EDDG - Münster/Osnabrück
General
Before you fly...
Welcome to Münster/Osnabrück! This small airport primarily hosts airline flights from or to holiday destinations but features some short haul domestic flights to other German airports as well. Among VFR pilots, it is a favorite due to its relatively simple airspace structure and airport layout and is frequently used for training flights. Additionally, it has two uncontrolled grass runways directly parallel to the hard surface runway, as well as a rescue helicopter stationed at a helipad just South of the field, creating a very dynamic environment.
Although the airport has a relatively simple layout and low traffic levels on VATSIM, you should still prepare yourself thoroughly to keep it fun for everyone and avoid mistakes which might lead to delays for yourself and other users.
If you are new to VATSIM, Münster/Osnabrück is a perfect airport to get started on the network. Controllers will almost always have enough spare capacity to answer questions or quickly explain a procedure to you. It rarely gets very busy, so making smaller mistakes will usually not have a negative impact on anybody else's experience on the network. However, you should be prepared for some more unusual situations when there is glider and/or rescue helicopter traffic.
Parking position
Please make sure you choose an appropriate stand for your aircraft type.
Passenger flights park at positions 9 thru 14, with flights to non-Schengen destinations generally using positions 12 thru 14.
Heavy aircraft can only park at stands 21 and 24 facing North towards the runway.
Business jets park at positions 18A thru 19E.
General aviation aircraft park positions 101 thru 406, with stands 301 thru 303 being limited to max. 20m wingspan, and stands 401 thru 406 to max. 12m wingspan.
All stands are taxi-out positions. However, on stands 9 thru 14, pushback is mandatory for aircraft with a wingspan of 36m or more and ATC may require any other aircraft on these stands to do a pushback depending on the traffic situation.
As aircraft deicing is conducted on positions 24 and 25, we ask all pilots to only use these stands for parking when absolutely necessary, especially during colder temperatures.
Münster/Osnabrück is not equipped to handle A380 aircraft. To maintain realism and prevent inconveniences for controllers and other pilots, we ask pilots to choose a different airport when flying the A380.
Handoffs
When instructed to contact another controller, do so as soon as possible. This will avoid you having to stop moving or level off. Please do not hold your position to switch the frequency, keep moving on the ground!
Be aware that some frequencies in use might not be shown in the controller list of your pilot client, so it is important that you listen carefully to what ATC says.
Auto-handoff
Münster/Osnabrück utilizes an auto-handoff procedure for IFR departures where Tower will not hand off outbounds to the approach controller. The current airborne frequency will always be noted in the ATIS.
Contact the airborne frequency immediately when airborne unless explicitly told to remain on Tower frequency.
Charts & Scenery
Charts
You can find current IFR charts for Münster/Osnabrück on chartfox (requires VATSIM login).
You can find current VFR charts for Münster/Osnabrück in the AIP VFR.
For a better overview over the airspace structure around Münster/Osnabrück, we recommend openflightmaps.
Airport Scenery
| Sim |
Freeware |
Payware |
| MSFS |
flightsim.to |
M'M Simulation (Orbx) |
| X-Plane |
X-Plane forums |
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| Prepare3D V4/V5 |
-- |
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Departing Traffic
We ask all pilots to also read the General section with information relevant to all pilots.
Preparation
A thorough preparation is important for any flight. We ask you to conduct a thorough briefing to avoid delays and keep it fun for everyone.
Route planning
You can find valid routes for many destinations in the AeroNav Global Route Database.
When planning a route via SimBrief, please use routes with the Eurocontrol icon, as those will generally be valid.
When filing an invalid flight plan, you will usually have to file a completely new flight plan before ATC can issue your enroute clearance.
SID assignment
ATC will assign SIDs according to the table below. If the first waypoint of your flight plan is not listed here, please check which AIRAC you are using - if your AIRAC cycle is too outdated, it might take some time until the controllers can coordinate a solution for you. Please also make sure you are complying with the restrictions for each of the available initial waypoints.
