ETOU - Wiesbaden Airbase
Overview
Wiesbaden is a United States Army Air Forces base in Wiesbaden. It hosts mainly helicopters and smaller training aircraft (e.g. Beechcraft King Airs), but can also support smaller jetliners. Its location directly next to the the Frankfurt CTR and below the Frankfurt TMA make it a very interesting airport that can require a lot of coordination. Additionally, it has probably the most complex VFR procedures of any controlled airport in Germany.
Due to Wiesbaden being an American airfield, controllers may use FAA procedures and phraseology if they are familiar with them, but are not required to do so.
As Wiesbaden is a military airport, charts can't be found in the normal AIP. They are accessible through the GEMIL FLIP US DoD in the milais.
Wiesbaden is an unrestricted airport. The Ground position can be staffed by all controllers with an S1 rating or higher. The Tower position can be staffed by all controllers with an S2 rating or higher, although it is recommended to hold the EDDF_TWR and EDDF_APP Tier 1 endorsements for familiarity with the surrounding airspace. Additionally, controllers should closely familiarize themselves with military procedures before staffing the airport.
Wiesbaden ATC Stations
| Station |
Station ID |
Login |
Frequency |
Remark |
Endorsement |
| ATIS |
ATOU |
ETOU_ATIS |
119.030 |
-- |
-- |
| Ground |
TOUG |
ETOU_GND |
126.555 |
American procedures, military station |
unrestricted: no course |
| Tower |
TOUT |
ETOU_TWR |
122.100 |
American procedures, military station |
unrestricted: no course |
Quickview
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Ground
Wiesbaden Ground is responsible for all enroute and startup clearances as well as ground movements at the airport.
SID assignment
25 operations
SIDs with designator V should be primarily assigned to all aircraft. SIDs with designator W require TACAN and should only be assigned on pilot request and/or if the pilot's flight plan indicates that the aircraft is TACAN-equipped.
07 operations
All SIDs out of runway 07 (designator X) require TACAN. Aircraft that are not equipped with TACAN have to depart VFR and pick up IFR in the air from Langen Radar. When traffic levels at both Wiesbaden and Frankfurt/Main permit, an opposite departure out of runway 25 on a V-SID can be coordinated with DFAN.
Restrictions
Due to the complex air traffic environment in the area around Frankfurt/Main, IFR departures are only possible following the SIDs. Visual or radar vectored departures are not permitted.
| Waypoint |
Restrictions |
| MASIR |
only flights entering British airspace (except when destination is in London TMA) intending to use upper airspace (FL245+) and able to cross BIBTI at or above FL250 mandatory routing: MASIR DCT DITAM DCT OBOKA DCT BIBTI |
| RID Ried |
only Southbound flights intending to use upper airspace (FL245+) or flights to ETOR |
| SOBRA |
only Westbound flights (including flights with destination in London TMA) |
| TABUM |
only Northbound flights (except when entering British airspace) |
| UBENO |
only Southbound flights not entering upper airspace (FL245-) or Eastbound flights |
Ground Movement
Pushback
All parking positions on Ramp C are taxi-out. All parking positions on Ramps A and B require a pushback for all fixed wing aircraft except from stands 1 thru 8. However, when traffic permits, taxi-out is available from all positions.
Stand assignment
While concrete stand numbers are publicly available for Ramps A and B, most pilots should be expected to not be aware of them. Because of this, the automatic stand assignment only assigns the ramp instead of a specific position.
VIP spot
In front of the base ops office is a VIP spot for helicopters. This blocks part of the ramp taxiway and is not a permanent parking position. Any helicopters dropping off VIPs shall be guided from the runway to the VIP spot and afterwards to the final parking position. Likewise, any helicopters picking up VIPs shall be guided from their parking position to the VIP spot and afterwards to the runway. This may require 180° turns on the taxiway, traffic permitting.
Tower
Wiesbaden Tower is responsible for all traffic on the runway and in the CTR of the airport.
General
Operating direction
The operating direction at Wiesbaden shall match the operating direction in Frankfurt/Main.
Runway crossing
Ground may delegate taxiway F to Tower. If taxiway F is not delegated to Tower, runway crossings have to either be coordinated or aircraft have to switch to Tower for the crossing.
"Wiesbaden corner"
Part of the Frankfurt CTR can be delegated to Wiesbaden Tower; this area is called the "Wiesbaden corner". It allows operations in the Southern traffic circuit without individual coordination with Frankfurt Tower.
IFR traffic
Outbound
All IFR departures require a departure release from DFAN. Wiesbaden Tower shall hand off all IFR departures to Langen Radar as soon as possible.
Inbound
Both runways have an RNAV and a TACAN approach and for runway 25, an ILS or LOC DME approach is additionally available.
VFR traffic
Outbound
There are different outbound VFR routes with the same name. Which one the pilot has to fly depends on aircraft type and runway in use. Keep in mind that these routes are only published in the military AIP and pilots might not be aware of their names or restrictions; when in doubt, pilots shall be given the exact routing instead of the name.
