PDX Local

P80 delegates to PDX airspace at and below 3,000 feet within a five NM radius of the PDX ATCT.

PDX has two tower positions: Local Control 1 and 2 (LC1 and LC2). They are usually combined into one position.

Local Control 1

• Responsible for arrivals and departures on RWYs 10R/28L, 3/21.

• Assign aircraft departing RWY 28L headings from River Heading (280) counterclockwise through 130.

  • Coordinate all RNAV DPs and other headings with LC1.

• Assign aircraft departing RWY 10R headings from 110 clockwise through 240.

  • Coordinate all RNAV DPs and other headings with LC1.

Local Control 2

• Responsible for arrivals and departures on Runways 10L/28R.

• Assume responsibility for Pearson Advisory when LC1 is open.

• Assign aircraft departing RWY 28R headings from 310 clockwise through 050.

  • Coordinate all RNAV DPs and other headings with LC2.

• Assign aircraft departing RWY 10L headings from River Heading (080) counterclockwise through 310.

  • Coordinate all RNAV DPs and other headings with LC2.

RIVER HEADING – a departure heading to emulate the RNAV SID routing:

• RWY 28L/28R: Heading 280

• RWY 10L/10R: Heading 080

There are also two different categories of aircraft that you should be familiar with from the S1 training:

• NOISE SENSITIVE AIRCRAFT – Turboprops and props with a maximum takeoff weight greater than 12,500 pounds, excluding Beechcraft King Airs.

• NON-NOISE SENSITIVE AIRCRAFT – Turboprops and props with a maximum takeoff weight less than 12,500 pounds, including Beechcraft King Airs.

Runway Configuration

Summer winds at PDX generally favor West Flow. Winter winds generally favor East Flow. If a tailwind component >5kts exists, consider switching flow. If a crosswind component >25kts exists, consider using South Flow. Use the TAF to support your decision.

Coordinate all changes with P80. Do not release departures from a new active runway until authorized by P80.

Reference: 7110.65 3-5

Departure Instructions

All aircraft are automatically released for departure unless P80 coordinates otherwise.

P80 may want to turn slower aircraft away from the departure corridor to prevent conflicts with faster departures behind them. PDX releases control for turns to P80, provided turns are made in a direction away from the River departure corridor (i.e. not across the parallel runway) for:

• For IFR non-noise sensitive aircraft leaving 2,000 ft.

• For VFR and VFR-ON-TOP aircraft.

Arrivals

If you need to switch the aircraft to another runway:

CHANGE TO RUNWAY (number, RUNWAY (number) CLEARED TO LAND.

Note: PDX/P80 must advise the other facility when changing runway assignments within 10 flying miles of the runway. Verbally coordinate with FINAL (approach) when issuing control instructions that affect the sequence or separation established by FINAL.

P80 will add “NIS” (Not In Sight) in the secondary scratch pad of the trailing aircraft when conducting visual approaches if less than standard separation may occur and pilot applied visual separation is not being applied.

P80 should transfer communication for arrivals at the PDX airspace boundary. PDX assumes separation responsibility inside the boundary.

P80 should add the approach the aircraft is flying to the scratchpad to clarify which runway the aircraft is on approach for.

Go-Arounds

When able, issue aircraft performing a go-around the published missed approach (PMA).

If unable to issue the PMA, aircraft landing Runway 10/28 should be assigned the river heading and 3,000 ft.

PDX must coordinate go-arounds and unplanned missed approaches with the appropriate P80 sector.

• Aircraft assigned the north runway must be coordinated with NORTH.

• Aircraft assigned the south runway must be coordinated with HOOD.

Aircraft assigned Runway 21 must be issued the PMA and coordinated with HOOD.

ATIS

An ATIS should always be posted when PDX is staffed. You can use the real world ATIS as a guide, but don't copy anything that you don't intend to simulate.

When the reported ceiling is 3000ft or lower, do not advertise visual approaches.

Coordinate ATIS changes with P80.

Simultaneous Departures

Be careful when clearing departures from both runways simultaneously. At least one aircraft should be not an RNAV departure and be issued a heading that will diverge from the other departure. If both aircraft are RNAV departures, there must be be a delay between them, because they will follow the same path in the air along the river.