# Apron
**P-Bridge** (taxiway P between P4 and N11) is **closed** until mid of june 2024! See [forum](https://board.vatsim-germany.org/threads/2-apr-2024-p-bridge-closure-at-eddf.72175/ "[2. APR 2024] P-Bridge closure at EDDF") for more details.
Frankfurt Apron can be split into 4 stations as shown in the table and images below. If more than one of these stations is staffed, Delivery needs to be staffed first. If just one Apron is online, this Apron takes over all other Apron stations, but not Frankfurt Ground.**Station** | **Station ID** | **Login** | **Frequency** | **Remark** |
**Center Apron** | DFGC | EDDF\_C\_GND | 121.855 | **primary** |
**East Apron** | DFGE | EDDF\_E\_GND | 121.955 | **secondary** |
**West Apron** | DFGW | EDDF\_W\_GND | 121.755 | will be taken over be DFGC if not staffed |
**South Apron** | DFGS | EDDF\_S\_GND | 121.655 | will be taken over by DFGE if not staffed not yet operational in the real world |
Deicing | DFGI | EDDF\_ICE\_GND | 121.985 | deicing operations only |
Ground | DFG | EDDF\_GND | 121.805 | will be taken over bei DFTS if not staffed |
**Link 1** does not exist in real life anymore, and can not be found on any charts! Link 3 or N8 - N - N7 should be used instead.
[](https://knowledgebase.vatsim-germany.org/uploads/images/gallery/2022-07/eddf-link1-link3-outside.png)*Usage of Link 1 and Link 3 between N7 and N8* **Colored Lines:** Colored lines (orange and blue) are available at N in front of Terminal 2 and at N7 between N and L. These lines can be used by all aircraft up to a size of an A321/B739. With P3D colored lines between N1 and N3 are not available. Some preplanning is required to use them in the most efficient way. [](https://knowledgebase.vatsim-germany.org/uploads/images/gallery/2022-07/blueorange.jpg)*N-Blue and N-Orange used at the same time for parallel taxi* **Pushback:** V134 - V178 (all facing south), as well as positions C2, B10 and A1 are taxi out positions. V143 and V144 are pushback positions! Pushback from positions V106 - V118 (even number) should be issued straight back to allow multiple pushbacks and taxi in without blocking other positions. > DLH123, pushback approved, straight back, facing north. [](https://knowledgebase.vatsim-germany.org/uploads/images/gallery/2022-07/eddf-straight-push.jpg)*Straight pushback at positions V106 - V118 without turn* **Gate Assignment:** Gates will be assigned by Ground Radar Plugin according to the real world. A-Stands are mainly used for DLH, AUA, TAP, AEE, SWR and UAL (Schengen and Non-Schengen area). Gates A50 to Gates A69 are DLH only. B and C-Stands are used for Star Alliance flights outside the Schengen area. Terminal 2 is mostly used for non-Star Alliance members and low cost operators, that are also located at the V-Positions in front of Terminal 2.The first apron controller the inbound traffic contacts will always tell them their gate, even if it's under another Apron's responsibility.
> **Frankfurt Apron (West)**: DLH1255, gate A25, taxi via N11, L hold short of N8. > > **Frankfurt Apron (West)**: DLH1255, contact Apron on 121.855. **Inbounds 25C / 07C:** Inbound traffic to runway 25C/07C will be handed over from Tower with a hold short of L. This traffic is still blocking the runway after vacating and has to be treated with number one priority. **Handoff:** Handoff to the next Apron controller will always take place with a hold short instruction of the next intersection close to the border of the area of responsibility (e.g. traffic from Center to West at N with a hold short of N10). Do not label any hold short for the transfer that is defined by the SOP! **Traffic Flow:** If you have any “potential conflict” that will just generate waiting time for the pilot, please try to solve the problem without assigning a new gate. That will improve your preplanning skills a lot. Always try to work with conditional information as precisely as possible, but do not overload the pilot with useless information! > **Frankfurt Apron**: DLH123 at L give way to opposite company A320. > > **Frankfurt Apron**: DLH456 at N4 number two behind Singapore A350 from right. > > **Frankfurt Apron**: DLH789 behind opposite British Airway A319 taxi to holding point runway 18 via N, hold short of N5. **Tricks:** - keep the traffic flow dynamical and use conditional instructions as often as practicable. Resolve a hold short with a conditional instruction as soon as practicable. - you may deviate from the default taxi flow (coordination might be required) to enable an efficient flow (e.g. via N3, N, N1 instead of L). - you may have to adjust the routing to avoid conflicts and holdshorts - you have to monitor taxiway M and the holding points to see what you can expect entering your sector within the next minutes ### Use of Intersections**Runway 07C/25C:** Apron will not clear outbound traffic into intersections for runway 25C/07C. All outbounds are instructed to hold short of the intersection and Tower will instruct them to join the intersection that might be the best for the departure sequence.
