# Military Radar ### Airspace Currently, our SOPs contain little knowledge to military sectors. Therefore, this guide will describe the general concept of military Radar airspaces. [![ATD_Mil_Guide_Laage.png](https://knowledgebase.vatsim-germany.org/uploads/images/gallery/2022-10/scaled-1680-/atd-mil-guide-laage.png)](https://knowledgebase.vatsim-germany.org/uploads/images/gallery/2022-10/atd-mil-guide-laage.png)Rostrock/Lage Airport* - © [openflightmaps.org](https://www.openflightmaps.org/)* We will start with Rostock Laage. As you can see, the airport has a D-CTR just like all other airports in Germany. Additionally, the airport has a lowered airspace E around the CTR. Almost all military airports have that. The horizontal boundary of the area of responsibility of the Radar coincides with the lowered E airspace. The horizontal boundary is 5500ft. Below 5500 ft and inside that lowered E, the radar controller is responsible for the IFR traffic. As always in airspace E, VFR may enter the airspace without contacting ATC. Two more examples of this are Diepholz and Wittmund. Just like in the previous example, the vertical limit of the area of responsibility of the military Radar is 5500ft. The horizontal limit coincides with the lowered airspace E. In case of Wittmundhafen, the area of responsibility is the inner rectangle of the TMZ. With this knowledge you can estimate how big the area of responsibility of any military radar is. The upper limit is 5500ft in most cases. The actual area of responsibility can be found in the military AIP (MILAIP, AD2, Minimum vectoring altitude/Area of responsibility chart for each airport). ### General Controlling In general the military Radar has the same responsibility as a typical APP controller. However, you have to remember that you are working with high performance military aircraft and possibly VFR aircraft that call for FIS. In this case you should not rely on visual separation alone as the closing speeds of a 300kt military jet and a 80kt VFR aircraft is too great to simply ignore. In this case working with vertical separation is the easiest solution. In general military Radars seldom work with procedures. They mostly use headings and altitudes. Speeds are also avoided. VFR and IFR departures are possible. If the pilot departs IFR, he will be handed over to the responsible DFS controller fairly early due to the low airspace boundary. If the pilot departs VFR, he has to follow the VFR departure route which can be found in the Military AIP (VAD). Every deviation from the departure route has to be requested by the pilot and approved by ATC ("request to leave CTR on top"). If the aircraft is arriving IFR, it will be handed over from Center descending FL70 and as early as possible. The aircraft should be released for descent by Center before handoff to allow the Radar controller to control the aircraft. The pilot may decide if he prefers to land VFR or IFR. VFR the arrival is done on TWR frequency as published in the VAD charts (overhead approach maneuver as described below). Sequencing is then done using traffic infos and by telling the pilot which number he is in the sequence.
Station | Example Flight with IFR Cancellation on entry |
**GAF123** | ETNL\_APP, GAF123, 5000ft |
**ETNL\_APP** | GAF123, ETNT\_APP identified, weather code BLU, runway 27, QNH1013 |
**GAF123** | GAF123 blue, runway 27, QNH1013 cancelling IFR |
**ETNL\_APP** | GAF123, IFR cancelled at 45z, proceed to Entry South 27 |
**GAF123** | GAF123, IFR cancelled at 45z, proceed to Entry South 27 |
**ETNL\_APP** | GAF123, contact ETNT\_TWR 118.425 |
**GAF123** | GAF123, contact ETNT\_TWR 118.425 |
*On TWR frequency* | |
**GAF123** | ETNL\_TWR, GAF123, proceeding to entry south |
**ETNL\_TWR** | GAF123, ETNL\_TWR, enter CTR via Entry South 27 |
**GAF123** | GAF123, enter CTR via Entry South 27 |
*Over Entry South* | |
**GAF123** | GAF123, Entry South 27, 1700ft |
**ETNL\_TWR** | GAF123, ETNT\_TWR Roger, report initial, number 2 following EUFI on downwind 27 |
**GAF123** | GAF123, wilco |
Station | Overhead Approach Maneuver |
**ETNT\_TWR** | GAF123, enter CTR via Entry East |
**GAF123** | GAF123, enter CTR via Entry East |
*At Entry East* | |
**GAF123** | GAF123 at entry east, 1500ft |
**ETNT\_TWR** | GAF123, Roger, report initial |
**GAF123** | GAF123, wilco |
*At Initial* | |
**GAF123** | GAF123, Initial |
**ETNT\_TWR** | GAF123, number 2, following EUFI on right downwind 26 |
**GAF123** | GAF123, Roger |
*On Downwind* | |
**ETNT\_TWR** | GAF123, report intentions |
**GAF123** | GAF123, Full Stop Landing |
**ETNT\_TWR** | GAF123, roger, wind 25005kt runway 26 cleared to land, check gear down |
**GAF123** | GAF123, runway 26 cleared to land, gear down |