# 🔵 EFHK - Helsinki # EFHK pilot briefing [](https://wiki.vatsim-scandinavia.org/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/packed-finnair2.jpg) Helsinki Airport is the main international airport of the city of Helsinki, and the entire country. The airport is located north of Helsinki in the neighboring city of Vantaa. The airport is operated by state-owned Finavia. The airport is by far the busiest in Finland and the fourth busiest in the Nordic countries in terms of passenger numbers. About 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through Helsinki Airport. On average, the airport handles around 350 departures a day. The airport is the main hub for Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, and its subsidiary Nordic Regional Airlines.
IATA | ICAO | Charts | NOTAMs |
---|---|---|---|
HEL | EFHK | Finland AIP - EFHK | Bulletins: EFHK |
Login code | Call sign | Frequency | Responsibility |
---|---|---|---|
EFHK_DEL | HELSINKI GROUND | 118.125 | - All en-route clearances (DCL/PDC: EFHK) - Ground movement on aprons 1S and 9 |
EFHK_GND | HELSINKI GROUND | 121.800 | - Ground movement |
EFHK_E_TWR | HELSINKI TOWER | 118.600 | - Primary Tower position - Runways 04R/22L and 15/33 - FATO H16/H34 |
EFHK_W_TWR | HELSINKI TOWER | 118.850 | - Opened according to traffic demand - Runways 04L/22R |
EFHK_E_APP | HELSINKI RADAR | 119.100 | - Primary Radar position - East sector |
EFHK_E_APP | HELSINKI RADAR | 129.850 | - Opened according to traffic demand - West sector |
EFHK_R_APP | HELSINKI ARRIVAL | 119.900 | - Primary arrival position - Sequencing arriving traffic below 5000 FT |
EFHK_A_APP | HELSINKI ARRIVAL | 124.325 | - Opened only during parallel IFR approaches - Sequencing arriving traffic below 5000 FT |
Listen carefully to the frequency given when being transferred to another controller. Do not try and guess the next frequency, as TWR and APP units may be divided to smaller sectors with similar frequencies.
EFHK_DEL 118.125 |
EFHK_GND 121.800 |
EFHK_E_TWR 118.600 |
EFHK_W_TWR 118.850 |
DE-ICING |
Type | Stand location |
---|---|
Schengen | stands 12-32 and remote stands |
Non-Schengen | stands W34-W48, S49-S55 and remote stands |
Cargo | aprons 2, 4 and 9 |
General Aviation / VIP | apron 3 |
Stands reserved for de-icing during winter season | aprons 6 and 8 |
Note that the main taxiways have only one letter, e.g. "Y" or "Z", but most taxiways are named with two letters, e.g. "AD" or "AC". Listen carefully to the taxi instructions given by ATC.
Do not cross a runway without a specific clearance from ATC.
Keep the transponder active (squawk mode C) at all times when moving on the runways, taxiways and aprons.
When runway 22R is in use for departure, expect to hold short of runway 22L before you are given clearance to taxi to holding point runway 22R.
By default, ATC will use these holding points:Runway | Holding point | Remarks |
---|---|---|
04L | WZ | ... |
04R | ZR, (ZS, ZT) | Aircraft from Apron 8: ZS, ZT |
15 | Z, YA | Turboprop aircraft DEP from Z |
33 | CN, YN | Aircraft from Apron 4: CN |
22L | Y, ZD, ZB | Turboprop/QJet aircraft DEP from Y/ZD |
22R | WG, WD | WL may be used for traffic from taxiway S |
ATC will often use minimum spacing on final approach. It is important to vacate the runway quickly in order to achieve maximum runway capacity and minimize the occurance of go-arounds.
When landing on runway 22L, vacate via ZH or later. Do not vacate via Y, ZD or ZG without prior approval from Helsinki Tower.
When landing on runway 04R/22L or 15/33, contact Helsinki Ground 121.8 after vacating the runway. No handoff will be given.
