Birmingham |
All arrival routes into Birmingham terminate at one of the 2 stacks; CHASE and GROVE. Aircraft should not proceed beyond the stack without ATC clearance. Aircraft inbound to Coventry will be routed along the same arrival routes and use the same stacks as Birmingham.
STARS via OLIVE are not used as they are only for use when the HON VOR is out of service (which never happens in our virtual world).
The table below indicates the holding areas available to Birmingham:
| Stack | Axis and Direction of Turn | Minimum Holding Level | Maximum Holding Level | Holding Speed Limit |
| CHASE | 152 Right Hand | FL50 | FL140 | 210kts |
| GROVE | 106 Right Hand | FL70 | FL140 | 210kts |
Aircraft must cross SLPs (Speed Limitation Points) at 250kts or less, unless ATC has removed any speed restrictions.
When stacks become full, enroute holding further down the STAR takes place - "Stack swap" procedures could also be put in force.
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.
CHASE
The minimum level that may be used in the CHASE hold is FL50. Generally, holding does not take place below FL80 to allow aircraft from the other stack to be routed underneath at FL70 on the downwind leg.
STAFA sector will transfer aircraft arriving via CHASE cleared to the agreed level of FL90. Aircraft holding at CHASE above FL90 will stay with STAFA.
GROVE
The minimum level that may be used in the GROVE hold is FL70. Generally, holding does not take place below FL80 to allow aircraft from the other stack to be routed underneath at FL70 on the downwind leg. Aircraft must not be held above FL140 due to Class G airspace that sits above.
BNN sector will transfer aircraft arriving via HON cleared to the agreed level of FL80, or the loweest available level in the hold.
In reality, every aircraft inbound to Birmingham & Coventry 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 STAFA and BB INT:
"Birmingham"
"STAFA, release, BAW123 at 9"
"BAW123, 9"
"AIC101 at 10"
"AIC101, 10"
"DLH634 at 11"
"DLH634, 11"
"BAW1145 at 12"
"BAW1145, 12"
"Correct"
"Roger"
Verification of MET and Aircraft type
Birmingham directors are 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.