SOP EDDS - Arrival
On Vatsim, Stuttgart Arrival takes over not only EDDS but also flights to EDSB and EDTL when LFST_APP is not online. In addition, the airfield Schwäbisch-Hall (EDTY) is located to the north-east of Stuttgart, which has an RMZ and IFR procedures. Thus, IFR approaches to EDTY are also controlled by Stuttgart Arrival.
Arrival Sectors
Arrival: Stuttgart has two arrival stations, sector Stuttgart STG is the northern arrival (EDDS_N_APP) and is the primary station. It is responsible for the northern half of the sector. Sector Reutlingen REU (EDDS_S_APP) is the southern sector and is responsible for the southern half. Before Reutlingen can be staffed, the director has to be online.
Director: Director does not have its own sector. The handover from the respective arrival to the director should take place latest on the downwind. The handover altitudes between Arrival and Director must be coordinated, for example 5000ft in the south and FL60/FL70 (depending on the transition level) in the north.
Departure Duties: Stuttgart does not have a Departure position. If both approach sectors are staffed, Reutlingen (South Arrival) gets all departures to the south (ROTWE, SUL, KUNOD) and Stuttgart (North Arrival) all departures to the north. Local IFR flights via TEDGO and STG are handed over from Tower directly to Director.
Stuttgart Arrival Sector
Airspace
Around Stuttgart there is primarily airspace D, which makes it easier to handle VFR transits. Nevertheless, there is also a larger area above the control zone of Stuttgart with airspace C between 3500 ft and 5500 ft AMSL. A detailed representation of the airspace structure is available at openflightmaps.org.
Arrival Procedures
Releases by Center: On handoff from Center to Arrival aircraft are released for turns but not for climb/descend as long as they are inside center's sector. Flights via TEKSI and REUTL are released for turns passing DODIL – LUPOL line.
STAR: Stuttgart Arrival needs to clear the desired STAR/Transition itself if no other arrangements have been made with Center. The following table shows all available transitions.
Out of BADSO, TEKSI and REUTL STARs exist that lead directly to an Initial Approach Fix (LBU, STG).
Approach Procedures
Aircraft up to 5.7t MTOM may use all published approaches. For all other aircraft, the ILS approach is mandatory and exceptions are only possible in rare cases (e.g. after a runway change).
Visual Approaches: Non-jet aircraft up to 5.7t MTOM may be cleared for a visual approach after coordination with Tower.
| 07 inbounds from the North |
traffic shall fly via reporting point Whiskey and the adjacent forest area and avoid built-up area |
| 07 inbounds from the South |
traffic shall avoid built-up area |
| 25 inbounds from the North |
visual approach not possible |
| 25 inbounds from the South |
traffic shall follow highway A8 and avoid built up area |
Target Spacing: Stuttgart has only one runway. In order for the tower to have sufficient space for departures, inbounds shall be no less than 6 NM (rather 7 NM) apart when touching down and no less than 12 NM (rather 13 NM) during LVP. If there are only few outbounds, less spacing is also possible after coordination with Tower. For VFR flights within the control zone, the spacing of approaches should be adjusted after prior coordination with the tower (depending on the intention of VFR traffic, up to more than 10 NM).
Departing Traffic
As far as possible, a continuous climb should be made possible and the transfer to Center should take place early and without conflict. On handoff all departures are full released for further climb and turns.
| Origin | COP | Level | Special Conditions | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EDDS EDTY |
ABTAL, KUNOD | 140 | full release | EDMM ZUG / RDG |
| SUL | 140 | LSAS | ||
| DKB, GEBNO | 100 | DKB | ||
| OKIBA | 140 | DKB | ||
| all other | 140 | BAD | ||
| KRH | 80 | max. RFL, rel. for turns | PFA |
| Destination | COP | Level | Special Conditions | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDDR | BADLI | 100 | full release | PFA |
|
LFSB LFGA |
LIPKA | 140 | full release | LFSB |
| EDSB | coordination |
coordination | if LFST_APP online | LFST_APP |
MVA
Due to high terrain around Stuttgart, special care must be taken here. The MVA for the entire sector can be found in the Topsky maps for Euroscope. For the area around Stuttgart, a MVA map is also available at Chartfox. Because of the MVA, it is therefore not possible, for example, to let approaches over TEKSI descend directly to 4000ft. Instead, at least one intermediate altitude must be used.
For users of a chart service such as Navigraph, an MVA chart is available for EDSB and EDTL under the airport LFST.
VFR Transits
VFR flights above 5500ft AMSL will fly through airspace D around Stuttgart. Between 3500ft and 5500ft AMSL the controller need to take care of the C airspace! Flights through C airspace are not recommended but possible with the CVFR clearance.
Holdings
The following holdings are published around Stuttgart:
BADSO (MHA 7000), TEKSI (MHA 6000), REUTL (MHA 6000), LBU (MHA 5000), STG (MHA 5000)
Holdings within Stuttgart Arrival
Possible Conflicts
- For descending flights, the existing MVA must always be considered, especially below 5000 ft AMSL and west of the airport!
- The potential for conflict between intersecting approaches and departures must be taken into account.
- Even in the case of different departure routes, attention must be paid to the necessary separation of departures due to the fact that they follow the same track in some places.
- Due to the Black Forest (elevated terrain) between EDSB/EDTL and EDDS, the MVA in this area is 6300 ft AMSL, so IFR flights must be at least at FL70 there.