Sondrestrom TWR

Sondrestrom Tower (BGSF_TWR) provides clearance delivery, ground, and tower control.

Delivery

NOTE: Typically, the preferred runway configuration is RWY 09 for arrivals / RWY 27 for departures. See "Runway Configuration" below for more details.

Overview of SIDs

TERMINATING FIX	RUNWAY
TERMINATING FIX	09	27
BAVKO	1A	1B
GILPO	1A	1B
INPOD	1A	–
ISTEC	1A	1B
KEMOS	1A	1B
WUTAN	1A	1B
Initial Climb FL190 for Eastbound flights (TRK 000-179) FL180 for Westbound flights (TRK 180-359) (or RFL if lower)

Clearance Procedure

All BGSF departures shall be given the latest weather (met report) with their IFR clearance. E.g.,

🎧 GRL418, ready to copy clearance and the weather?

🧑‍✈️ Ready to copy, GRL418.

🎧 GRL418, cleared to Keflavik via the WUTAN 1A departure, climb via SID FL190, Mach .80, squawk 3126.

🧑‍✈️ Cleared to Keflavik via the WUTAN 1A departure, climb via SID FL190, squawk 3126.

🎧 GRL418, readback correct. Kangarlussuaq met report at time 50, automatic, winds 060 degrees 9 knots, visibility 10 kilometers or more, no directional variation, clouds broken at 21000ft, temperature plus one, dewpoint minus four, QNH 1014.

🧑‍✈️ QNH 1014, GRL418.

🎧 GRL418, readback correct.

RWY 27 Departure Procedure (Non-RNAV)

Non-RNAV aircraft shall be instructed to depart RWY 27, with the following departure instructions: "After departure runway 27 climb straight ahead, passing 5300ft proceed direct [first waypoint of flight plan], initial climb FL[180/190]..."

This is necessary to avoid high terrain near the airport. 5300ft is the MSA (Minimum Safe Altitude) within 25 NM of BGSF.

The same initial climb applies as for the SIDs (FL190 for Eastbound departures / FL180 for Westbound, or RFL if lower.)

Ground

There are three main parking locations at BGSF:

The North Apron is for scheduled passenger flights.
The East Apron is for cargo and general aviation.
The West Apron is for military operations.

Otherwise, BGSF has a fairly simple ground layout. The most important thing to note is that in the usual runway configuration (RWY 09 arrivals / RWY 27 departures), if an arrival requires full length for landing, it would likely vacate the runway from the same taxiways as departing aircraft would be holding short at. Controllers may consider instructing arrivals to make a 180 and backtrack to vacate, in order to avoid coming face-to-face with departing aircraft.

Tower

Runway Configuration

Due to high terrain near the airport, RWY 09 is the preferred arrival runway and RWY 27 is the preferred departure runway. Therefore, if the tailwind component for both runways is less than 10 KTS, TWR shall designate RWY 09 as the arrival runway and RWY 27 as the departure runway.

In this configuration, departures will depart into the arrival path. Typically this is not an issue due to BGSF’s low traffic levels, but TWR must coordinate with APP to ensure that large enough gaps are left in the arrival stream for aircraft to depart between arrivals.

When the tailwind component exceeds 10 KTS for either RWY 09 or RWY 27, TWR shall revise the runway configuration to depart & arrive on whichever runway has the strongest headwind component.

TWR may also revise the runway configuration to use athe ~~single~~same runway for departure/arrival if there is heavy traffic, if it is expected that using opposite runways for departure and arrival would cause significant delays. If there is predominantly departing traffic, RWY 27 is preferred; if there is predominantly arriving traffic, RWY 09 is preferred.

Sondre Stromfjord Control Zone (BGSF CTR)

Note: the northeastern-most area of the BGSF CTR is cut off in the above image.

The Sondre Stromfjord Control Zone (BGSF CTR) surrounds BGSF from GND – 3500ft.

There are three visual reporting points which aircraft may follow while entering/exiting the CTR – Port Area, Musk Bay, and Sugar Loaf.

Due to surrounding high terrain, a left hand traffic pattern is preferred for RWY 27, and a right hand traffic pattern is preferred for RWY 09.

Missed Approaches

TWR shall instruct aircraft to follow the standard missed approach, and coordinate all missed approaches with APP prior to transferring to APP.

For aircraft unable the standard missed approach, TWR should instruct them to perform a visual climb and caution them of high terrain. The MSA within 25 NM of BGSF is 5300ft.