Preference order: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arrival runway: | 15 | 22L | 04L | 04R | 22R | 33 |
Departure runway: | 22R | 22L | 04R | 33 | 04L | 15 |
Pilots are requested NOT to include SID in their flight plan as this will be assigned by ATC.
IFR-flights departing from Helsinki above FL 95 shall use these mandatory routes after the SID:EFHK TMA Boundary Point | EFHK Departure Connecting Point | Flight Plan |
---|---|---|
NUNTO | REKDO | NUNTO-Y369-REKDO-DCT |
NUNTO | OLPED | NUNTO-Y367-OLPED-DCT |
KUVEM | USITU | KUVEM-Y366-USITU-DCT |
ADIVO | POGOK | ADIVO-Y365-POGOK-DCT |
NEPEK | NISVI | NEPEK-Y361-NISVI-DCT |
TEVRU | USUPO | TEVRU-Y75-USUPO-DCT |
IDEPI | ADOPO | IDEPI-Y232-ADOPO-DCT |
IDEPI | ROKVI | IDEPI DCT ROKVI DCT |
ARVEP | RATMU | ARVEP-T82-RATMU-DCT |
NEPEK | EVLIT | NEPEK-Y357-EVLIT-DCT |
NEPEK | UXADA | NEPEK-Y375-UXADA-DCT |
RENKU is only available and mandatory for departures to EETN or EEEI. Maximum cruise level is FL 100.
En-route clearance can be requested with DCL (datalink) or with VOICE over the ground or tower frequency depending on which ATC position is online.
If using DCL, pilots shall send the pre-dep request to identifier EFHK or EFIN, depending on which station is online. Frequency 118.125 shall be monitored when requesting clearance via DCL.On initial contact, state aircraft type, received ATIS and QNH.
👨✈️ | FASTAIR 312, AIRBUS 320, INFORMATION M, QNH 1011, REQUEST CLEARANCE TO OULU |
🎧 | FASTAIR 312, CLEARED TO OULU, RUNWAY 22R, TEVRU 3N DEPARTURE, CLIMB TO 4000 FEET, SQUAWK 5542 |
🎧 | FASTAIR 312, CLEARED TO OULU, RUNWAY 22R, AFTER DEPARTURE FLY HEADING 270, CLIMB TO 4000 FEET, EXPECT RADAR VECTORS TO TEVRU, SQUAWK 5542. |
👨✈️ | FASTAIR 312, AIRBUS 320, INFORMATION M, QNH 1011, REQUEST CLEARANCE TO OULU, NEGATIVE RNAV |
When cleared for take-off, pilots are expected to start rolling within 10 seconds of take-off clearance. Pilots unable to comply with this requirement shall notify ATC before entering the runway.
After take-off aircraft shall remain on tower frequency until passing 1500 FT, then contact Helsinki Radar 119.100 or 129.850, depending on your SID route.
You will find the correct radar frequency on your SID-chart. If the primary frequency is not online, contact Radar on the other frequency or Helsinki Control on 121.300.Pilots shall automatically change to radar frequency after departure!
👨✈️ | HELSINKI RADAR, FASTAIR 312, PASSING 1900 FEET, TEVRU 3N |
If no further climb is given, pilot shall maintain 4000 FT.
Pilots are requested to not include STAR in their flight plan route.
