EDLN - Mönchengladbach Airport

Overview

Mönchengladbach is a small airport in Western Germany. Traffic mostly consists of general aviation VFR flights as well as private jets and business charters. The maintenance center located in the Northern part of the airport also attracts maintenance flights for various smaller aircraft.

Mönchengladbach is an unrestricted airport and part of the S1 minor program. GND and TWR can be staffed by all controllers with an S1 rating or higher who have passed the required moodle courses. Further information on the radar stations can be found in the EDDL SOP.

Aircraft size

Mönchengladbach is too small for most passenger aircraft, even though there are no specific type restrictions.

Pilots flying unsuitably large aircraft (e.g. A320, B737, ...) should be reminded of the small size of the airport and its short runway length but may not be denied service if they decide to continue the flight as planned regardless.

Stations

Station
 Station ID
 Login
 Frequency
 Remarks
 Endorsement
ATIS
 ALN
 EDLN_ATIS
 121.815
 fictional frequency, real ATIS on MHV VOR
 --
Ground
 LNG
 EDLN_GND
 121.930
 --
 unrestricted: EDLN CBT
Tower
 LNT
 EDLN_TWR
 120.455
 --
 unrestricted: EDLN CBT
Director (EDDL)
 DLAT
 EDDL_F_APP
 128.655
 airborne frequency during 13 operations at EDLN and 05 operations at EDDL if DLAT is staffed
 Tier 1: EDDL_APP
Arrival (EDDL)
 DLA
 EDDL_APP
 128.555
 airborne frequency during 05 operations at EDDL if DLA or PADH is staffed except when DLAT is the applicable airborne frequency
 Tier 1: EDDL_APP
Departure (EDDL)
 DLD
 EDDL_APP
 121.355
 airborne frequency during 23 operations at EDDL if DLA or PADH is staffed
 Tier 1: EDDL_APP

Quickview

EDLN Tower Quicksheet PNG.png
click on the image to open the printable quicksheet

Ground

Mönchengladbach Ground is responsible for all enroute and startup clearances at the airport as well as ground movements within the Ground AoR.

Enroute clearance

SID restrictions
Waypoint
 Remark
GMH
 only for flights with max. RFL140
KUMIK
 only for flights with min. RFL150
SONEB
 only for flights with min. RFL140 and via RKN or TENLI
reclear other flights via ABODU L179 MEVEL ...
Airborne frequency

Mönchengladbach utilizes an auto-handoff for all IFR departures whereby pilots are required to switch to the airborne frequency immediately when airborne. As the airborne frequency changes with the operating direction and staffing at EDDL, it shall be given together with the enroute clearance. The possible airborne frequencies are 121.355 (DLD), 128.555 (DLA), and 128.655 (DLAT). An explanation of when which frequency is in use can be found in the overview.

Phraseology example

ATC: Sylt Air 730G, cleared to Palma de Mallorca, MODRU9M departure, flight planned route, climb to altitude 2000ft, airborne frequency is Langen Radar on 128.555, squawk 2014.
Pilot: Cleared to Palma de Mallorca, MODRU9M departure, flight planned route, climb to altitude 2000ft, airborne frequency Langen Radar on 128.555, squawk 2014, Sylt Air 730G.

The responsible radar controller will always keep Mönchengladbach Tower and Ground up to date which station is currently responsible for Mönchengladbach departures.

Ground AoR

Mönchengladbach Ground only controls taxiways A, B, C, D, and F as well as the apron in front of the terminal. All other areas are non-movement areas. When giving a pilot inside the non-movement area a taxi clearance into the movement area, they are expected to reach the movement area on the shortest way possible.

EDLN Ground AoR.png

only the areas on the runway side of the red line are controlled; pilots can taxi without clearance outside of this area

Parking positions

The parking positions in front of the terminal are named A1 thru A6 from West to East; however, the stand numbers are not shown on charts, so pilots should be expected to not know where the individual stands are located. Additionally, apron and hangar designations are not shown on the popular Jeppesen/Navigraph charts (though Navigraph shows most labels in the world map) so inbound pilots not using the AIP/Chartfox might need to be guided to their destination through progressive taxi instructions or be pointed to the appropriate chart material.
Pilots familiar with the airport may also inform controllers where they are going to park. This shall be accommodated whenever possible.

Tower

Mönchengladbach Tower is responsible for all runway movements and traffic within the CTR.

Departure release

During 13 operations, Mönchengladbach Tower has to obtain a departure release for all IFR departures from the controller covering the currently applicable airborne frequency. The departing aircraft has to be airborne within two minutes of this release, otherwise the release is automatically void and a new release has to be obtained.

During 31 operations, a departure release is not required unless the radar controller requests a hold for release.

Takeoff

Intersection departures

Intersection departures are not possible. All aircraft must depart from full length.

Auto-handoff

Mönchengladbach utilizes an auto-handoff for all IFR departures whereby pilots are required to switch to the airborne frequency immediately when airborne. The airborne frequency changes with the operating direction and staffing at EDDL and is given to pilots by Mönchengladbach Ground during the enroute clearance. However, if the frequency changes between the enroute clearance and the departure, Mönchengladbach Tower shall inform the pilot of the revised airborne frequency as early as possible but at the latest with the takeoff clearance. The possible airborne frequencies are 121.355 (DLD), 128.555 (DLA), and 128.655 (DLAT). An explanation of when which frequency is in use can be found in the overview.

Phraseology example
ATC: Sylt Air 730G, revised airborne frequency is Düsseldorf Director on 128.655, wind 090 degrees 3 knots, runway 13, cleared for takeoff.
Pilot: Revised airborne frequency Düsseldorf Director on 128.655, runway 13, cleared for takeoff, Sylt Air 730G.

VFR traffic

Routes & procedures

All reporting points at EDLN are compulsory reporting points.

Reporting point
 Use
 Location
G
 Exit to the SW
(13 ops)
Entry from the SW
(31 ops)
 industrial district Giesenkirchen-Nord
K1
 Exit to the N
(31 ops)
Entry from the N
(13 ops)
 quarry lake Kempen
K2
 Exit to the N
(31 ops)
Entry from the N
(13 ops)		 roundabout NW of St. Tönis
M
 Exit to the N
(13 ops)
Entry from the N
(31 ops)		 DHL distribution center Krefeld
E
 Entry from the SW
(13 ops)
 highway A61 exit Wickrath
W

Exit & Entry from the West

 highway intersection A52/A61
Recommended traffic circuit

Mönchengladbach has a recommended traffic circuit in the North and the South. These circuits are not published in the AIP and pilots should thus not be expected to follow them. Additionally, ATC instructions always overrule the recommended traffic circuit.