appendix c airspace procedures - airport sites · landrum & brown appendix c – airspace...

CHICAGO MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FAR PART 150 NOISE COMPATIBILITY STUDY UPDATE DRAFT

Landrum & Brown Appendix C – Airspace Procedures April 2013 Page C-1

APPENDIX C AIRSPACE PROCEDURES

This appendix is designed to provide the reader with an introduction to how aircraft operate in and around Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), the facilities that aid in aircraft movement, and the structure of the surrounding airspace.

C.1 AIRPORT FACILITIES

The inventory of existing conditions at MDW includes a general description of the facilities, its role in the national aviation system, and its relationship to the surrounding area. Airport facilities (i.e. runways, taxiways, navigational aids, etc.) were considered in determining the range of potential noise abatement measures that were available at the airport. Airports are continually expanding, modifying, or otherwise improving facilities to best meet the needs of their tenants and the needs of the Federal aviation system. Exhibit C-1, Existing Airport Layout, presents the existing airport facilities.

C.1.1 RUNWAYS

The present runway system at MDW consists of five runways, three parallel runways oriented in a northwest-southeast direction (Runways 13L/31R, 13C/31C, and 13R/31L), and two crosswind runways oriented in a northeast-southwest direction (Runways 4L/22R and 4R/22L).

The dimensions of the five runways at Midway Airport are listed below:

Runway Length (feet) Width (feet) 4L/22R 5,507 150 4R/22L 6,446 150 13L/31R 5,141 150 13C/31C 6,522 150 13R/31L 3,859 60



THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Midway

International

AirportCity of ChicagoRahm EmanuelMayor

Department of AviationRosemarie S. Andolino

Commissioner

Exhibit:

C-10 500 1,000

Feet

Date: April 15, 2013File: Airport_Layout2.mxd

Legend

ILLINOIS

50

Runway 13C/31C 6,522’

Runway 13L/31R 5,141’Runway 13R/31L 3,859’

Runw

ay 4

L/22

R 5,

507’

Runw

ay 4

R/22

L 6,4

46’

Air Traffic Control Tower

Terminal Building

Parking Garage

Parking Garage

Airport Maintenance Center

Southwest Airlines Hangars

Signature FlightSupport Hangars

Concourse A

Concourse B

Concourse C

Illinois Army National Guard

ILLINOIS

50

55th St

Cic

ero

Ave

BedfordPark

Buildings

Arterials

Airport Property Boundary

Existing Airport Layout

Source: ESRI Data & Maps, 2012.

Chicago

Cic

ero

Ave

Cen

tral

Ave

Cen

tral

Ave

55th St

Archer Ave

65th St

52nd St

53rd St

56th St

57th St

58th St

59th St

60th St

61st St

62nd St

63rd St

64th St

52nd St

53rd St

56th St

57th St

58th St

59th St

60th St

61st St

62nd St

63rd St

64th St

65th St

Kolin

Ave

Kenn

eth

Ave

Kilp

atri

ck A

ve

Lara

mie

Ave

Lock

woo

d Ave

Long

Ave

Lind

er A

ve

Maj

or A

ve

Men

ard

Ave

May

field

Ave

Aust

in A

ve

Lecl

aire

Ave

Lave

rgne

Ave

Lam

on A

ve

Kolm

ar A

ve

Aust

in A

ve

Men

ard

Ave

Long

Ave

Lock

woo

d Ave

Law

ler

Ave

Lam

on A

ve

Kilp

atri

ck A

ve

Kenn

eth

AveAtlantic Aviation Hangar

Odyssey Aviation

Aon Corporation Hangar

Fuel Farm

Railroads

Runways

Municipal Boundaries

14 CFR Part 150 StudyDRAFT



C.1.2 TERMINAL FACILITY

Midway Airport has one terminal located on the eastern edge of the airport along Cicero Avenue. The new terminal building, which opened in 2001, is a three-level terminal building with ticketing located on the upper level and baggage claim located on the lower level. The terminal includes Concourses A, B, C; and includes approximately 941,000 square feet and 43 aircraft gate positions.

