Operating Procedures
ATC operating procedures for positions in Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.
Standard Operating Procedures
Procedures applicable to all positions, except where superseded by local operating procedures.
General
Introduction to the CTA The Reykjavik Control Area (CTA) is unique in that it overlaps three ter...
Delivery
When performing clearance delivery, DEL must always check the following elements of an aircraft's...
Ground
Pushback & Startup In the Reykjavik CTA, all aircraft require clearance for startup, except for ...
Tower
Determining the Active Runway Controllers should determine the active runway based on the follow...
Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS)
Introduction to AFIS Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) is the provision of flight info...
ATS Surveillance (APP & Area Control)
This page details procedures for providing air traffic control service using ATS surveillance (se...
Oceanic Area Control
The Reykjavik CTA is unique in that much of it is also designated as oceanic airspace. This page ...
VFR Guide
A guide towards the proper handling of VFR traffic in the Reykjavik CTA (Iceland, Greenland, and ...
Basic Principles of VFR
Visual Flight Rules (VFR) governs flights operating in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) – i...
Departures (Leaving the CTR)
First Contact (Ground) On first contact with a VFR departure, Ground should assign them a squawk...
Circuits
A standard traffic circuit consists of four legs: crosswind, downwind, base, and final. In gen...
Arrivals (Entering the CTR)
If a VFR aircraft is entering the CTR controlled airspace, the transferring unit (i.e., the ATS u...
Transits & Other Flights
One may occasionally encounter VFR flights transiting through the CTR without landing, or perform...
Managing VFR Traffic in the CTR
Traffic Information In most cases, VFR aircraft are expected to maintain their own separation fr...
VFR for Approach or ACC
VFR Cruising Levels From 3000ft – FL195, VFR aircraft are allocated cruising levels separated by...
VFR Flight Plans (Iceland)
In Iceland, plans are required for all VFR flights entering controlled airspace (which includes a...
Single Engine VFR Routes (BIKF and BIRK)
Five VFR routes are published within the BIKF & BIRK CTRs for single-engine aircraft. These are p...
Special Airspace
There are several special airspace areas in Iceland, including recreational, training, prohibited...
BIKF | Keflavik Int'l
Local operating procedures for BIKF. (Aerodrome only – see Faxi TMA chapter for APP procedures.)
General
Keflavik Int'l Airport (BIKF) is the main international airport serving Iceland. The gateway to I...
Keflavik DEL
Keflavik Delivery (BIKF_DEL) shall provide clearance delivery to departing IFR aircraft. As of 2...
Keflavik GND
Keflavik Ground (BIKF_GND, as well as BIKF_2_GND if online) is responsible for controlling the ap...
Keflavik TWR
Keflavik Tower (BIKF_TWR) is responsible for BIKF’s runways, and for providing ATC service in the...
Low Visibility Procedures
At BIKF, Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) come into effect when either the ceiling or the touchdow...
BIRK | Reykjavik
Local operating procedures for BIRK. (Aerodrome only – see Faxi TMA chapter for APP procedures.)
General
Reykjavik Airport (BIRK) is the second-largest airport in Iceland. It mainly handles domestic sch...
Reykjavik GND
Reykjavik Ground (BIRK_GND) provides clearance delivery and ground control. As of 20th March 202...
Reykjavik TWR
Reykjavik Tower (BIRK_TWR) is responsible for BIRK’s runways, and for providing air traffic contr...
BIAR | Akureyri
Local operating procedures for BIAR.
General
UPDATE: Effective 1 March 2024, BIAR requires a Tier 2 endorsement to control.All existing S2 con...
Akureyri TWR
Akureyri Tower (BIAR_TWR) provides clearance delivery, ground, and tower control. As of 20th Mar...
Procedural Approach
Akureyri Tower is unique within Iceland, in that it is the only TWR unit which also provides an a...
Faxi TMA (BIKF & BIRK APP)
Local operating procedures for Keflavik & Reykjavik Approach in the Faxi TMA.
General
The following page lists information and procedures applicable to the entire Faxi TMA, i.e., both...
Keflavik APP
Keflavik Approach (BIKF_APP) provides approach control service to all aircraft within the Keflavi...
Reykjavik APP
Reykjavik Approach (BIRK_APP) provides approach control service for all aircraft in the Reykjavik...
BGSF | Kangarlussuaq
Local operating procedures for BGSF.
General
The largest airport in Greenland, Kangarlussuaq airport (BGSF), also known as Sondrestrom, is a v...
Sondrestrom TWR
Sondrestrom Tower (BGSF_TWR) provides clearance delivery, ground, and tower control. Delivery N...
Sondrestrom APP
Sondrestrom Approach (BGSF_APP) provides an approach control service within the Sondrestrom TMA a...
Reykjavik ACC/OAC
Local operating procedures for Reykjavik ACC/OAC positions.
General
Full List of ATS Positions Coordination Name VATSIM Logon Radio Callsign ...
South Sector
The South sector directly overlies Iceland, containing the majority of the Icelandic Domestic A...
East Sector
The East sector overlies the Faroe Islands, and contains a small portion of the Icelandic Do...
West Sector
The West sector overlies central Greenland, including Kangarlussuaq airport (BGSF), the largest...
Iceland Radio (North Sector)
UPDATE: Effective 1 March 2024, Iceland Radio no longer requires a separate endorsement to contro...
AFIS Aerodromes | Quick Reference
Quick reference information for Icelandic and Greenlandic AFIS aerodromes.