The maximum speed for all outbound aircraft within 10 NM of the airport is 140 KIAS.
| Departure |
Routing |
Remarks |
| Route November (07 ops) Helicopters only |
EDNA (at 1000ft) - RESTSTOP - NIEDERNHAUSEN |
one way at night |
| Route November (07 ops) Fixed wing only |
EDNA (at 1000ft) - RESTSTOP - NIEDERNHAUSEN | one way at night |
| Route November (25 ops) Helicopters only |
exit South pattern on base - EDNA (at 1000ft) - RESTSTOP - NIEDERNHAUSEN |
one way at night |
| Route November standard pattern (25 ops) Fixed wing only |
IGSTADT (at 1400ft) - RESTSTOP - NIEDERNHAUSEN |
one way at night |
| Route November extended pattern (25 ops) Fixed wing only |
RAILROAD (at 2100ft) - RESTSTOP - NIEDERNHAUSEN |
only on pilot request approval by DFAN mandatory clearance to enter airspace D required |
| Route Echo Helicopters only |
EDNA - WEILBACH - NOVEMBER |
approval by Frankfurt Tower mandatory frequency change to Frankfurt Tower takes place prior WEILBACH |
| Route Apache (07 ops) Helicopters only |
exit South pattern on downwind - WEILBACH (at 1000ft) - NOVEMBER |
deconfliction route by ATC only approval by Frankfurt Tower mandatory frequency change to Frankfurt Tower takes place abeam EDNA |
| Route Sierra Helicopters only |
exit South pattern at Southwest corner - BRIDGE - Ried VOR |
avoiding built up area |
| Route Sierra (07 ops) Fixed wing only |
exit North pattern on base - BRIDGE - Ried VOR |
avoiding built up area |
| Route Sierra (25 ops) Fixed wing only |
BRIDGE - Ried VOR |
avoiding built up area |
| Route Whiskey Helicopters only |
WILLI (at 1400ft) - WANDA |
-- |
| Route Whiskey (07 ops) Fixed wing only |
exit North pattern on base - WILLI (at 1400ft) - WANDA |
-- |
| Route Whiskey (25 ops) Fixed wing only |
WILLI (at 1400ft) - WANDA |
-- |
Inbound
There are different inbound VFR routes with the same name. Which one the pilot has to fly depends on aircraft type and runway in use. Keep in mind that these routes are only published in the military AIP and pilots might not be aware of their names or restrictions; when in doubt, pilots shall be given the exact routing instead of the name.
The maximum speed for all inbound aircraft within 10 NM of the airport is 140 KIAS.
| Arrival |
Routing |
Remarks |
| Route November (07 ops) Helicopters only |
NIEDERNHAUSEN (at or below 2100ft) - RESTSTOP (at or below 1400ft) - EDNA (at 1000ft) |
one way at night |
| Route November standard pattern (07 ops) Fixed wing only |
NIEDERNHAUSEN (at or below 2100ft) - RESTSTOP (at or below 1400ft) - IGSTADT |
one way at night |
| Route November extended pattern (07 ops) Fixed wing only |
NIEDERNHAUSEN (at or below 2100ft) - RESTSTOP (at or below 1400ft) - RAILROAD |
only on pilot request one way at night |
| Route November (25 ops) Helicopters only |
NIEDERNHAUSEN (at or below 2100ft) - RESTSTOP (at or below 1400ft) - EDNA (at 1000ft) |
one way at night |
| Route November (25 ops) Fixed wing only |
NIEDERNHAUSEN (at or below 2100ft) - RESTSTOP (at or below 1400ft) - EDNA |
one way at night |
| Route Echo Helicopters only |
NOVEMBER (at 1400ft) - WEILBACH - EDNA (at 1000ft) |
approval by Frankfurt Tower mandatory frequency change to Wiesbaden Tower takes place between WEILBACH and EDNA |
| Route Apache (07 ops) Helicopters only |
NOVEMBER (at 1400ft) - WEILBACH (at 1400ft) - enter South pattern on downwind |
deconfliction route by ATC only approval by Frankfurt Tower mandatory frequency change to Wiesbaden Tower takes place between WEILBACH and EDNA |
| Route Sierra Helicopters only |
Ried VOR (at 1400ft) - BRIDGE (at 1400ft) - enter South pattern on base |
avoiding built up area |
| Route Sierra (07 ops) Fixed wing only |
Ried VOR (at 1400ft) - BRIDGE (at 1400ft) - enter extended right base |
avoiding built up area |
| Route Sierra (25 ops) Fixed wing only |
Ried VOR (at 1400ft) - BRIDGE (at 1400ft) - enter North pattern on crosswind |
avoiding built up area |
| Route Whiskey (07 ops) all aircraft |
WANDA (at 1400ft) - WILLI (at 1400ft) |
-- |
| Route Whiskey (25 ops) Helicopters only |
WANDA (at 1400ft) - WILLI (at 1400ft) - enter South pattern on downwind |
-- |
| Route Whiskey (25 ops) Fixed wing only |
WANDA (at 1400ft) - WILLI (at 1400ft) - enter North pattern on downwind |
-- |
Traffic circuit
Wiesbaden has three published traffic patterns: the standard Northern one (pattern altitude 1400ft), the extended Northern one (pattern altitude 2100ft), and the Southern one (pattern altitude 1000ft).
The Northern pattern is only available for fixed wing aircraft but exceptions may be granted by Wiesbaden Tower.
Only one of the two Northern patterns can be in use at any time. If only propeller aircraft are in the North pattern, the first aircraft to enter the pattern decides the pattern in use; if both jet and propeller aircraft are in the North pattern, the first jet aircraft to enter the pattern decides the pattern in use. The extended pattern can only be made available with approval by Langen Radar. Aircraft in the extended pattern will enter airspace D above the CTR, but remain on the frequency of Wiesbaden Tower.
The Southern pattern is only available for helicopters but exceptions may be granted by Wiesbaden Tower. The crosswind (07 ops) or base (25 ops) leg is abeam taxiway C. A pattern altitude above 1000ft may be approved by Wiesbaden Tower on pilot request.
CTR crossings
CTR crossings must take place along the published VFR routes and will thus have to cross above the airfield.