C.2 AIRSPACE AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Effective noise abatement procedures depend on efficient airspace management. Because the FAA retains the ultimate responsibility for airspace management and air traffic control, the implementation of any recommended changes in aircraft procedures that would occur because of a Part 150 Study requires FAA review and approval. This section provides information on MDW Airspace procedures, and Air Traffic Control (ATC).

C.2.1 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

FAA Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, establishes that the purpose of the ATC system is safety. It further states, “the primary purpose of the ATC system is to prevent a collision between aircraft operating in the system and to organize and expedite the flow of traffic.” ATC is the means by which aircraft are directed and separated within controlled airspace. ATC (within the confines of this study) is managed by three different FAA facilities depending on where the aircraft is located within the airspace. These three facilities are the MDW FAA Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), the FAA Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control (C90 TRACON), and the FAA Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZAU ARTCC).

ATC responsibility for an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft departing an airport begins on the ground with the ATCT. Aircraft are directed to the active runway and provided initial departure instructions. As the aircraft departs, control is transferred to the TRACON. The TRACON manages the aircraft until it leaves the terminal area, which is the specific altitude or geographical boundary of the TRACON facility. Once the aircraft is beyond the terminal area, control transfers to an ARTCC. An arriving aircraft uses these same air traffic facilities, but in the reverse order (ARTCC to TRACON to ATCT).

C.2.2 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS

Air traffic controllers efficiently manage aircraft to ensure the safe and orderly flow of aircraft to and from airports. They issue control instructions, establish appropriate aircraft sequencing, and closely monitor the air traffic flow to ensure a safe distance between each aircraft while minimizing delay. Additionally, air traffic controllers keep pilots informed of changing weather conditions that may impact the safety of flight, the availability of airspace, and the direction of traffic flows (take-off and landing) at the airport.

The complexity of the air traffic controller’s task is directly related to the number of aircraft simultaneously flying in an ATC sector, the geometry of flight routes,



weather, and terrain. Increases in air traffic volume combined with complex route geometry will lead to increases in the demand placed upon controllers. Once the human performance limits of an air traffic controller are reached, the air traffic controller responds by limiting the number of aircraft actively flying in the sector. The controller limits activity by increasing the minimum distance (or time) separation between aircraft entering the sector on some or all routes in that sector. When a controller increases the separation distance required between planes along a route, that route’s capacity is reduced. Reducing capacity along highly utilized routes may increase delays for aircraft using the route.

C.2.3 MDW AIRSPACE

Airspace is divided into two broad categories: controlled and uncontrolled. Controlled airspace is divided into five classes, A, B, C, D, and E. (Uncontrolled airspace is designated Class G.) Table C-1 identifies the airspace classifications and terminology. Aircraft operating in controlled airspace are subject to varying ATC and communications requirements, depending on the airspace class. When operating in controlled airspace, aircraft are monitored by, and generally must be in communication with the appropriate ATC facility. Figure C-1, MDW Airspace Structure, shows the Class C airspace structure around MDW.

CHICAGOFAR PA

Landrum April 2013

Source: C

MDW –

O MIDWAY RT 150 NO

& Brown 3

Chicago Secti

– Chicago Midw

INTERNATIOISE COMPA

M

onal Chart, 2

way Internation

IONAL AIRPATIBILITY S

FigMDW AIRS

2012

nal Airport

MDW

PORT STUDY UPDA

gure C-1: SPACE STRU

W

DATE

App

UCTURE

pendix C – Ai

D

irspace ProcePag

RAFT

edures ge C-7



Table C-1 AIRSPACE CLASSIFICATIONS Chicago Midway International Airport

AIRSPACE CLASS DESCRIPTION

A Class A encompasses the en route, high-altitude environment used by aircraft to transit from one area of the country to another. All aircraft in Class A must operate under IFR. Class A airspace exists within the United States from 18,000 feet MSL to and including 60,000 feet MSL.

