This document establishes and provides the standard operating procedures for the MSY TRACON and ATCT.
This document is considered a supplement to any VATSIM, Executive Committee, VATNA, VATUSA, and vZHU policies, procedures, and controlled documentation.

Audience

All vZHU Controllers and Visitors

Distribution

This document is authorized for unrestricted public release.

Effective

This policy is effective immediately and cancels any previous revisions. This document cancels the New Orleans Terminal Radar Approach Control Standard Operating Procedures Rev 2 dated December 7, 2011.

Cancellation

This policy is effective until superseded by a newer revision or May 28, 2021.

Acronyms

2.1. New Orleans International Airport (KMSY)

2.2. ARTCC Air Route Traffic Control Center

2.3. ATCT Airport Traffic Control Tower

2.4. TRACON Terminal Radar Control Facility

2.5. SOP Standard Operating Procedures

2.6. VATNA North American region of VATSIM

2.7. VATUSA USA Division of VATNA

TRACON

Frequency and Position List

VATSIM CALLSIGN Radio Callsign Position Frequency

MSY_W_APP New Orleans Approach West Radar 125.500 (*)

MSY_N_APP New Orleans Approach North Approach 133.150

MSY_S_APP New Orleans Approach South Radar 123.850

MSY_H_APP New Orleans Approach Houma-Patterson 124.300

MSY_W_APP is to be the first approach control position and the combined sector.
If only a single approach is expected to be on, the W/N/S/H designation may be dropped.
Houma-Patterson is not simulated in normal operations. It is authorized for events, with the airspace delegation to be determined by the Events Coordinator or Controller in Charge, or as otherwise authorized by the Air Traffic Manager.

Procedures

General

Approach Control must provide separation between departing aircraft and between departures, overflights, and all arriving aircraft.
When approach control STARS is operational, the computer generated beacon code must be assigned to all transponder equipped aircraft that are arriving, departing, or overflying Approach Control Airspace.
Departures requesting an altitude above 15,000 shall be delivered to Houston Center cleared to 15,000 and handed off as soon as practical.
Departure will deliver aircraft to Center direct to the first fix or a heading to intercept that fix if it is outside TRACON boundary.

IFR Arrival Control

The TCP for all aircraft must be the fifty (50) NM arc of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Approach Control has control at the TCP for descent and turns up to 30 degrees. When exercising control, Approach Control is responsible for required coordination with any sector/facility affected
Center must ensure that aircraft arriving MSY, NEW, and NBG proceed via the routes depicted in RADAR ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES. Aircraft arriving all other airports within Approach Control airspace must be routed direct to destination airport, except aircraft arriving from the Offshore Central and Offshore East Sectors.

IFR Departure Control

Departure will deliver aircraft to Center direct to the first fix or a heading to intercept that fix if it is outside TRACON boundary.
Center has control for turns on departures at or above 10,000 provided aircraft exit through assigned departure gates.
Approach Control may assign parallel headings to TICKS and PCU departures providing the aircraft are established on the proper side of the gate based on the aircraft destination.
Altitude Assignments must be as follows:
1. Approach Control airspace 15,000 feet and below: 15,000 feet or the requested altitude, whichever is lower.
2. Houma-Patterson Radar control airspace 10,000 feet and below: 10,000 feet or the requested altitude, whichever is lower.
3. Northbound HDC departures that file into the Picayune (27) (PCU)-LO sector: 4,000 feet or the requested altitude, whichever is lower. Picayune (PCU)-LO sector has control to climb these aircraft.
4. Departures that are cleared below their requested altitude must be advised to expect requested altitude ten (10) minutes after departure.
Aircraft of similar types and / or speeds on the same route must be placed in trail by Approach Control.
Aircraft landing NEW from the north must be cleared via the HRV R-358 as depicted in NEW ARRIVALS.
1. Altitude Assignments
  1. Turbojets landing NEW must cross fifty (50) NM north of HRV VORTAC (HRV358050) at 10,000 feet.
  2. Non-turbojets landing NEW must cross fifty (50) NM north of HRV VORTAC (HRV358050) at 5,000 feet or 6,000 feet.

Coordination and Transfer of Control for Aircraft Inbound to MSY ATCT

MSY Approach controller should initiate a radar handoff to MSY Tower no later than 8 NM from the runway threshold.

Upon MSY ATCT's acceptance of the Radar Handoff, MSY Approach should transfer communications no later than 5 NM from runway Threshold.

TRACON Coordination and Transfer of Control to Satellite Tower Controlled Facilities

Forward the following information to the Satellite ATCT Local controller in enough time as to permit the adjustment of traffic flow.

1. Aircraft identification.

2. Type aircraft if required for separation purposes.

3. Type of instrument approach procedure and/or runway if different from that in use. (Utilizing the scratchpad function on VRC/vSTARS/vERAM satisifies this requirement.)

The above steps may be omitted when the MSY TRACON Controller flashes an inbound aircraft to the Satellite Local Controller and the Satellite Local Controller "accepts" the flash. Please note, this is NOT a RADAR Handoff. Tower accepting the flash means that you have two-way verification that the Local controller is paying attention, knows all the information, and can accept the arrival.

Aircraft communications should be transferred no later than the FAF fix for an aircraft on an instrument approach.

Aircraft communications should be transferred not later than 8 NM from the airport center for an aircraft on a visual approach.

Practice Approaches

MSY TRACON is responsible for issuing climb out instructions to aircraft executing an intentional missed approach at KMSY, KNEW, KNBG, and KHUM. MSY TRACON must advise tower when non-standard climb out instructions are issued.

KMSY Practice Approach

Runway Instructions

ALL RWYS RH CM 3K

KNEW Practice Approach

Runway Instructions

18R RT 310 CM 2K

36L RH CM 2K

KNBG Practice Approach

Runway Instructions

4 RH CM 2K

14 RH CM 2K

22 RH CM 2K

32 RH CM 2K

KHUM Practice Approach

Runway Instructions

12 RH CM 2K

18 RH CM 2K

30 RH CM 2K

36 RH CM 2K

VFR Procedures

VFR aircraft shall not be unnecessarily restricted.
VFR aircraft should be transferred to local control no earlier than 10nm, no later than 5nm, with the airport in sight.
SVFR is not authorized in the Class B. SVFR aircraft outside the Class Bravo will be handed off as soon as practical but prior to 5nm from Local Airspace.
VFR aircraft at or below 4,500ft shall be transferred to local control for transition of the midfield VFR corridor (See VFR BRAVO TRANSITION.) The aircraft should be transferred at least 3 miles from the entry point. Transfer of control can be waived with prior coordination with local control.
VFR aircraft at or above 5,000ft shall be MSY TRACON's control for the Class B Transition.

AIRSPACE

TRACON AIRSPACE

NORTH NEW ARRIVAL ROUTING

DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL GATES

Option 1

Departing Runway 2 or 11

Option 2

Departing Runway 20 or 29

Option 3

Departing Runway 29 and 11*

**CONFIG 5 is used exclusively as a WR traffic load management offload tool**

(RYTHM arrivals are handed off to NR instead of WR)

Vector Maps

These maps are intended to be used as a reference by controllers in order to have a more clear idea of how the airspace is utilized for various airport configurations and a shared approach to how to operate the airspace during regular operations in a consistent manner.