Arriving IFR flights with cruising level above FL 95 shall use the following routes:EFHK Arrival Connecting Point | EFHK STAR Initial Waypoint | Flight Plan |
---|---|---|
EVADI | DIVAM | DCT to EVADI-Y370-DIVAM |
RIRIP | LAKUT | DCT to RIRIP-Y364-LAKUT |
IBVUT | LAKUT | DCT to IBVUT-Y363-LAKUT |
OTKIL | LAKUT | DCT to OTKIL-Y368-LAKUT |
UXADA | AMROT | DCT to UXADA-Y349-AMROT-Y362-LAKUT |
ENETI | LAKUT | DCT to ENETI-Y362-LAKUT |
IBOSU | LUSEP | DCT to IBOSU-Y86-LUSEP |
NAPRU | LUSEP | DCT to NAPRU-T83-LUSEP |
ROKVI | VEPIN | DCT to ROKVI-Y358-VEPIN |
ARLOM | VEPIN | DCT to ARLOM-Y359-VEPIN |
Call sign | HELSINKI RADAR, FINNAIR 6 |
---|---|
Aircraft type | AIRBUS 330 |
“HEAVY” or “SUPER” if necessary | HEAVY |
Current flight level | FLIGHT LEVEL 154 |
Speed (only if assigned by ATC) | SPEED 240 KNOTS |
Last received ATIS broadcast | INFORMATION SIERRA |
Say your Call sign only on initial contact with Helsinki Arrival
Call sign | HELSINKI ARRIVAL, FINNAIR 6 |
---|
Call sign | HELSINKI TOWER, FINNAIR 6 |
---|---|
Runway | RUNWAY 22 LEFT |
All STARs at Helsinki are so-called Open STARs. If ATC has not given approach clearance, the pilot shall continue present heading after the last waypoint on the STAR:
[](https://wiki.vatsim-scandinavia.org/uploads/images/gallery/2023-07/RNWscreenshot-2023-07-21-at-20-38-46.png)When aircraft is cleared for approach via own navigation, pilot shall plan a direct (DCT) instead of a vector after the last waypoint on the STAR.
🎧 | SPEEDBIRD 794H, VIA KENON BIFIX CLEARED ILS APPROACH RUNWAY 22 LEFT |
🎧 | SPEEDBIRD 794H, DESCEND 2000 FEET, CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY 15, RIGHT CIRCUIT, QNH 1011, MAINTAIN OWN SEPARATION WITH PRECEDING AIRBUS 330 HEAVY, CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE |
Aircraft on visual approach shall maintain at least 2000 FT until established on final approach course. ATC may give permission “you may leave 2000 feet before final”.
WEF 08 AUG 2024: Introduction of stand 404B and stand 407B on Apron 4
## Code F Operations (A380) [EFHK_A388.pdf](https://wiki.vatsim-scandinavia.org/attachments/370?open=true) ### Parking - Parking will happen primarily on stands W48 and 905A. - When Remote 8 is not in use for de-icing, Code-F aircraft may also be parked on stand 815 or on intermediate holding point VS1. - When runway 15/33 is not in use, Code-F aircraft may also be parked on: - Intermediate holding point Y7 facing nort-west. Taxi in via Runway 15 and YL. - Intermediate holding point Y8 facing south-east. Taxi out via YL and Runway 33. Runway 22L shall be closed until Code-F aircraft has vacated Runway 15 due to absence of Runway 22L holding point markings on runway 15.Arriving Code-F aircraft waiting for a parking position may need to absorb delay on an intermediate holding point on Taxiway Z until the parking stand is available. Other traffic may use taxiway AV instead of Z to get around the aircraft.
General VFR traffic will normally be parked at Apron 3.
- Light aircraft pilots will usually get to choose their parking spot after landing. ATC will instruct the pilot to taxi to apron 3 via DL or AD. - At rare occasions stand 351 or 352 may be blocked by a larger aircraft. Taxi to these stands is performed via taxiway DM.Helsinki Control Zone is ATS airspace classification D with vertical limits SFC - 1300 FT.
- VFR traffic is not separated from other traffic in the Control Zone - Traffic information is given by Helsinki Tower - VFR pilots are expected to maintain sufficient separation to other IFR or VFR traffic when traffic information is providedVisual Reporting Point OGELI may be used only used for SAR flights.
Visual Reporting Points DEGER, NOKKA and RASTI shall not be used for any VFR traffic leaving or entering the Control Zone.
