop zone and recommended pilot procedures.
At our December 2006 meeting, the manager of the skydiving operation agreed to investigate alternative drop zone locations south of Casa Grande Airport. The group agreed that this would alleviate much of the collision hazard that currently exists with aircraft transitioning between Casa Grande and Phoenix.
FAA Skydiving and Parachute Operations Video – Low Resolution (7.2 MB), WMV format.
FAA Skydiving and Parachute Operations Video – Med Resolution (44.4 MB), WMV format.
Other Resources:
Popularity: 11%
Revision: 1
Effective Date: 11-21-2002
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this document is to establish a consensus as well as to further standardize radio communication procedures between Air Traffic Controllers and pilots when arriving and departing airports within and surrounding the greater Phoenix area. This document does not replace or supersede any Federal Aviation Regulations or information described in the Aeronautical Information Manual. The following document was compiled from information gathered from procedures and opinions of Control Towers around the Phoenix area as well as the Phoenix TRACON. The information contained herein is considered a “living document” and is subject to revisions as necessary.
Procedures
Initial Contact:
When aircraft initially contact Air Traffic Control Towers, they will state, in one transmission:
1. Who they are addressing
2. The aircraft’s full call sign
3. Position in reference to the airport (or published reporting point)
4. Their request
5. ATIS information they have received
Non-established reporting points are not to be used when arriving to an airport traffic area. Use the compass rose position and nautical mileage distance in reference to the airport. Example: “Scottsdale Tower, Cessna 1234R, 7 miles northwest, touch and go’s with Alpha.”
When aircraft initially contact the Phoenix TRACON, they will state, in one transmission:
1. Who they are addressing
2. The aircraft’s full call sign
3. Position in reference to a radial and DME or a prominent landmark
4. Abbreviated request
Example: “Phoenix Approach, Cessna 1234R, 7 east of Gateway Airport, multiple approaches.”
Radio Communications Transfer
When an aircraft is transferred from Phoenix TRACON to a local Tower or vice versa, that aircraft will treat the radio transmission as though it is an initial contact and use the phraseology as described above.
Notes Pertaining to the Area
When performing multiple practice instrument approaches, it is important to inform both Phoenix Approach and the local tower facility by stating the fact that the pilot is requesting to do more than land at the airport. Informing the approach controller and tower controller of the pilot’s intentions “paves-the-way” for future needs.
Some Air Traffic Control Towers have a “BRITE” in the tower cab which allows that VFR tower controller to see radar images further than the eye can see. However, this is for informational purposes only and is not to be used for controlling purposes. Traffic advisories may be issued to pilots to enhance safety. The pilot-in-command is still responsible for giving all pertinent information listed above when making an initial call to the tower.
Popularity: 60%