Belfast Aldergrove |
All arrivals into Aldergrove will be routed via airways towards BEL. Aircraft should not proceed beyond BEL without ATC clearance. Aircraft inbound to Belfast City will be routed along the same arrival routes and use the same stack as Aldergrove.
The table below indicates the holding areas available to Aldergrove:
| Stack | Axis and Direction of Turn | Minimum Holding Level | Holding Speed Limit |
| BEL (07/25/35) | 059 Left Hand | A040 | 220kts |
| BEL (17) | 167 Right Hand | A040 | 220kts |
| OY | 250 Right Hand | A030 | 220kts |
It is important that you keep the stacks laddered down so that levels can be freed up. In the stack, you can only clear an aircraft down to the next level when the previous aircraft has vacated the previously occupied level. There are two ways of doing this. 1) Ask the pilot to report leaving the level 2) When the mode C readout shows +/- 400ft from the assigned level, we can assume the aircraft has left the level. During busy periods, option 2) is the better one to reduce RT transmissions.
Ultimately, it is the pilots responsibility to ensure that he enters the stack at 210kts. To help him out, as he approaches the stack, if you want him to enter the hold bring his speed back early (By doing this, as he reaches the stack you may then realise he doesn't need to hold because the reduction in speed has created enough of a delay)
Aircraft should be informed of the length of delay expected in the hold. The usual phrases used are "Less than 5 minutes", "5 to 10 minutes", "10 to 15 minutes" and "15 to 20 minutes". If the delay is going to be over 20 minutes, Expected Approach Times must be passed to aircraft. It is important that an accurate delay is passed to aircraft.
In reality, every aircraft inbound to Aldergrove & City has to be released by area control to approach control. This is done over the telephone. This can be simulated on IVAO with the Intercom or via text chat.
A release message contains:
Example of a release phone call between WEST and INT:
"Aldergrove"
"WEST, release, BAW123, BEL at 100"
"BAW123, BEL, 100"
"BAW1145, for City, BEL at 11"
"BAW1145, for City, BEL at 11"
"Correct"
"Roger"
Verification of MET and Aircraft type
Aldergrove Rarar is to verify that aircraft are in receipt of the latest MET report and are to verify the aircraft type, including type variants. The tower must be informed of any aircraft that are not the type as indicated on the flightplan.