Heathrow (EGLL) Pilot Guide¶

All UK airports in general, but especially Heathrow, Manchester, and Gatwick have very high traffic levels on VATSIM. We appreciate you visiting this page to ensure you are prepared for your flight.

General information¶

Charts¶

If you don't have a payware chart subscription, you can access free charts from ChartFox using your VATSIM login.

Scenery¶

There are multiple up-to-date Heathrow freeware and payware sceneries available.

Simulator	Payware	Freeware
MSFS	iniBuilds 2024 - iniBuilds 2020	-
X-Plane 11/12	Origami - TAIMODELS	default

Controller Positions¶

RT Callsign	Logon	Frequency
Heathrow Departure ATIS	EGLL_D_ATIS	121.935
Heathrow Arrival ATIS	EGLL_A_ATIS	128.080
Heathrow Delivery	EGLL_DEL	121.980
Heathrow Planner	EGLL_P_GND	124.480
Heathrow Ground	EGLL_1_GND	121.905
Heathrow Ground	EGLL_2_GND	121.705
Heathrow Ground	EGLL_3_GND	121.855
Heathrow Tower	EGLL_N_TWR	118.705
Heathrow Tower	EGLL_S_TWR	118.505
Heathrow Director	EGLL_F_APP	120.400
Heathrow Director	EGLL_S_APP	134.980
Heathrow Director	EGLL_N_APP	119.730

General Advice¶

If you are told to contact a new controller "callsign only", then your initial call should include just that!

If you are requested to 'monitor' a frequency, switch to the assigned frequency as soon as practical and do not say anything. The controller will call you up when needed. This may take some time - be patient, comply only with your previously assigned instruction and wait.

Departure¶

Stand selection¶

Please select a stand that is appropriate for the size of your aircraft.

Clearance¶

Departure clearance is obtained from Heathrow Delivery EGLL_DEL, or in its absence by the position providing top-down coverage.

At Heathrow, PDC is the preferred method of obtaining clearance. If you are not using the Hoppie's ACARS network, you may be sent a PDC to your pilot client via text. You should NOT read this back on frequency!

If requesting clearance via voice, report:

• Aircraft type
• Stand number
• ATIS
• QNH

All SIDs at Heathrow are runway dependant, thus the runway in use will not be included in the departure clearance. You should check the ATIS for the runway in use and check that you have planned the correct SID before calling for clearance.

You can find the runway alternation schedule here. On westerly operations the runways switch at 1500L.

Due to interactions with arrivals the CPT 5J departure is not flown.

Pilots should still file via CPT, but should expect after departure instructions as follows

Please make sure you understand the clearance and how to fly it before leaving stand.

Pushback¶

Tug release points do not exist at Heathrow. Most pushback instructions will contain a direction (typically north or south to face the departure runway), and optionally a taxiway to push onto.

Be prepared to comply with non-standard pushback instructions:

Aircraft may be instructed to make a long pushback finishing abeam (next to) a stand or clear of a link.

Taxi out¶

Heathrow makes extensive use of named holds near the runway holding areas. You can expect to be routed to one of these before being handed off to the tower. Ground will hand you over to the tower controller before you reach these holds. You must change frequency to the tower as soon as ground instructs you to. Do not go past the assigned hold until given clearance onwards.

Between the named taxiways Heathrow uses numbered links. Controllers will use these to keep traffic moving, so please make sure you take the correct link when instructed.

Heathrow also makes use of the "Follow the Greens" system. This is dependant on controller, weather, and time of day and may not always be available. You can read more about it at the bottom of this guide.

Take-off¶

Pay close attention to the holding point you were assigned by ground. These allow the tower controller to create the most efficient departure sequence. Don't just follow the aircraft in front of you as they may be on a different route! You must stop at the named hold assigned by ground until given further clearance.

The area around the runway holds can get extremely busy as the tower controller sequences departures. Pay attention to the links and final holding point you are assigned.

Switch to the Tower frequency as soon as instructed, do NOT wait until reaching the taxi clearance limit. You may be told to contact Tower with your "callsign only" or to simply "monitor" the frequency - see the general advice section for what these mean.

If you need additional time at the hold, or on the runway for operational reasons, tell the tower controller as soon as possible. Don't wait until you've been cleared to line up or take off, as that will be too late.

To keep traffic moving, expect the use of conditional line-up clearances. These will always be against the next aircraft to use the runway. Once the aircraft has passed in front of you, begin your line-up. The aircraft does not need to have touched down. If instructed to line up behind a departing aircraft, you do not need to wait for them to begin their takeoff roll to cross the stop bar.

