IFR at uncontrolled aerodromes
General
In Germany, IFR traffic is permitted to depart and land at uncontrolled aerodromes of the aerodrome has published IFR procedures, a Radio Mandatory Zone (RMZ) and personnel to provide AFIS/ATS.
As per the AIP Germany, the following uncontrolled aerodromes have IFR procedures: EDAB, EDAC, EDAY, EDAZ, EDBC, EDBH, EDBM, EDBN, EDFQ, EDGS, EDHK, EDME, EDMS, EDPR, EDQA, EDQC, EDQD, EDQG, EDRZ, EDTD, EDTM, EDTY, EDWE, EDWI.
IFR arrivals and departures require increased attention in the vicinity of the airfields, which is why so-called Radio Mandatory Zones (RMZ) have been introduced at airfields with IFR traffic. These are airspace class G and therefore uncontrolled. AFIS Officers (AFISO) are only allowed to provide traffic information and will coordinate IFR flights with ATC.
Most AFIS aerodromes don't publish a METAR, therefore, weather information from nearby aerodromes may be used instead.
In the following example, we will simulate an IFR flight from EDAY to EDWE. In general, IFR flight plans from uncontrolled IFR aerodromes will be filed the same as for controlled IFR aerodromes.
Departing Traffic (AFIS online)
The pilot will call you, as at any other IFR airfield, and ask for enroute clearance.
| Station | Phraseology |
| Pilot | Strausberg Information, DELEL, Cessna 172, Apron 1, request IFR clearance. |
| AFISO | DELEL, Strausberg Information, active runway 23, QNH 1012, standby for clearance. |
It is very important to note that an AFISO is not authorised to issue the clearance himself! The IFR clearance always needs to be coordinated with the responsible ATS station (Bremen, Langen or München Radar). The AFISO will relay the clearance from Radar to the pilot.
In our example, the AFISO will now coordinate the IFR clearance with Bremen Radar (in this case, EDDB APP). The coordination can be performed either via TeamSpeak or VCCS:
| Station | Coordination |
| AFISO | Berlin Arrival Nord, Strausberg Information |
|
ATC |
Berlin Arrival Nord, go ahead. |
|
AFISO |
Request IFR clearance for DELEL to Emden via RENKI. |
|
ATC |
DELEL is cleared Emden aerodrome, RENKI2B departure, flight planned route, climb via SID to altitude 4000 ft, squawk 2163, departure frequency 119.630, radar service starts when entering controlled airspace. |
|
AFISO |
~ readback ~ |
|
ATC |
Readback, correct. |
ATC shall include the phrase "radar service starts when entering controlled airspace" in the IFR clearance as additional information for the pilot, indicating when they can expect to be under ATC's responsibility.
Departure Release
Traffic in uncontrolled airspace is not subject to any takeoff clearance. After the IFR clearance, traffic can depart at its discretion. Nevertheless, ATC could issue a time slot for the validity of the IFR clearance when required for separation purposes or flow management:
- Time-restricted departure release: "depart not earlier than 1340z, not later than 1355z"
Clearance Relay
We have now obtained the IFR clearance for DELEL and need to forward it to the pilot.
| Station | Phraseology |
| AFISO | DELEL, advise ready to copy IFR clearance. |
| Pilot |
DELEL, ready to copy. |
| AIFSO |
DELEL, Bremen Radar clears you to Emden aerodrome, RENKI2B departure, flight planned route, climb via SID to altitude 4000 ft, squawk 2163, departure frequency 119.630, radar service starts when entering controlled airspace. |
| Pilot |
DELEL, cleared to Emden aerodrome, RENKI2B departure, flight planned route, climbing via SID to altitude 4000 ft, squawk 2163, departure frequency 119.630, roger and ready for departure. |
| AFISO |
DELEL, readback correct, wind 200 degrees 5 knots, runway 23, no reported traffic. |
| Pilot |
DELEL, lining up and taking off runway 23. |
| Pilot | DELEL, passing 1300 ft*, contacting Bremen Radar. |
(*) The pilot will report passing 1300 ft as stated in the charts: "REPORT PASSING 1300 TO STRAUSBERG INFORMATION AND CONTACT BREMEN RADAR."
Vectored/Visual Departures
IFR traffic within airspace G shall proceed on published procedures only. Therefore, vectored or visual IFR departures from uncontrolled airfields are not possible. An easy alternative to vectored/visual departures would be to depart VFR and request IFR clearance once airborne (IFR pickup).
Arriving Traffic (AFIS online)
Inbound IFR traffic is treated almost the same as outbound traffic, but requires less work. When IFR traffic is approaching the airfield, ATC will inform the AFISO that an IFR inbound traffic is approaching soon. Once the aircraft is established on the procedure and before reaching the FAF, ATC will initiate the handoff to the AFIS station.
| Station | Phraseology |
| Pilot | Emden Information, DELEL, established final track RNP Z runway 07. |
| AFISO | DELEL, Emden Information, report passing DOKUV. |
| Pilot | DELEL, passing DOKUV. |
| AFISO | DELEL, wind 090 degrees, 6 knots, no reported traffic. |
Note that IFR traffic has no priority over VFR traffic in a traffic pattern. As soon as the IFR pilot has entered the RMZ, they are bound by the same "see and avoid" rules as VFR traffic.
As a courtesy and since IFR traffic in turboprops or jets is usually faster than light VFR aircraft, the VFR pilot will probably give priority to the IFR pilot and either delay or extend his approach, but please do not expect this as standard. Also, bear in mind that as an AFIS station, you are not allowed to issue any clearances. Landing clearances or instructions to extend the downwind of a VFR aircraft are therefore not available.
In case of an unplanned Go Around, the AFISO shall inform ATC immediately.
Procedures for ATC
ATC shall note that IFR traffic inbound to an uncontrolled IFR aerodrome is required to be established on the procedure latest when leaving the controlled airspace Echo. Additionally, as IFR traffic is flying inside airspace E, an increased amount of VFR traffic is to be expected. ATC should provide traffic information if possible.
ATC shall use the phrase "radar service terminates when leaving controlled airspace" as additional information for the pilot when to expect to leave the responsibility of ATC. This is often combined with the approach clearance.
Procedures when AFIS is offline
In case AFIS is offline, the following procedures should be applied:
Departing Traffic
Departing traffic shall call the responsible ATC station for IFR clearance on the ground. The phraseology for the IFR clearances remains the same, with the exception that the pilot will receive the IFR clearance from ATC directly (instead of the relay clearance from AFIS).
ATC shall approve the pilot to leave the frequency after the IFR clearance has been issued ("radar service starts when entering controlled airspace, departure on own discretion, approved to leave frequency, report back airborne"). This is to make sure that the pilot can coordinate his departure with possible VFR traffic not in contact with ATC, as ATC will not provide Top-Down service for uncontrolled aerodromes.
Arriving Traffic
The handling of arriving traffic will be almost the same as when an AFIS station is online. As no Top-Down service for uncontrolled aerodromes will be provided by ATC, the pilot shall be instructed to leave the frequency instead of being transferred to the AFIS station. This is necessary, as the pilot needs to coordinate this arrival with possible VFR traffic at the field, not in contact with ATC.