Approach Surveillance Radar (ASR)
Last updated
Last updated
This site is for SIMULATION USE ONLY.
Akureyri is one of the very few civil airports that still offer a LOC/ASR approach. During a LOC/ASR approach, the localiser will orientate you towards the turn to final approach, after which the controller takes over to orientate you onto final and provides small heading adjustments over VHF radio. The pilot remains responsible for descending at the correct approach angle.
At Akureyri, this service is provided by Akureyri Tower (BIAR_TWR). This is the only time Akureyri Tower is permitted to use Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR).
Akureyri Tower only has access to PSR, which does not provide altitude information. Descending on the correct profile remains the pilot's responsibility.
SKN: Akyreyri Tower, SKN, 35 miles south-west of GILTU, FL160, request LOC/ASR approach runway 01.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, Akyreyri Tower, descend to 6,400ft, QNH 1028, squawk 1234. Expect LOC/ASR approach runway 01.
SKN: Descend 6,400ft, QNH 1028, squawk 1234, SKN.
On initial contact, provide your position, altitude, and intentions. Akureyri Tower will provide descent clearance, the airport's QNH, and likely a squawk. You may or may not be told to expect a specific approach.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, via GILTU, cleared LOC/ASR approach runway 01.
SKN: Via GILTU, cleared LOC/ASR approach runway 01, SKN.
Once you have gotten closer to GILTU, you will be cleared for the approach.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, this will be a surveillance radar approach for runway 01, terminating at 2 miles from touchdown. Obstacle clearance altitude is 640ft. Check your minima.
SKN: Minima checked, SKN.
Let's break down this part:
Terminating at 2 miles from touchdown means that Akureyri Tower's vectoring ends 2 miles before the runway's threshold. If you do not have a visual with the runway at this point, you should go around.
Obstacle clearance altitude is 640ft means the absolute minimum altitude you can descend to without having a visual with the runway is 640ft. If you are any lower, your aircraft may not have enough energy to avoid terrain in the event of a go around.
Check your minima is an instruction to check your approach charts for your minimums and the standard missed approach procedure, if you haven't already.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, commence descent at 17 DME to maintain a 3.5 degree glidepath.
SKN: Commence descent at 17 DME to maintain a 3.5 degree glidepath, SKN.
Your descent begins BEFORE Akureyri Tower gains radar contact, which is why you are told to descend at 17 DME instead of immediately. You must maintain a 3.5 degree descent.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, radar contact, 12 miles from touchdown, altitude should be 4,550ft.
SKN: SKN.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, winds calm, runway 01, cleared to land.
SKN: Cleared to land runway 01, SKN.
Radar contact means Akureyri Tower can now see the aircraft on PSR. You are cleared to land very early as there is a lot of radio traffic during an ASR approach.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, 9 miles from touchdown. Altitude should be 3,420ft.
SKN: SKN.
[...]
BIAR_TWR: SKN, 7 miles from touchdown. Altitude should be 2,660ft. Check gear down and locked.
SKN: Gear down and locked, SKN.
Periodically, Akureyri Tower will tell you what altitude you should expect to be at. If the altitude you are told is substantially different to the altitude provided by Akureyri Tower, something has gone wrong - if you are too high, descend quicker to remain on profile, however if you are too low, GO AROUND!
Before turning onto final approach, Akureyri Tower will tell you to ensure your landing gear is down.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, turn left heading 007 degrees, closing final approach, report visual.
SKN: Turn left heading 007 degrees, wilco, SKN.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, do not acknowledge further transmissions.
At 4.7 miles from touchdown, Akureyri Tower can begin to vector aircraft. You should expect an initial heading of 007 degrees. You may also be told to not acknowledge further transmissions unless asked to - this it to decrease crew workload.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, 4 miles from touchdown. Altitude should be 1,490ft.
The frequency of altitude suggestions increases to one every mile.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, slightly right of track, turn left by 2 degrees.
[...]
BIAR_TWR: SKN, closing slowly from the right, turn right by 2 degrees.
In this example, the aircraft has drifted slightly to the right of the approach path. Akureyri Tower issues a slight heading correction to bring the aircraft back on track.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, on track. 3 miles from touchdown. Altitude should be 1,120ft.
Another altitude suggestion is provided.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, 2 miles from touchdown. Altitude should be 750ft. Continue visually or go around. Acknowledge.
SKN: Visual runway 01, SKN.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, approach completed.
You must report when you have the runway in sight. If you do not, Akureyri Tower will eventually prompt you. You should have already been given landing clearance earlier in the approach so may now land.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, 2 miles from touchdown. Altitude should be 750ft. Continue visually or go around. Acknowledge.
SKN: Not visual, going around, SKN.
BIAR_TWR: SKN, GO AROUND IMMEDIATELY. Radar service terminated. Follow standard missed.
Follow the standard missed approach procedure, which is on the charts.
If you go around before reaching 4.7 DME (the point at which Akureyri Tower starts radar vectoring), you must still follow the standard missed approach. For most airliners with decent climb performence (or small aircraft travelling VERY slowly), you may be able to get away with using this simpler missed approach procedure:
IMMEDIATELY START CLIMB TO 6,000FT. CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE LOCALIZER (035°). UPON REACHING 4.7 DME, IMMEDIATELY TURN LEFT TO TRACK 001°. AFTER PASSING OE NDB (415), CONTINUE ON TRACK 355°.
The OE NDB is just outside the airfield's boundary on the climb-out path, just after you have overflown the airport.