B

All aircraft, both IFR and VFR, in Class B airspace are subject to positive control from ATC. Class B airspace exists at 29 high-density airports in the United States as a means of managing air traffic activity around the airport. It is designed to regulate the flow of air traffic above, around, and below the arrival and departure routes used by air carrier aircraft at major airports. Class B airspace generally includes all airspace from an airport’s established elevation up to 10,000 feet MSL, and, at varying altitudes, out to a distance of about 30 nautical miles from the center of the airport. Aircraft operating in Class B airspace must have specific radio and navigation equipment, including an altitude encoding transponder, and must obtain ATC clearance.

C

Class C airspace is defined around airports with airport traffic control towers and radar approach control. It normally has two concentric circular areas with a diameter of 10 and 20 nautical miles. Variations in the shape are often made to accommodate other airports or terrain. The top of Class C airspace is normally set at 4,000 feet AGL. The FAA had established Class C airspace at 120 airports around the country. Aircraft operating in Class C airspace must have specific radio and navigation equipment, including an altitude encoding transponder, and must obtain ATC clearance. VFR aircraft are only separated from IFR aircraft in Class C airspace (i.e., ATC does not separate VFR aircraft from other VFR aircraft, as this is the respective pilot’s responsibility).

D

Class D airspace is under the jurisdiction of a local Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). The purpose of an ATCT is to sequence arriving and departing aircraft and direct aircraft on the ground; the purpose of Class D airspace is to provide airspace within which the ATCT can manage aircraft in and around the immediate vicinity of an airport. Aircraft operating within this area are required to maintain radio communication with the ATCT. No separation services are provided to VFR aircraft. The configuration of each Class D airspace area is unique. Class D airspace is normally a circular area with a radius of five miles around the primary airport. This controlled airspace extends upward from the surface to about 2,500 feet AGL. When instrument approaches are used at an airport, the airspace is normally designed to encompass these procedures.

E

Class E airspace is a general category of controlled that is intended to provide air traffic service and adequate separation for IFR aircraft from other aircraft. Although Class E is controlled airspace, VFR aircraft are not required to maintain contact with ATC, but are only permitted to operate in VMC. In the eastern United States, Class E airspace generally exists from 700/1200 feet AGL to the bottom of Class A airspace at 18,000 feet MSL. It generally fills in the gaps between Class B, C, and D airspace at altitudes below 18,000 feet MSL. Federal Airways, including Victor Airways, below 18,000 feet MSL are classified as Class E airspace.

F Not Applicable within United States

G

Airspace not designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E is considered uncontrolled, Class G, airspace. ATC does not have the authority or responsibility to manage of air traffic within this airspace. In the Eastern U.S., Class G airspace lies between the surface and 700/1200 feet AGL.

Source: Airman’s Information Manual, 2012.



C.2.4 MDW ATC PROCEDURES

At Midway Airport, the MDW FAA ATCT controller issues one of the noise abatement procedures, as appropriate, before takeoff. Aircraft are then turned toward the appropriate departure fixes as soon as possible after the aircraft reaches the required climb altitudes for noise abatement. Figure C-2, MDW Noise Abatement Procedures, on the following page from the September 2012 Illinois Airport Facility Directory, shows the noise abatement procedures in place at MDW. In general, the only exceptions would be in the case of potentially conflicting traffic in the airspace. Actual flight tracks vary depending upon aircraft weight, type, velocity, wind speed and direction, and pilot performance. Once aircraft have departed, control of aircraft is transferred from MDW ATC to the Chicago TRACON and then to Chicago ARTCC as needed.

Instrument approaches use both radio navigational aids and lighting systems to provide guidance to pilots in making landings during periods of reduced visibility. Precision instrument approaches, including Instrument Landing Systems (ILSs), provide a localizer for runway alignment and a glide slope for descent guidance. Nonprecision approaches provide only runway alignment. In addition, a Precision Runway Monitoring system is available at Midway Airport on Runways 4R/22L and 13C/31C which allows for simultaneous approaches to close parallel runways under reduced visibility conditions. The navigational ratings for each runway are as follows:

Runway 4R – Category I ILS (CAT I) Runway 13C– Category I ILS (CAT I) Runway 31C – Category I ILS (CAT I) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (STARs) and Standard Departure Procedures (SIDs) are procedures that are made available to pilots in order to reduce the amount of communication between the pilots and the ATCT. At Midway Airport, there are three published STARs (FISSK ONE, GOSHEN FIVE, and MOTIF FOUR,) and two published SIDs (CICERO FIVE and MIDWAY EIGHT).