- Find the Visual Approach Chart [**HERE**](https://aip.intor.fi/ad/efhk.html).🧑🏻✈ | HELSINKI GROUND, OH-CME, CESSNA 172, APRON 3, INFORMATION MIKE, QNH 1011, REQUEST START-UP |
🎧 | O-ME, HELSINKI GROUND. START-UP APPROVED, RUNWAY 15, LEAVE CONTROL ZONE VIA LILJA, 1000 FT OR BELOW, SQUAWK 0355 |
🧑🏻✈ | START-UP APPROVED, RUNWAY 15, LEAVE CONTROL ZONE VIA LILJA, 1000 FT OR BELOW, SQUAWK 0355, O-ME |
🧑🏻✈ | HELSINKI TOWER, OH-CME, CESSNA 172, RADIAL 360, 20 MILES FROM HELSINKI, 1000 FT, INFORMATION MIKE, QNH 1011 FOR LANDING |
🎧 | O-ME, HELSINKI TOWER, VIA TURFI JOIN RIGHT BASE LEG RUNWAY 22 LEFT, 1000 FT OR BELOW |
🧑🏻✈ | VIA TURFI JOIN RIGHT BASE LEG 1000 FT OR BELOW, O-ME |
🧑🏻✈ | HELSINKI GROUND, OH-CME, CESSNA 172, REQUEST START-UP |
🎧 | O-ME, HELSINKI GROUND, START-UP APPROVED, CLEARED TRAFFIC CIRCUIT RUNWAY 15, 1000 FT OR BELOW, SQUAWK 0422 |
🧑🏻✈ | START-UP APPROVED, CLEARED TRAFFIC CIRCUIT RUNWAY 15, 1000 FT OR BELOW, O-ME |
Traffic circuit is marked with TC in the ROUTE field.
TC can be further specified in FPL field-18 ('remarks field') as follows: 1. Conducting one spot landing: - RMK/1SL 2. Conducting a practiced forced landing after which the flight continues to two training areas: - RMK/PFL 2TA 3. Conducting two spot landings after which the flight continues to a training area: - RMK/2SL TAMost common abbreviations | |
---|---|
FS | Full Stop (Ladning) |
LA | Low Approach |
TA | Training Area |
AP | Approaches |
TGL | Touch and Go Landing |
TC | Traffic Circuit |
SL | Spot Landing |
PFL | Practiced Forced Landing |
PFLR | Practiced Forced Landing back to Runway |
Take-off and landing locations | ||
---|---|---|
Location | Within Maneuvering Area? | Remarks |
Runways | YES | |
FATO H16/H34 | YES | Serving traffic to Apron 4 |
Helipad Y | YES | Serving traffic to Apron 3 |
FATO FH10 | YES | Medical helicopter FinnHEMS 10 |
🚁 | HELSINKI TOWER, OH-HEH, ROBINSON 44, EAST OF HELSINKI, 1200 FT, ESTIMATING LILJA IN 4 MINUTES FOR LANDING, APRON 3 |
🎧 | O-EH, HELSINKI TOWER, CLEARED HELSINKI CONTROL ZONE VIA LILJA, DIRECT HELIPAD Y, 1000 FT OR BELOW, QNH 1011 |
🚁 | CLEARED HELSINKI CONTROL ZONE VIA LILJA, DIRECT HELIPAD Y, 1000 FT OR BELOW, QNH 1011, O-EH |
🚁 | O-EH, LILJA INBOUND |
🎧 | O-EH |
🎧 | O-EH, WIND VARIABLE 4 KNOTS, HELIPAD Y CLEARED TO LAND, CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY 33 |
🚁 | HELIPAD Y CLEARED TO LAND, CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY 33, O-EH |
🎧 | O-EH, AIR-TAXI VIA DL TO APRON 3 |
🚁 | AIR-TAXI VIA DL TO APRON 3, O-EH |
When departing or landing outside of the Maneuvering Area, pilots are requested to report airborne or to report on ground. No take-off or landing clearance will be issued.
