Apron
All aprons in Berlin are controlled by two Apron stations.
The Main Apron (EDDB_A_GND) shall connect first. Apron North (E_GND) may be staffed as soon as Berlin Delivery is connected.
AoR Berlin-Brandenburg Airport
Procedures
Virtual Court
- Road crossing north of B01
- Taxiways V1 and V2 will end at the virtual court
- VC is the only taxiway which connects the Main Apron with Apron North
- Crossing the virtual court is only possible via VC (physical barriers installed)
- The virtual court displays a hotspot for ground movements in this area
- Traffic may be re-routed via P1 or P2 to relieve the virtual court (coordination with Berlin Ground required)
Efficiency
- Usage of all available taxiways on the Main Apron will generate maximum capacity in this area
- Good pre-planning and coordination with other stations required
- Traffic to aprons A and C may be routed non-standard after coordination to reduce unnecessary waiting times.
Pushback
Straight Pushback: Often used for departing aircraft at aprons A and C to not block taxiways for other aircraft.
RYR302H, pushback approved, straight back, facing south.
Pushback with 180-Turn: Used for aircraft parked next to each other to reduce blocking and waiting times. The 180-turn will be given with the taxi clearance.
Pushback on VC and V1/V2: It is allowed to instruct aircraft a pushback on all three main taxiways. Wingspan clearance to other traffic must be obtained at any time!
AFR36DV, pushback approved, facing south on VC.
Taxi
Swingover: Aircraft might be instructed to switch from one taxiway to another taxiway at any time (except during LVP).
DLH202, swingover VC, taxi via VC, V1, hold short of Entry South.
Hold abeam: It is possible to instruct aircraft to hold short abeam of any stand.
DLH202, hold short abeam stand D16.
Gate Assignment
Gate Assignments shall always be done via the Ground Radar Plugin.
- All gates ending with "A" (e.g. B15A) are designed for heavy aircraft
- All gates ending with "B" (e.g. B15B) are designed for the Airbus A380
- Stands E01-E19, 33-36 and 70-75 are so-called taxi-out stands (no pushback required)
- Stands E01-E19 will be entered via P2, facing west (note: current sceneries will have aircraft parked facing east, use caution!)
De-Icing
De-icing is generally performed at remote de-icing pads on Apron E and Apron 3b:
- When using de-icing pads PAD03, PAD05, PAD07, PAD09, PAD11, PAD13, PAD15, PAD17 on Apron E, stands E01 to E19 cannot be used anymore for parking:
- PAD05, PAD07, PAD09, PAD11, PAD13 and PAD15 are only available for aircraft with max. wingspan <36 m
- PAD03 and P17 may be used by A332, A333, A338, A339 A400, B752, B753, B762, B763, B764, B772; B778, B788; B789, B78X, C130 and IL76
- All pads on Apron E will be entered via P2 and left via P1 (parked facing west)
- When using the de-icing pad PAD NORTH 1, stands 70 to 74 cannot be used anymore for parking:
- Aircraft with a max. wingspan <52 m and with parking north of runway 06L/24R shall used PAD NORTH 1
- The pad will be entered via K. Aircraft shall position themself on the de-icing pad "facing north"
Further de-icing information here: https://dms.vatsim-germany.org/s/akGzoSddntR6DM3 (Note: Apron is expected to know what for its own to do when de-icing is requested and/or Berlin De-icing is online).
P2-Orange
Aircraft from positions E21-E35 may be pushed onto P2-Orange. P2 and P2-Orange can be used independently for aircraft up to ICAO Code Letter C. Taxiway P2-Orange shall be used during daylight operations only! Additionally, P2-Orange shall not be used when low visibility conditions exist.
Low Visibility Procedures
Within the Berlin Apron AoR, Low Visibility Procedures should be applied when visibility is below 300 m. If deemed necessary, the responsible controller may also apply LVP during other meteorological conditions. Note: LVP does not need to be applied within the Apron AoR even if the rest of the airport (e.g. taxiways and runways) are using Low Visibility Procedures.
The following applies during Low Visibility Procedures (LVP):
- Swing-over procedures shall be suspended, aircraft are allowed to push and taxi via the guidelines
- Crossing the virtual court via VC is not permitted (Re-Routing via P1, P2 or T is mandatory)
Berlin Apron shall inform Berlin Ground immediately when the crossing of the virtual court via VC is not possible anymore.
Handoffs
Handoffs during 06-Ops
| FROM | TO | HOLD SHORT OF | FROM POSITION | REMARK |
| A_GND | N_GND | C | Main Apron | Prior release from E-GND required |
| A_GND | S_GND | B | Main Apron | -- |
| E_GND | N_GND | C | A/D-Apron | -- |
| E_GND | N_GND | C | E-Apron | -- |
| E_GND | S_GND | B | E-Apron | -- |
| E_GND | N_GND | K or K1 | Apron 2-3 | -- |
All handoffs indicate to the next station that the aircraft is released for any further taxi. Conflicts and cleared conflicts shall not exist when performing a handoff to the next station.
Handoffs during 24-Ops
| FROM | TO | HOLD SHORT OF | FROM POSITION | REMARK |
| A_GND | N_GND | C | -- | Prior release from E-GND required |
| A_GND | S_GND | B | B/D-Apron | -- |
| A_GND | S_GND | B | C-Apron | -- |
| E_GND | S_GND | B | E-Apron | -- |
| A_GND | N_GND | K | Apron 2-3 | Via N1 preferred |
| E_GND | N_GND | C | A-Apron | -- |
| E_GND | N_GND | C | D01-D03 | -- |
| E_GND | N_GND | C | E-Apron | -- |
| E_GND | N_GND | K (via K5) | Apron 2-3 | -- |
| E_GND | N_GND | G (via K6) | Apron 2-3 | -- |
All handoffs indicate to the next station that the aircraft is released for any further taxi. Conflicts and cleared conflicts shall not exist when performing a handoff to the next station.
Taxiways
Restrictions
| Taxiway | ICAO Code Letter and type of restriction |
| TWY E | Code E |
| TWY F | Code E |
| TWY P1, P2 |
Code C on apron E between de-icing pad 03 and deicing pad 17 |
| Code E for aircraft de-icing on PAD03/PAD17 | |
| TWY VC | Code C between entry north and entry south with simultaneous taxiing traffic with Code C aircraft on the adjacent areas from V1, V2 and V3 |
| Taxiways | ICAO Code Letter and type of restriction |
| TWY H | Code C |
| TWY K | Code C |
| TWY K4 | Code E |
| TWY K5 |
Code C |
|
North of TWY K wheelbase < 18 m |
|
| Taxiing from TWY K5 to TWY N3 is prohibited | |
| TWY K6 north of TWY G | Code C |
| TXL N1 (apron 2) | Code D |
| TXL N1 (apron 2a, 3, 3a) | Code C |
| TXL N2 south of Pos. 50-54 |
Code E |
| Code D when position 32 is occupied | |
| TXL N2 south of Pos. 55-60 | Code D |
| TWY N3 | Code C |
