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Cairns TCU

Positions

Name ID Callsign Frequency Login ID
Cairns Approach 1 CS1 Cairns Approach 118.400 CS_APP
Cairns Approach 2 CS2 Cairns Approach 126.100 CS-W_APP
Cairns Flow CSF CS_FMP

Non-Standard Positions

Non-standard positions may only be used in accordance with VATPAC Air Traffic Services Policy.
Approval must be sought from the bolded parent position prior to opening a Non-Standard Position, unless NOTAMs indicate otherwise (eg, for events).

Airspace

The vertical limits of the CS TCU are SFC to F180.

Note

Due to terrain shielding, radar coverage may be limited below A025 southwest of the aerodrome.

CS ADC

CS ADC is responsible for the airspace within the CS CTR from SFC to A010.

Airspace Division

The divisions of the airspace between CS1 and CS2 change based on the runway mode. In either case, CS2 is responsible for the Class G airspace within the Cairns TMA.

Note

When both TCU positions are active, coordination requirements exist between CS1 and CS2 for aircraft transiting the boundary of CTA vertically or horizontally.

15 TCU Structure
15 TCU Structure

33 TCU Structure
33 TCU Structure

Departure/Arrival Procedures

Radar Departure Headings

There are no Standard Assignable Departure Headings at CS, and CS ADC will make a 'Next' call for each aircraft departing via the radar SID.

Due the high terrain to the west of the airport, aircraft departing via the CS (RADAR) SID should be issued an assigned heading within the ranges below.

Runway VMC below A030 Otherwise
15 350° to 030° 030°
33 330° to 070° 330°

Minimum IMC Levels

The lowest assignable levels in IMC for the following assigned headings are:

Runway Jet Non-Jet
15 A030 A020, between 350° to 030°
33 A040, between 330° to 009°. A030, all other headings A040, between 330° to 009°. A020, between 010° to 060°. A024, between 061° to 070°

Min IMC Levels

Minimum IMC Levels

Phraseology

UTY7242 is departing Runway 15 on the CS (RADAR) SID in VMC
CS ADC -> CS1: "Next, UTY7242, runway 15"
CS1 -> CS ADC: "UTY7424, runway 15, heading 350, unrestricted"
CS ADC -> CS1: "Heading 350, UTY7242"

Visual Approaches

When VMC exists below A030, aircraft of light & medium weight categories (B737/A320 and below) may be processed via a visual approach to either runway 15 or 33.

Creek Corridor

Aircraft for runway 15 will be cleared via the Victor STAR by enroute, which terminates on the Creek Corridor visual procedure (see YBCS DAP Noise Abatement Procedures chart). These aircraft should be cleared for a visual approach "via the Creek Corridor" and transferred to ADC prior to reaching the coastline.

Phraseology

RXA5474 is tracking via the NONUM Victor STAR for runway 15.
RXA5474: "RXA5474, visual"
CS TCU: "RXA5474, cleared visual approach tracking via the Creek Corridor"
RXA5474: "Cleared visual approach via the Creek Corridor, RXA5474"

Visual Base Runway 33

Aircraft for runway 33 may be cleared for a visual approach tracking via the STAR or localiser, or navigating visually through the valley to the south of the aerodrome.

Aircraft cleared via the KEEWI Victor STAR or otherwise approaching from the north shall be instructed to track for a visual right base and, once clear of departing traffic, assigned A020 visual. These aircraft will pass over the top of the CS CTR (owned by ADC), so further descent is not available. CS TCU must coordinate with ADC, then transfer them to ADC, who will issue visual approach clearance.

Phraseology

JCI is tracking inbound from the north at A050 and has reported visual.
CS1 -> CS ADC: "Via right base, JCI, will be assigned A020 visual"
CS ADC -> CS1: "A020 visual, JCI"

CS1: "JCI, track for a right base runway 33, descend to A020 visual"
JCI: "Track for right base runway 33, descend A020 visual, JCI"
CS1: "JCI, contact Cairns Tower on 124.9"
JCI: "124.9, JCI"

Flow

Local Knowledge

  • Aircraft can be assigned the Xray or Victor STAR to reduce track miles
  • Aircraft from the west/southwest can be assigned the TOTTY W STAR to reduce track miles
  • With RWY 33 in use, aircraft via NONUM may be recleared DCT TOTTY for the TOTTY W STAR or DCT VEKBI for the HENDO A STAR

Flow Tables

The tables below give an estimated time in minutes from the Feeder Fix to the Threshold.