- You can view the Maneuvering Area boundaries from the Aerodrome Charts (APDC). The Area is marked with a gray line called "ATC SER BDRY" on the charts in [AIP Finland](https://aip.intor.fi/ad/efhk.html).🎧 | O-EH, WIND CALM, MAKE APPROACH TO APRON 7, REPORT ON GROUND, CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY 04L |
🚁 | MAKE APPROACH TO APRON 7, CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY 04L, WILCO, O-EH |
Airspace class | Minimum visibility | Minimum cloud ceiling |
---|---|---|
D (Control Zone) | 5 km | BKN or OVC 1000 ft |
Special VFR traffic is separated from all other traffic by ATC
### Geographical Restrictions for Separation ATC may restrict a VFR flight to remain outside of the IFR Approach Funnel in order to separate a Special VFR aircraft from other aircraft.🎧 | O-BC, leave control zone via Kitka, special VFR, after departure remain outside of IFR approach funnel. O-BC, jätä lähialue Kitkan kautta, erityis-VFR, lähdön jälkeen pysy pois IFR-lähestymisen suojaalueelta. |
🎧 | O-BC, report when outside of IFR approach funnel. O-BC, ilmoita kun pois IFR-lähestymisen suoja-alueelta. |
🎧 | O-BC, LEAVE CONTROL ZONE VIA LINTU, SPECIAL VFR, AFTER DEPARTURE REMAIN OUTSIDE OF IFR APPROACH FUNNEL |
🎧 | O-BC, REPORT WHEN OUTSIDE OF IFR APPROACH FUNNEL |
🎧 | O-BC, INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS REPORTED / FORECASTED IN THE VICINITY OF HELSINKI |
👨✈️ | ROGER, MAINTAINING IFR, O-BC |
Logon code | Call sign | Frequency |
---|---|---|
EFHK_C_GND | Remote De-icing Supervisor | 133.850 |
EFHK_D_GND | De-icing (operator) | 121.675 |
The positions above may be used during Welcome to HEL or other events.
Pilots may request for de-icing even if the positions above are not manned. In that case Helsinki Ground or Tower will handle the communications.
✈️ | HELSINKI DE-ICING, FINNAIR 1, REQUEST DEICING FOR WINGS AND TAIL |
🎧 | FINNAIR 1, DE-ICING ON REMOTE APRON 6 |
🎧 | FINNAIR 1, CONTACT REMOTE DE-ICING SUPERVISOR 133.850 |
✈️ | 133.850, FINNAIR 1 |
✈️ | FINNAIR 1, APPROACHING DC1 |
🎧 | FINNAIR 1, TAXI TO STAND 603 |
✈️ | TAXI TO STAND 603, FINNAIR 1 |
🎧 | FINNAIR 1, WHEN PARKING BRAKE SET, CONTACT DE-ICING 121.675 |
✈️ | WHEN PARKING BRAKE SET, 121.675, FINNAIR 1 |
✈️ | DE-ICING, FINNAIR 1, PARKING BRAKE SET, REQUESTING ONE STEP DE- ICING FOR WINGS AND STABILIZER, YOU MAY START SPRAYING |
🎧 | FINNAIR 1 ON STAND 603, DE-ICING, STARTING ONE STEP PROCEDURE FOR WINGS AND STABILIZER, REPORT WHEN DE-ICING COMPLETED |
✈️ | WILCO, FINNAIR 1 |
✈️ | FINNAIR 1, STAND 601, DE-ICING COMPLETED |
🎧 | FINNAIR 1 ON STAND 601, DE-ICING COMPLETED FOR WINGS AND TAIL WITH TYPE 1 FLUID, MIXTURE 40%, HOLDOVER TIME STARTED AT 55, POST DE- AND ANTI-ICING CHECKS ARE COMPLETED |
✈️ | TYPE 1, MIXTURE 40%, HOLD OVER TIME 55, FINNAIR 1 |
🎧 | FINNAIR 1, CORRECT, FOR TAXI CONTACT TOWER 118.850 |
✈️ | 118.850, FINNAIR 1 |
You need to be connected on VATSIM network as a pilot and send the flight plan with departure EFHK before connecting to the application!
- Pilots may send the Deice-request via the application before start-up! - If the request is not approved within a few minutes, please revert back to voice procedures, as it is not mandatory for ATC to use the application. - Pilots can also view the holdover times for the fluid types used at Helsinki (only if Precipitation exists)