C.2.5 NEIGHBORING AIRPORTS

Exhibit C-2, Neighboring Airports also shows all public use airports in the vicinity of Midway Airport. Arrival and departure operations at these airports may require coordination with the MDW FAA ATCT and C90 TRACON1 depending upon the category of airspace through which an aircraft is passing through.

1 FAA C90 TRACON is the Terminal Radar Approach Control facility for Chicago Midway International

Airport.

CHICAGOFAR PA

Landrum April 2013

Source: NDirectory,

O MIDWAY RT 150 NO

& Brown 3

ational Aeron, East Centra

INTERNATIOISE COMPA

MDW

nautical Charal U.S., 10 JA

IONAL AIRPATIBILITY S

FigNOISE ABA

rting Office, FN 2013, digit

PORT STUDY UPDA

gure C-2: ATEMENT P

FAA, Departmtal A/FD (d-A

DATE

App

PROCEDUR

ment of TransA/FD), 10 JAN

pendix C – Ai

RES

portation, AirN to 07 MAR 2

D

irspace ProcePage

rport/Facility 2013.

RAFT

edures e C-10

Cook

Will

DuPage

Kane

Kendall

LakeMcHenry

Lake

Midway

International

AirportCity of ChicagoRahm EmanuelMayor

Department of AviationRosemarie S. Andolino

Commissioner

Exhibit:

C-20 25,000

Feet

Date: February 5, 2013File: Neighboring_Airports.mxd

Legend

Texas

Montana

Utah

Idaho

California

Oregon

Nevada

Arizona

Iowa

Wyoming

ColoradoKansas

Minnesota

New Mexico

Ohio

Nebraska

Illinois

Missouri

Washington North Dakota

WisconsinSouth Dakota

Maine

Georgia

Oklahoma

New YorkMichigan

Arkansas

Kentucky

Tennessee

Pennsylvania

Florida

Alabama

Virginia

Indiana

LouisianaMississippi

North Carolina

Michigan

South Carolina

West Virginia

Vermont

Maryland

New Jersey

New Hampshire

MassachusettsConnecticut

Delaware

Elgin

Schaumburg

Palatine

ArlingtonHeights

MountProspect

Des PlainesSkokie

Evanston

OakPark

Berwyn

Cicero

Chicago

DownersGrove

Wheaton

OakLawn

Naperville

Bolingbrook

Aurora

Joliet

OrlandPark

Hammond Gary

88

90

290

355 88

290

90

94

94294

355

55

55

80

5794

9480

90

65

294

294

90

ILLINOIS

31ILLINOIS

25

ILLINOIS

64

ILLINOIS

38

ILLINOIS

59ILLINOIS

1920

ILLINOIS

58ILLINOIS

72

ILLINOIS

72

ILLINOIS

68

ILLINOIS

8312

14ILLINOIS

31

34

30

ILLINOIS

59

ILLINOIS

53

12ILLINOIS

83

ILLINOIS

50ILLINOIS

43

ILLINOIS

43ILLINOIS

21

ILLINOIS

171ILLINOIS

64

ILLINOIS

19

14

ILLINOIS

50

ILLINOIS

62

41

41

12

45

ILLINOIS

171

ILLINOIS

76

ILLINOIS

1

6

ILLINOIS

8341

34

LakeMichigan

Chicago O’HareInternational Airport

Chicago MidwayInternational Airport

Gary ChicagoInternational Airport

ILLINOIS

53

Source: ESRI Data & Maps, 2012.

Cities with Population over 50,000

Airport Boundaries

Interstates

Major Roads

County Boundaries

Neighboring Airports

14 CFR Part 150 StudyDRAFT

SchaumburgRegional Airport

DuPage Airport

ChicagoExecutive Airport

Bolingbrook ClowInternational Airport

Naper AeroClub Airport

Lewis UniversityAirport Lansing

Municipal Airport

appendix c airspace procedures - airport sites · landrum & brown appendix c – airspace...

Documents