To make the most of the available runway capacity, Heathrow controllers expect you to begin moving as soon as you receive takeoff clearance. This may occur very soon after the previous aircraft has rotated.

Tower controllers may also keep you on their frequency while waiting for the required separation from other departing aircraft to be achieved. You should not remind them of this, unless you think you are going to level off at 6,000ft.

There is no need to report your passing level to the tower controller. They will transfer you to the next frequency once the required criteria have been met.

SID¶

On your first contact with London Control report:

• Callsign

• SID Designator

• Current altitude

• Cleared altitude

For CPT easterly SIDs, your first airborne controller will be Heathrow Director. You should report your heading rather than SID, although tower will remind you.

It is very likely you will be vectored off the SID during the initial stages of your flight. Follow each instruction promptly and be ready to rejoin your filed route when directed by ATC.

Arrival¶

STAR¶

Altitude constraints noted on the charts are for reference only. Actual descent will be as directed by ATC. You can expect clearances to be level at or abeam a certain fix. Make sure you are able to comply with this in your aircraft, and advise if unable.

If further clearance has not been received when reaching the clearance limit, aircraft shall enter the published hold procedure as shown on the STAR charts.

Holding Fix	Inbound Course	Turn Direction	Leg Length	Speed
BNN	115	R	1 min	Max 220 kts
LAM	262°	L	1 min	Max 220 kts
BIG	301°	R	1 min	Max 220 kts
OCK	327°	R	1 min	Max 220 kts

You will typically be given a heading to fly after the terminal hold fix if there is no delay or it is your turn to leave the hold.

You must wait until you have passed overhead before turing.

All planes will be vectored onto the ILS by default. If you require a different approach type inform Heathrow Director EGLL_S/N_APP at the earliest suitable opportunity, ideally on initial contact.

Pilots should plan the following speeds unless otherwise instructed. Keep in mind that ATC instructions always take precedence.

• Below FL100 - 250 KIAS

• When instructed to fly a heading - 220 KIAS

• Base - 180 KIAS

• Established on final - 160 KIAS until 4nm

On first descent to an altitude intermediate Heathrow Director EGLL_S/N_APP will inform you of an estimated track mileage from your current position to touchdown. If online, this will also be updated by the final Heathrow Director EGLL_F_APP on initial contact, and in both cases does NOT need to be read back. You should use this to calculate and fly a Continuous Descent Approach.

On transfer from the intermediate Heathrow Director to the final Heathrow Director report ONLY your callsign to them, unless otherwise instructed by the previous controller.

To help with traffic it you may be vectored to land on the non duty runway. You will be told about as you leave the stack, and as such it may be useful to prepare using the secondary flight planning function.

Landing¶

Check in with Heathrow Tower EGLL_N/S_TWR with your callsign ONLY, unless otherwise instructed by the previous controller.

It is normal not to receive landing clearance by the approach minimums. If a landing clearance has not yet been received, you may continue the approach until the numbers before initiating a go-around.

Due to high traffic volume it is imperative you vacate the runway as quickly as possible to avoid go-arounds. Plan to use the first available Rapid Exit Taxiway capable for your aircraft type.

A380 runway exits

A380 runway exits¶

27L27R09L

North Side:

• N5W, N6, N7, N8, N10, N11

South Side:

• S6

A10E, A11, A12, A13

A6, A5, A4, A3, A2, A1

Once on the exit taxiway keep rolling and take the first right or left in the direction of your stand, then stop before the next intersection. Do not stop on the exit taxiway.

Taxi in¶

Follow the Greens¶

Follow the Greens is a real world procedure that is used at Heathrow during LVOs (Low Visibility Operations) and from Dusk till Dawn. This replaces the standard taxi instruction to just the phrase “Follow the greens” along with a clearance limit. The BARS plugin for XPlane and MSFS replicates this into the simulator for use on VATSIM.

General Information about the Plugin¶

The plugin indicates to Heathrow controllers which pilots have the BARS plugin active and does not require the pilot to tell the controller.

The plugin is not required to be used by VATSIM controllers and is up to their discretion whether to use it or not. During busy periods where there is only 1 GND controller, it can increase workload and they may opt to not use the plugin.

Real world operates FTG exclusively during Low Visibility Operations and from Sunset to Sunrise.

Vatsim UK does not maintain the plugin and any bugs should be reported to the BARS team

Taxi Usage¶

You do not need to ask the controller to give you Follow the Greens, if being used, they will give it to you.

All instructions will include a clearance limit, whether that be a Holding Point, stand number, or short of a taxiway.