🔵 EFRO - Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi Airport holds the record of being the third busiest airport in Finland and the official airport of Santa Claus 🎅🏻. It is situated just 10 kilometers north of Rovaniemi city center and about 8 kilometers from Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, making it a famous destination, especially during the holiday season.
Rovaniemi Airport's location presents unique challenges and opportunities in air traffic control due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle. It handles a diverse array of air traffic, including commercial, general aviation, private, and seasonal charter flights as well as medical helicopter service. It is equipped with a single runway, yet it efficiently manages the volume of air traffic.
| IATA | ICAO | Charts |
|---|---|---|
| RVN | EFRO | Finland AIP - EFRO |
ATC positions
Rovaniemi is a controlled airport with aerodrome control- and approach control service. This service can be combined (tower-radar), or separate. Rovaniemi Delivery and Arrival positions are opened only when necessary due high traffic levels.
| Logon code | Call sign | Frequency | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFRO_DEL | ROVANIEMI DELIVERY | 118.525 | En-route clearance, (ground movement) |
| EFRO_TWR | ROVANIEMI TOWER | 118.700 | Ground movement, Rovaniemi Control Zone |
| EFRO_R_TWR | ROVANIEMI TOWER | 118.700 | Ground movement, Rovaniemi Control Zone and Terminal Area |
| EFRO_APP | ROVANIEMI RADAR | 129.900 | Rovaniemi Terminal Area |
| EFRO_R_APP | ROVANIEMI ARRIVAL | 118.600 | Rovaniemi Terminal Area - arrivals below 5000 FT |
Ground layout
- Main apron is located south of the runway next to taxiways B and H
- General aviation aircraft can park on the main apron General Aviation Parking Area
- Medical helicopter base is located at Q
Military apron is located north of runway 03/21
Runways
Rovaniemi is equipped with one runway 03/21. The preferred runway is considered to be runway 03 for departures and runway 21 for arrivals.
Civil aviation must use runway 21 as the primary landing runway at night 2000-0500 UTC (1900-0400 UTC).
Take-offs from the runway intersections can be performed upon the pilot's request the traffic situation permitting.
Currently available stands
Stand restrictions and push back
When stand 5B is occupied by a code F aeroplane, stands 3 to 5 and 13 to 15 shall be clear of traffic.
Code E and F aeroplanes
| Code | ICAO | Aircraft type | Wingspan M |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔴 F | A388 | Airbus A380-800 | 79.8 |
| 🔴 F | A124 | Antonov AN-124-100 | 73.3 |
| 🔴 F | B748 | Boeing 747-8 | 68.5 |
| 🔴 F | C5M | Lockheed C-5 Super Galaxy | 67.9 |
| 🔵 E | B77W, B77L | Boeing 777-300ER, -200LR, -F | 64.8 |
| 🔵 E | A359, A35K | Airbus A350-900, A350-1000 | 64.75 |
| 🔵 E | B744 | Boeing 747-400 | 64.44 |
| 🔵 E | A345, A346 | Airbus A340-500, -600 | 63.45 |
| 🔵 E | B772, B773 | Boeing 777-300, -200 | 60.93 |
| 🔵 E | A332, A333, A342, A343 | Airbus A330-200, -300, Airbus A340-200, -300 | 60.3 |
| 🔵 E | B788, B789, B78X | Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, 787-9, 787-10 | 60.12 |
| 🔵 E | IL96 | Iljushin IL-96 | 60.11 |
| 🔵 E | B742, B743 | Boeing 747-200, -300 | 59.6 |
Push back procedures
| Stands | Push back procedure |
|---|---|
| 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 6C, 8B, 13, 14 and 16 | Push back is normally not required but provided by pilot request |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | Push back is required |
| 7B, 8C, 23 | No push back |
En-route clearance
Please, do not include the SID in your flight plan route.
By default the local tower controller will give clearance to requested cruise flight level.
Departure with SID:
| 🎧 | Fastair 312, cleared to Helsinki, runway 21, Renvi 3A departure, flight level 350, squawk 5542 Fastair 312, selvä Helsinkiin, kiitotie 21, Renvi 3A lähtöreitti, lentopinta 350, koodaa 5542 |
Departure with direct route:
| 🎧 | Fastair 312, cleared to Helsinki, runway 21, direct Renvi, flight level 350, squawk 5542 Fastair 312, selvä Helsinkiin, kiitotie 21, lähdöstä suoraan Renvi, lentopinta 350, koodaa 5542 |
Approach
Please, do not include the STAR in your flight plan route.
Runway 21 is the only runway with an ILS approach system. This makes runway 21 the preferred runway during Low Visibility Operations.
- ILS Z approach is used for RNAV capable aircraft
- ILS Y approach is used for non-RNAV aircraft (based on VOR navigation)
When approaching runway 03, pilots may expect to be cleared for RNP approach.