> **Frankfurt Apron**: DLH123, taxi to runway 25C via N4 and L, hold short of L3. > **Frankfurt Apron (Center)**: DLH505, taxi to runway 25C via N8 and L, hold short of N4. > > **Frankfurt Apron (Center)**: DLH505, contact Apron on 121.955. > > **Frankfurt Apron (East)**: DLH505, hallo, continue via L, hold short of L3. > > **Frankfurt Apron (East)**: DLH505, contact Tower on 118.780. > **Frankfurt Apron**: AAL71, taxi to runway 25C via N, N1, hold short of L. > > **Frankfurt Apron**: BAW906U, taxi to runway 18 via orange line and N, hold short of N5. It is important that every handoff takes place as early as possible and has to be free of conflicts. Every potential conflict needs to be solved prior to the handoff. As soon as the outbound traffic is in contact with Tower, it is released by Apron up to L1 and Tower has the possibility to use every further intersection available. Even if the pilot reported to Apron to be able for L6, Tower still can use L3 (or L1) intersection if there is no benefit for the outbound to use an intersection. In that situation with traffic on L under control of Tower, other outbound traffic e.g. joining L via N3 needs to be number 2 behind the traffic on L. Intersections a pilot is able for should be noted in the remarks. Do not label any hold short for the transfer that is defined by the SOP! Keep in mind that if you would like to solve a conflict it might be useful to let outbound traffic continue via L even if he would be able for L6. **Runway 18:** Departures out of runway 18 will always be sent directly to the holding point via N/L. Handoff should take place early, so that Tower still has the chance to take outbounds via N-South. During 25 operations intersection L needs to be coordinated. During 07 Operations N is still preferred for all heavy aircraft (routing via L, N14, N). During high traffic load (decision rests with apron control) All MEDIUM and LIGHT aircraft departing via runway 18 and parking east of taxiway N3 shall be asked if they are able for departure out of intersection S. If they are, they should taxi to hold short of U2. Frankfurt Tower is responsible for further taxi. > **Frankfurt Apron**: DLH123A, advise able to depart from runway 18 intersection S? ### Runway Crossing The taxiways used for crossing are based on the planned parking position and runway in use (see image below). These taxiways are mandatory and only if a pilot uses the wrong taxiway the Tower controller should deviate from that after coordination with Apron. It is also possible to coordinate a different crossing taxiway (M6, M10, M30, Y, T) or procedure between Tower and Apron for crossing. **LVO:** During LVO inbound traffic landed on runway 25L/07R will not cross the center runway. All traffic needs to taxi via T or Y, depending on their planned stand.Tower is not allowed to issue take-off clearances as long as the intersection is blocked by just crossed traffic. That’s why **Tower will issue the initial taxi route after crossing** to the Pilot. This depends on the runway in use and the intersection used (see images).
When traffic crossed the runway it shall be sent to the according apron control as soon as possible, so traffic does not need to stop. Apron is responsible for separation in the Apron at all times. Tower can issue the crossing clearances without looking at potential conflicts. A lot of planning is required for that.**Entry** | **Stand** | **Hold short of** |
**P** | all except those via P1 | N11 |
**P1** | F231 - F238 and V266 - V270 | W |
**S4 - S23** | South Parking (S, V3xx, J, K, G) | S4 - S23, according to the stand |
**DP** | **Location** | **max. Usage** |
**DP1** | west of runway 18 | **Code F** (A388/B748) |
**DP2C** | west of runway 18 | **Code F** (A388/B748) |
**DP2E / DP2W** | west of runway 18 | **Code C** (B739/A321) |
**DP3E / DP3W** | N7 blue/orange - **facing north** (!) | **Code C** (B739/A321) |
**DP4E / DP4W** | V159 and V161 | max. 2 engined heavies |
**DP5** | G16A | not used |