STAR Jets & DH8D Non-Jets
CODIE A
ANDOP transition
AVDAN transition
LOCKA transition
OVLET transition
PUNIT transition
ZANEY transition
14
12
13
13
14
14
15
14
14
14
16
15
KASPI B/V
ANDOP transition
AVDAN transition
LOCKA transition
OVLET transition
PUNIT transition
ZANEY transition
15
13
12
14
15
12
17
15
14
15
17
14
NONUM A
Feeder Fix: NONUM
Feeder Fix: MUSEY
Feeder Fix: NORMA
9^
15
18
11^
17
20
NONUM V
Feeder Fix: NONUM
Feeder Fix: MUSEY
Feeder Fix: NORMA
12^
17
20
13^
19
23
NONUM W
Feeder Fix: NONUM
Feeder Fix: MUSEY
Feeder Fix: NORMA
9^
14
17
10^
16
19
UPOLO A
Feeder Fix: BARIA
16
18
UPOLO V
Feeder Fix: BARIA
15
17
UPOLO W
Feeder Fix: BARIA
15
17
STAR Jets & DH8D Non-Jets
HENDO A
ANDOP transition
BARIA transition
ISNER transition
NORMA transition
OVLET transition
PUNIT transition
VEKBI transition
21
12^
12
14
22
20
24
24
14^
14
15
25
23
27
KEEWI A
AVDAN transition
LOCKA transition
ZANEY transition
23
22
22
26
26
25
KEEWI V
AVDAN transition
LOCKA transition
OVLET transition
ZANEY transition
16
15
16
14
18
17
18
16
KEEWI X
AVDAN transition
LOCKA transition
OVLET transition
ZANEY transition
18
17
19
17
21
20
21
19
KEEWI Y
AVDAN transition
LOCKA transition
OVLET transition
22
22
21
25
25
24
TOTTY W
ANDOP transition
ISNER transition
NORMA transition
PUNIT transition
VEKBI transition
19
13
13
19
22
22
15
15
21
25

Corrections

Situation Correction
Assigned a reduced speed +1 min, except ^
Over 40kt of head/tailwind component +1 min for headwind
-1 min for tailwind

Assumptions

  • Nil wind
  • The feeder fix for all STARs is the assigned STAR transition waypoint (if applicable), otherwise:
    • The feeder fixes for the NONUM STAR are MUSEY and NORMA (depending on inbound airway)
    • The feeder fix for the UPOLO STAR is BARIA

Calculator

The following calculator will generate a landing time from a feeder fix ETA, or the reverse.

Coordination

Enroute

Departures

Voiceless for all aircraft:

  • Tracking via a Procedural SID terminus; and
  • Assigned the lower of F180 or the RFL

Note

Aircraft are not required to be tracking via the SID procedure, simply tracking via any of the terminus waypoints (regardless of departure airport or assigned SID) is sufficient to meet the criteria for voiceless coordination.

All other aircraft going to KEN(All) CTA must be Heads-up coordinated by CS TCU prior to the boundary.

Phraseology

CS2 -> KEN: "JST789, with your concurrence, will be assigned F160, for my separation with ANZ12"
KEN -> CS2: "JST789, concur F160"

Arrivals

Voiceless for all aircraft:

  • With ADES YBCS; and
  • Assigned a STAR; and
  • Assigned the Standard Assignable level of:
  • Radials 055° clockwise through to 355°: A070
  • Radials 355° clockwise to 055°: A090

All other aircraft coming from KEN(All) CTA will be Heads-up coordinated to CS TCU.

CS ADC

Airspace

CS ADC is responsible for the airspace within the CS CTR from SFC to A010.

Departures

Next coordination is not required for aircraft that are:

  • Departing from a runway nominated on the ATIS; and
  • Assigned the standard assignable level; and
  • Assigned a Procedural SID

All other aircraft require a 'Next' call to CS TCU.

The Standard Assignable level from CS ADC to CS TCU is:

Aircraft Level
All The lower of A060 and RFL
ACD to TCU

The controller assuming responsibility of CS ACD shall give heads-up coordination to the relevant CS TCU controller prior to the issue of the following clearances:

  • VFR departures entering CS TCU CTA
  • Aircraft using a runway not on the ATIS

Arrivals

Aircraft tracking via a visual right base to runway 33 must be coordinated with ADC (see Visual Base Runway 33). All other arriving aircraft do not require coordination.

CS TCU Internal

All aircraft transiting between internal CS TCU boundaries must be heads-up coordinated.

Phraseology

CS1 -> CS2: "via CS, ESQ"
CS2 -> CS1: "ESQ, A025"

Boundary coordination is not required between CS1 and CS2 for aircraft arriving or departing tracking via the 15/33 extended centreline.

Class G to CTA

Standard Radar to TCU coordination for each aircraft transiting between Class G and CTA (or vice versa).