Arriving aircraft may be cleared for the approach already on initial contact with the local controller. Please be ready to copy any clearance and instructions.
Phraseology example:
- On initial contact with approach control, please include the following:
- Call sign
- Current flight level
- Assigned flight level
- Aircraft type (and wake turbulence category if necessary)
- Received ATIS broadcast
- Other restrictions given by previous controller
| 👨✈️ | Rovaniemi tower, Golden 332, passing flight level 202 for flight level 100, Airbus 320, information E Rovaniemen torni, Golden 332, läpäisen lentopinnan 202 lentopinnalle 100, Airbus 320, tiedotus E |
| 🎧 | Golden 332, Rovaniemi tower, radar contact. Continue descent to 2500 feet, qnh 1011, cleared RNP approach runway 03, right circuit, number 1 in traffic. Report on final approach course Golden 332, Rovaniemen torni, tutka yhteys, jatka laskeutumista 2500 jalkaan, qnh 1011, selvä RNP lähestymiseen kiitotie 03, oikea kierros, vuoro yksi, ilmoita loppulähestymissuunnassa |
| 👨✈️ | Descend 2500 feet, qnh 1011, cleared RNP approach runway 03, right circuit, wilco, Golden 332 Jatkan laskeutumista 2500 jalkan, qnh 1011, selvä RNP lähestymiseen kiitotie 03, oikea kierros, ilmoitan, Golden 332 |
Operations in Low Visibility Conditions
Runways 03 and 21 are approved for Low Visibility Procedures for Take-offs (LVPTO).
- LVPTO is used when the RVR value is 550 M or less.
Runway 21 is approved for ILS CAT II approaches. The approach procedure has the following minimas OCA (H):
- Category A: 688 (79)
- Category B: 699 (90)
- Category C: 712 (103)
- Category D: 727 (118)
There is also LPV approaches available for both runways (Lateral Precision with Vertical Guidance Approach). See the RNP approach charts for more information.
LVP initiation
Low Visibility Procedures for all air traffic will become effective when the RVR value decreases to 550 M.
Medical helicopter
Note! The base of medical helicopter is located at the airport. The call sign of the medical helicopter is “Finnhems”.
General information
| ICAO call sign | FIH51 |
| SSR code | 0004 |
| Agreed route | DCT, MAX 1500 FT |
| base flight rules | VFR (IFR visual take-off and landing approved) |
Medical helicopter pilot shall select transponder code 0004 prior to contacting Rovaniemi Tower.
FATO located within ATC service boundary. Take-off and landing clearance required.
Nearest hospitals
- EFLR - Lapin keskussairaala
- EFLR is inside IFR approach funnel
- Not operational UFN. Ambulance transport from FIH base to hospital
Tango 03 and Tango 21
T03/T21 is a defined area on taxiway T between taxiway P and main apron border (picture below).
- FinnHEMS will take-off and land from/to T03 or T21 according to wind direction
- FinnHEMS hangar is located at Apron next to Q
Departure from EFRO base
- Air taxi to T03 or T21
- Clear heliport PC take-off from T03 or T21
- Initial climb in runway direction H025 or H205
| 🎧 | FIH51, AIR TAXI TANGO 03, CLEARED DIRECT EN-ROUTE 15000 FEET OR BELOW, QNH 1013 FIH51, ILMARULLAA TANGO 03, SELVÄ SUORAAN REITILLE 1500 JALKAA TAI ALAPUOLELLA, QNH 1013 |
| 🎧 | FIH51, WIND VARIABLE 3 KNOTS, CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF TANGO 03, CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY FIH51, TUULI VAHTELEE 3 SOLMUA, SELVÄ LENTOONLÄHTÖÖN TANGO 03, SOPII YLITTÄÄ KIITOTIE |
Arrival to EFRO base
- Final approach in runway direction H025 or H205
- Aimpoint T03 or T21 according to wind direction
- Clear heliport PC1 landing to T03 or T21
- Landing clearance includes permission to taxi via Q to base, pilot will report on ground
| 👨✈️ | TOWER, FIH51, SOUTH OF CONTROL ZONE, 1300 FEET, NON-URGENT FLIGHT BACK TO BASE, INFORMATION M, QNH 1012 TORNI, FIH51, LÄHIALUEEN ETELÄPUOLELLA, 1300 JALKAA, KIIREETÖN PALUULENTO KENTÄLLE, TIEDOTUS M, QNH 1012 |
| 🎧 | FIH51, CLEARED DIRECT TOWARDS OWN BASE, 1500 FEET OR BELOW FIH51, SELVÄ SUORAAN KOHTI TUKIKOHTAA, 1500 JALKAA TAI ALAPUOLELLA |
| 🎧 | FIH51, WIND VARIABLE 2 KNOTS, CLEARED TO LAND TANGO 03 FIH51, TUULI VAHTELEE 2 SOLMUA, SELVÄ LASKUUN TANGO 03 |