VATSIM CALLSIGN Radio Callsign Position Frequency

HOU_DEL HOBBY DELIVERY DELIVERY 125.45

HOU_GND HOBBY GROUND GROUND 121.90

HOU_TWR HOBBY TOWER TOWER 118.70

During the hours of 0700-2200 LCL, the East/West Flow configuration should not be used unless runway changes or special circumstances dictate. 

Aircraft on non-standard headings shall have the heading put in the scratchpad after the release is accepted by TRACON.

1. Initial IFR altitudes are 5,000’ MSL for any aircraft with a filed cruise at or above 5,000’ MSL.  Expect final in 10 minutes.  Aircraft with a lower filed cruise will be given their cruise immediately.

2. Jet aircraft landing at I90 Core airports must be assigned 3,000 ft. 

3. All aircraft landing CLLT, BPTT and LCH terminal areas must be amended to 9,000 ft or below. 

4. Propeller driven aircraft must be given 3,000 ft and expect filed/requested altitude 10 minutes after departure. 

5. Aircraft routed via FREEP/AGGIT Gate or V13/VCT requesting 10,000 ft or below must be assigned 3,000 ft initially.

6. Clearance must assign requested altitude to all VFR departures below 3,000 feet MSL. 

7. Clearance must assign traffic pattern altitude as the initial altitude  to all VFR departures requesting cruise altitudes above 3,000 feet MSL.

8. HOU ATCT  must formulate and issue departure clearances using generated flight plan information.

9. HOU ATCT must route departure aircraft via the appropriate SID or ADR .

HOU Ground Must:

1. Ensure every aircraft has the current ATIS information.

2. Taxi aircraft to the runway advertised on the ATIS. 

   1. If taxiing to non-advertised runway, coordinate with Local. 

HOU Local Must:

1. HOU Local must ensure data block acquisition by I90 prior to communications change. This can be done in two ways:

   1. Ensure I90 has acquired track by HOU Tower Boundary. Preferably by < 3 miles from departure end of runway.  Or 

   2. Identify departures, ensure accurate data block acquisition, and transfer radar identification through STARS/VRC intelligence or manually handoff a non-tagged target to the appropriate controller prior to the aircraft entering the departure corridor and prior to communications transfer. 

2. Provide 5 NM departure spacing between like-type aircraft routed via the same departure route.

3. Retain control of departures until standard radar separation exists. Ensure that no parallel departures occur out the same departure route. 

4. Ensure that like-type aircraft are assigned initial departure headings that do not require actual or projected flight paths to cross to intercept flight plan routes. 

5. Advise the appropriate departure controller when applying pilot to pilot visual separation, prior to communications transfer.

6. When utilizing course divergence, ensure the succeeding aircraft has tagged, prior to transferring communications of the first aircraft to I90. 

7. Provide approved separation between all arrivals/departures, planned/unplanned missed approaches, and potential pullouts within HOU airspace. 

8. HOU must retain control of VFR aircraft at or below 1,200 feet MSL and terminate radar service when clear of Class B airspace except for VFR helicopters in Delegated Airspace as depicted.

9. VFR departures may be assigned an initial altitude greater than pattern altitude prior to release with TRACON coordination.  

1. HOU Tower may assign a visual approach and/or change the landing runway assignments, provided HOU Tower ensures separation with all successive arrivals. 

HOU must: 

1. 1. Accept the Radar Handoff from the Final TRACON Controller.

   2. Ensure appropriate separation on the final approach courses from the final approach fix.

   3. Provide visual separation between arrival aircraft from the final approach fix to the threshold. 

   4. Determine whether use of the "quick look" function is satisfactory. If so, quick look the final controller(s) and use automated functions for silent handoffs or separation of aircraft. 

1. HOU Local must coordinate a release and departure heading for aircraft landing George Bush (IAH) and assign 3,000 feet MSL. 

2. Releases are automatic if assigned headings are in accordance with the "DEPARTURE HEADINGS" drop down menu unless otherwise dictated by TRACON / Center as appropriate. 

3. Rolling calls are required unless otherwise coordinated with TRACON / Center as appropriate.

Definitions and Abbreviations

V - Visual Approach with preceding aircraft in sight.

T - VOR/DME RNAV Approach

I - ILS Approach

G - GLS Approach

P - RNP Approach

C - Contact Approach

A - Assigned Runway

R - Requested Runway

S - RNAV Approach

W - Radar separated Visual Approach with airport in sight. 

Runway Identifiers. 

4 = Runway 4 

2 = Runway 22 

3L = Runway 13L 

3R = Runway 13R 

1R = Runway 31R

1L = Runway 31L

(a) North Gate 

(2 Sub Gates). 

- Gomer Gate (BLTWY, WYLSN, STYCK, LOA, CRIED, GIFFA). 

- Cleep Gate (INDIE, STRYA, LURIC, LFK, ELD, AEX). 

(b) East Gate (MMUGS, GUMBY, LCH. ELOCO) 

(c) South Gate (FLYZA, RITAA, PSX, NGP, HOODO). 

- FLYZA restrictions will include all MUSYL, ANKRR, and KELPP traffic. 

- The RITAA/PSX departures will be called “Freep”. 

- The RITAA/NGP departures will be called “Aggit. 

- When HOU arrives Runway 22, the I90 CIC must specify whether or not to include the Freep and Aggit traffic in a South or West restriction. 

(d) West Gate (BNDTO, PITZZ, IDU, JCT). 

(1) Stop Departures Call: applies to any aircraft leaving HOU airspace receiving radar services. 

(a) I90 must specify which departure gate or route is affected. Example: “Stop West Departures”. 

(b) When stopping all departures, I90 must state “Stop All Departures”. 

(c) For the purposes of a stop, the East and South gates shall be considered the same gate in all configurations. 

(d) When FREEP and AGGIT traffic are being vectored west, they must be included in a stop to the west. 

(e) Any aircraft on the active runway that has already been cleared for takeoff, prior to the stop, regardless of forward movement will be permitted to takeoff, however if an aircraft is cleared for takeoff prior to the runway hold short bars “Clear of the runway,” the takeoff clearance must be canceled. 

(2) Single Stream (S/S): This indicates that all departures traveling through a specified tower gate are put on one heading with the required minimum separation or miles in trail if assigned. 

Example: An ELD and a LFK would be required to be on the same heading with at least 3 miles in trail, more if specified. 

(3) Treat As One: This indicates that certain specified departures will be treated as the same route with a minimum of 5 miles in trail, or more if assigned. 

Example: If a MMUGS (LCH Transition) and MMUGS (GUSTI Transition) are “as one” the departures are required to have a minimum of 5 miles in trail but a MMUGS (LCH Transition) and MMUGS (LLA Transition) will only require 3. 

(4) Per Route: This indicates that each route out a specified gate is in trail of the same route with the assigned miles in trail. 

Example: A MMUGS (LCH Transition) and MMUGS (LCH Transition) would require more than the minimum separation (the requirement will be noted) but a MMUGS (LCH Transition) and MMUGS (GUSTI Transition) will only require 3 miles in trail. 

(5) Miles in Trail will be depicted as MIT. 

(6) Minutes in Trail will be depicted as MINIT.