Single Engine VFR Routes (BIKF and BIRK)
Five VFR routes are published within the BIKF & BIRK CTRs. These are pre-defined routes for single-engine aircraft that follow designated visual reporting points on the ground.
The VFR routes are for single-engine fixed-wing aircraft ONLY. Multi-engine aircraft should NOT be cleared onto the VFR routes!
The routes are defined as follows:
- Route 1 “Videyhouse”: Videyhouse - Lundey - Brimnes - Tangi (in Hofsvik)
- Route 2 “Gufunes”: Gufunes - Tungubakkar (BIMS)
Route 2 is ONLY for aircraft to/from Tungubakkar airfield (BIMS)!
- Route 3 “Gullinbru": Gullinbru - Langavatn
- Route 4 “Vifilsstadir”: Vifilsstadir - Vegamot
- Route 6 “Straumsvik”: Gardachurch - Aluminium Factory - Kuagerdi - Seltjorn - Patterson
While each route has a name, they are typically referred to by their numbers, e.g., "route 6," in radio communications.
All routes are flown at 1500ft, except route 6 which is flown at 1000ft. All routes are bidirectional, and have a maximum speed of 120 KTS.
Preferred Routes (BIRK)
When certain runways are active at BIRK, certain routes are preferred for departures and arrivals. In general, route 4 is preferred for inbound traffic from the East, and route 3 is preferred for outbound traffic to the East.
This is reversed when RWY 19 is in use — i.e., route 3 is preferred for inbounds from the East, and route 4 is preferred for outbounds to the East.
Inbound and Outbound Routes (BIRK)
BIRK also has defined inbound and outbound routes, which single-engine aircraft are to follow when joining the circuit from a VFR route, or leaving the circuit to join a VFR route respectively. These routes are reflected in the diagrams below.
RWY 01 |
RWY 13 |
RWY 19 |
RWY 31 |
VATSIM pilots are often unfamiliar with these inbound and outbound routes. Therefore, while not required, it can often be helpful to explicitly describe the inbound/outbound route to the pilot, for example "from Vifilstadir join base runway 31."