Default SID assignment
| Waypoint |
07 |
25 |
Restrictions |
| DOMEG |
E |
C |
|
| HMM |
Y |
Z |
07 operations: only (turbo-)prop up to 5.7t MTOM 25 operations: jet aircraft only up to 20t MTOM |
| OSN |
E |
C |
|
| RKN |
E |
C |
Enroute Clearance
Clearance requests in Germany are very short. Please avoid unnecessarily long clearance requests to reduce frequency congestion.
Pilot: Münster Ground, Lufthansa 5EK, stand 12, request enroute clearance, information M.
Datalink Clearance (DCL)
Münster/Osnabrück also offers electronic datalink clearances (also known as PDC or Pre-Departure Clearance) on VATSIM using the Hoppie ACARS system. The station code is EDDG. If your aircraft does not have a direct integration of the Hoppie system, you can also use easyCPDLC.
Requesting clearance electronically is preferred over voice clearances as it reduces frequency congestion thus avoiding delays. Because of this, we ask all pilots able to use the Hoppie ACARS system to do so.
Startup
Startup approval is the "go" from the controller's side to start your engines. It is also an assurance that you will be cleared to start moving within the next 20 minutes. It can be requested and approved together with pushback.
Pushback
Only request pushback if you are actually ready to start pushing back. If you take longer than 1 - 2 minutes to start moving, ATC might have to cancel your pushback clearance to avoid delays for other pilots.
Keep in mind that some positions on Münster/Osnabrück's apron are taxi-out stands. If you are parked on one of these taxi-out stands, you won't need a pushback.
If you are unsure about your pushback instruction or unable to comply for any reason, hold position and inform ATC immediately.
Taxi
While Münster/Osnabrück's layout is relatively simple, it is still important to conduct a thorough briefing of expected taxi routes as well as correct taxiing. To avoid delays for yourself and other users, start taxiing as soon as possible after receiving your taxi clearance and request taxi in a timely manner after your pushback.
If you are unsure about your taxi instructions, hold position and inform ATC immediately.
Run-up
There are run-up areas at runway intersections A and B, called A1 and B1. If you require a run-up, inform Münster Ground as early as possible so they can issue an appropriate instruction.
Takeoff
Münster/Osnabrück has only one runway which needs to be used for both departures and arrivals. While there is usually not too much other traffic, it is still important to begin your takeoff roll as soon as you receive your clearance and be prepared for immediate takeoff clearances. If you take too long, ATC might have to cancel your takeoff clearance and issue a go around for an arriving aircraft.
Auto-handoff
Münster/Osnabrück utilizes an auto-handoff procedure for IFR departures where Tower will not hand off outbounds to the approach controller. The current airborne frequency will always be noted in the ATIS.
Contact the airborne frequency immediately when airborne unless explicitly told to remain on Tower frequency.
Arriving Traffic
We ask all pilots to also read the General section with information relevant to all pilots.
Arrival
STAR assignment
You can usually expect not to fly out your STAR and instead to get radar vectors. However, you should be prepared to fly the STAR followed by a standard approach via the Hamm VOR (HMM) or Osnabrück VOR (OSN).
Descent planning
To avoid having to fly unnecessarily long finals, pilots should plan to cross the following waypoints at the following altitudes. Remember that all altitude changes require an explicit clearance by ATC.
- BAMSU: FL190
- DOMEG: FL190
- HMM: FL140
- OSN: FL70
- QATJA: FL230
- SONEB: FL110
Approach
Approach procedures
The approach into Münster/Osnabrück will usually be an ILS approach.
Speeds
Pilots should plan the following speeds. Keep in mind that ATC instructions always take precedent.
- Descent phase: 250 - 300 KIAS
- Base: 220 KIAS
- Turn to final: 180 - 200 KIAS
There is a restriction for maximum 250 KIAS below FL100 as the Münster/Osnabrück TMA is partly class D and partly class E (with a TMZ below FL60).
You need to follow all speed instructions precisely until they are cancelled by ATC to ensure separation. If you need to slow down earlier for any reason, advise ATC immediately, so they can issue an appropriate instruction.
