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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 VHZFR, a Beechcraft King Air 350, from Hobart to Launceston via W295 at FL120.
VHZFR [on 121.7]: Hobart Ground, Zulu Foxtrot Romeo for Launceston, 3 POB [persons on board], received Bravo, request clearance and taxi
Hobart Surface Movement Control: ZFR, cleared to Launceston, direct, maintain FL120, squawk 2415
ZFR: Cleared to Launceston, direct, maintain FL120, squawk 2415, ZFR
HB SMC: ZFR, taxi to holding point Delta, Runway 30, time check 57 and a half [57 minutes 30 seconds past the hour]
ZFR: Taxi to holding point Delta, Runway 30, ZFR
As we approach the holding point, we can change to the Tower frequency without being prompted.
ZFR [on 118.1]: Hobart Tower, ZFR, ready
HB Tower: ZFR, make left turn, cleared for take-off
ZFR: Make left turn, cleared for take-off, ZFR
After take-off, you should turn right to intercept the W295 airway within 5 NM. We must also make a departure report to Tower with our estimate for the next position.
ZFR: ZFR tracking 335 from Hobart, climbing to FL120
HB TWR: ZFR, report climb speed
ZFR: 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
ZFR: Reduce to not above 120 knots on the climb, ZFR
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 8000 feet, we are instructed to contact the next controller:
HB TWR: ZFR, contact Melbourne Centre on 123.8.
ZFR: 123.8, ZFR
ZFR [on 123.8]: Melbourne Centre, ZFR passing 8300 for FL120
Melbourne Centre: ZFR, identified 28 miles north of Hobart
A short while later...
ML CEN: ZFR, when ready, descend to one zero thousand, Launceston QNH 1015
ZFR: Descend to 10000 feet, QNH 1015, ZFR
ML CEN: ZFR, identification terminated, contact Launceston Tower on 118.7
ZFR: 118.7, ZFR
ZFR [on 118.7]: Launceston Tower, ZFR, descending through FL112 for 10000 feet, 32 DME, estimating Launceston at time 23
Launceston Tower: ZFR, Launceston Tower, descend to 8000, runway 32L
ZFR: 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
ZFR: Descend to 3000, not below the DME steps.
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.
ZFR: ZFR is at 20 DME
LT TWR: ZFR, track direct to Nile NDB, intercept the localizer, maintain 3000 until Nile, cleared ILS Runway 32L approach
ZFR: Track direct to Nile, intercept the localizer, maintain 3000 until Nile, cleared ILS Runway 32L approach, ZFR
As we are tracking down the glideslope...
LT TWR: ZFR, cleared to land
ZFR: Cleared to land, ZFR
LT TWR: ZFR, taxi to the GA Apron
ZFR: Taxi to the GA Apron, ZFR