Walkthrough Tutorial: IFR Hobart to Launceston

Procedural Towers are found around the country where traffic levels warrant a full approach service, but not the cost of installing a radar and consoles. Many of these locations will have limited radar or other surveillance coverage and the tower will be equipped with a situational awareness tool that displays aircraft within coverage.

We will demonstrate a flight between Hobart and Launceston to illustrate the phraseology and reporting requirements when under the control of a procedural tower. We will be operating VH-ZFR, a Beechcraft King Air 350, from Hobart to Launceston via H111 at FL120.

First, we must obtain the current ATIS...

[ATIS: YMHB]
HOBART TERMINAL INFORMATION BRAVO
EXP ILS APCH
RWY: 30 FOR ARR AND DEP. 
WND: 300/15 
QNH: 1019. 
TMP: 11. 
CLD: BKN 2500. 
VIS: GREATER THAN 10 KM. 
ON FIRST CONTACT WITH HOBART NOTIFY RECEIPT OF BRAVO.  

 

We can now contact Hobart Ground [HB_GND] on 121.700

[PILOT] Hobart Ground, Zulu Foxtrot Romeo for Launceston, 3 POB [persons on board], received Bravo, request clearance and taxi

[HB_GND] ZFR, cleared to Launceston, direct, maintain FL120, squawk 2415

[PILOT] Cleared to Launceston, direct, maintain FL120, squawk 2415, ZFR

[HB_GND] ZFR, taxi to holding point Delta, Runway 30, time check 57 and a half [57 minutes 30 seconds past the hour]

[PILOT] Taxi to holding point Delta, Runway 30, ZFR

 

As we approach the holding point, we can change to Hobart Tower [HB_TWR] without being prompted on 118.100.

[PILOT] Hobart Tower, ZFR, ready

[HB_TWR] ZFR, make left turn, cleared for take-off

[PILOT] Make left turn, cleared for take-off, ZFR

Note: After take-off, you should intercept the H111 airway within 5 NM.

 

We must also make a departure report to Tower with our estimate for the next position.

[PILOT] ZFR tracking 335 from Hobart, climbing to FL120

[HB_TWR] ZFR, report climb speed

[PILOT] 140 knots, ZFR

[HB_TWR] ZFR, due to preceding traffic on the same route, reduce speed to not above 120 knots on the climb, advise if unable

[PILOT] Reduce to not above 120 knots on the climb, ZFR

Note: For a Class D procedural tower, we must make a departure report with our tracking information (must confirm the track established with reference to appropriate navigation aid) and last assigned altitude.

Note: We now reduce our speed to 120 knots until we reach cruising level. We may be asked to report passing a certain level or ATC may be able to monitor our climb on their situational awareness tool.

 

Passing 4000 feet, we are instructed to contact the next controller...

[HB_TWR] ZFR, contact Melbourne Centre on 123.8.

[PILOT] 123.8, ZFR

We now contact Melbourne Centre [ML_CTR] on 123.800

[PILOT] Melbourne Centre, ZFR passing 4300 for FL120

[ML_CTR] ZFR, identified 28 miles north of Hobart

 

A short while later...

[ML_CTR] ZFR, when ready, descend to one zero thousand, Launceston QNH 1015

[PILOT] Descend to 10000 feet, QNH 1015, ZFR

[ML_CTR] ZFR, identification terminated, contact Launceston Tower on 118.7

[PILOT] 118.7, ZFR

 

We can now switch to Launceston Tower on 118.700

[PILOT] Launceston Tower, ZFR, descending through FL112 for 10000 feet, 32 DME, estimating Launceston at time 23

[LT_TWR] ZFR, Launceston Tower, descend to 8000, runway 32L

[PILOT] Descend to 8000, runway 32L, request ILS approach, ZFR

[LT_TWR] ZFR, report at 20 DME, expect ILS approach

[LT_TWR] ZFR, descend to 3000 not below the DME steps

[PILOT] Descend to 3000, not below the DME steps.

Note: We can now descend to 3000, but we must not descend below the lowest safe altitudes on the DME/GPS Arrival chart. For our routing, we follow the steps for Sector D.

 

Once we are 20DME...

[PILOT] ZFR is at 20 DME

[LT_TWR]: ZFR, Track direct to Launceston Sierra India (MLTSI), intercept the localizer, maintain 3000 until established, cleared ILS Runway 32L approach

[PILOT] Direct to Launceston Sierra India (MLTSI), intercept the localizer, maintain 3000 until established, cleared ILS Runway 32L approach, ZFR

 

As we are tracking down the glideslope...

[LT_TWR] ZFR, cleared to land

[PILOT] Cleared to land, ZFR

 

Shortly after landing...

[LT_TWR] ZFR, taxi to the GA Apron

[PILOT] Taxi to the GA Apron, ZFR