Taxi
While Münster/Osnabrück's layout is relatively simple, it is still important to conduct a thorough briefing of expected taxi routes as well as correct taxiing. To avoid delays for yourself and other users, start taxiing as soon as possible after receiving your taxi clearance.
If you are unsure about your taxi instructions, hold position and inform ATC immediately.
VFR Traffic
We ask all pilots to also read the General section with information relevant to all pilots.
Münster/Osnabrück’s airspace and general traffic levels make the airport very friendly to VFR traffic in the real world. As this is similar on VATSIM, controllers will usually be able to accommodate VFR requests. However, the limited amount of space at Münster/Osnabrück can result in situations where some VFR requests might be denied during periods of high traffic.
Airspace Structure
CTR
The Münster/Osnabrück CTR has a top altitude of 2500 ft MSL, about 2300 ft AGL. Please pay close attention to setting the correct QNH and your altitude to avoid inadvertently entering airspace D above.
The following mandatory reporting points exist around the airport:
| Reporting point |
Use |
Location |
| D |
Exit to the NW 25 operations |
motorway intersection B475/B481 |
| E |
Entry/Exit from/to the E |
Kattenvenne village |
| N1 |
Entry/Exit from/to the N |
Dörenthe village |
| N2 |
non-compulsory reporting point |
Ladbergen industrial district |
| S |
Entry/Exit from/to the S |
canal bridges Greven |
| T |
Entry from the NE all operations Exit to the NE 07 operations |
Habichtswald forest |
| W |
Entry/Exit from/to the SW |
highway A1 bridge South of golf course Aldruper Heide |
The maximum altitude for all VFR arrivals and departures is 2000ft.
Keep in mind that ATC might instruct you to use a different reporting point than the one you requested, if necessary.
There is also a published VFR holding North of N2.
Airspace D
The Münster/Osnabrück TMA is partly class D, directly above the CTR, reaching up to 4500ft. All aircraft intending to enter this part of the TMA require a clearance from the responsible controller.
TMZ
The Münster/Osnabrück TMA is partly class E with a partial transponder mandatory zone reaching up to FL60. All VFR aircraft inside the TMZ have to squawk 6104 and monitor 129.300.
Even when no dedicated controller is covering 129.300, you still have to set the squawk and monitor the frequency. During top down service at Münster/Osnabrück, most controllers will use 129.300 as a secondary frequency and even if they don't, they can quickly activate it if they need to speak to you.
Luftfahrtvereinigung Greven
The LfV Greven is based North of the field and operates two grass runways parallel to the main hard surface runway; additionally, it is connected to the main airport area by a hard surface taxiway opposite to taxiway C.
LfV Greven AoR
While the area belonging to the LfV Greven is uncontrolled, all movements require ATC approval. For taxi, pilots need to request approval from Münster Ground; for runway operations, pilots need to request approval from Münster Tower.
ATC will not give clearances in the LfV Greven AoR. Only approvals are given, which means pilots are still responsible to make sure the action is safe.
Technically, all aircraft who can safely take off from and/or land on the grass runways are allowed to do so, but usually, they are only used by gliders, TMGs, and ultralights. Whenever possible, pilots shall use the Northern grass runway; the Southern runway is primarily used for glider landings.
The runways are named 07 Grass and 25 Grass.
All approaches to the grass runways are conducted at an angle to stay as far away from the hard surface runway for as long as possible.
Hard surface runway
Aircraft parked at the LfV Greven hangar intending to use Münster/Osnabrück's hard surface runway have to taxi to the airport fence where they will get a taxi clearance to enter the controlled area of the airport from Münster Tower. Aircraft able to depart directly from the intersection may request an intersection departure.
Christoph Westfalen
The rescue helicopter Christoph Westfalen is stationed at its own helipad in the industrial district just South of the airport. The helipad is uncontrolled, so the helicopter may depart on the pilot's discretion. However, they are required to contact Münster Tower immediately after departure (or, if possible, even before departure). Landings are also conducted on the pilot's discretion.