4. Departures
Chapter 4. Departures
Bahrain Approach (APP) is responsible for ensuring all aircraft departing the Bahrain Terminal Maneuvering Area (TMA) are safely separated vertically and/or laterally before being transferred to the next controller. All aircraft must be cleared onto their filed airway before being handed off to the next controller.
4.1 Initial Contact
Upon initial contact with a departing aircraft after being handed over from the TWR Controller, aircraft should report the following information.
- Callsign
- Heading
- Passing Altitude
If an aircraft does not report its passing altitude on initial contact it must be requested from the pilot in order to verify radar contact and cross-check that they are showing the correct altitude on radar. This can be within a 300FT +/- range of their reported passing altitude.
Approach Controller: "GFA505, Report passing altitude"
Once you have confirmed their passing altitude against the altitude showing on radar you can confirm the aircraft is identified on radar and proceed to clear them as necessary.
Approach Controller: "GFA505, Identified on departure, continue climb FL170, route direct MEDMA"
4.2 Climb Restrictions
Certain flights are subject to climb restrictions due to operational requirements. These restrictions must be upheld at all times.
| Exit Point | Maximum Authorised Climb from APP | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NARMI (OE**) | 12000FT | Capped to 6000FT if landing OEDF |
| LUBET (OTDF) | 11000FT | |
| SODAK (OBBB) | FL170 | |
| EGMOR (OBBB) | FL170 |
- Climbing aircraft via B457 TULUB from OBBI must cross TULUB at 11,000FT MSL or below.
- Climbing aircraft via B457 TULUB from OEDF must cross TULUB at FL150 or below. These aircraft are released to OTDF for further climb, provided they remain clear of other surrounding traffic.
The Approach Controller should climb aircraft as per the above table ensuring vertical and lateral separation is maintained between all aircraft operating within the Bahrain Terminal Maneuvering Area (TMA).
4.3 Transitioning Aircraft to the Airways
Due to the lack of Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) out of Bahrain, the Approach Controller must maintain a full understanding of the airspace structure that is within their area of responsibility.
The Controller must successfully transition and guide aircraft from the narrow confines of the Terminal Maneuvering Area (TMA) in a controlled and separated manner onto their filed flight plan route before being transferred to the next controller. Approach Controllers should always have a plan of action before aircraft come into their airspace and understand their sequence order at all times in order to avoid a loss of separation.
Aircraft will initially come to the Approach Controller on one of the initial headings assigned from the DLV Controller, the Approach Controller will either provide the aircraft with additional vectors towards the aircraft's planned airway or provide them with a direct to a fix to join the airway system into the en route environment.
Aircraft that are flying on an assigned heading vs aircraft that are flying on their filed routing are delivered instructions differently.
Example for giving a direct to an Aircraft Flying an Assigned Heading:
Approach Controller: "GFA071, track direct SODAK"
Example for giving a direct to an Aircraft Flying their filed routing:
Approach Controller: "GFA071, route direct SODAK"
4.4 Transfer of Control
Due to the location of Bahrain and direction of some flights not all aircraft will be transferred to the en-route controller as they will not enter their airspace. Some flights will be transferred to adjacent approach units or en-route positions.
The Approach Controller should be aware of which controller an aircraft needs to be transferred to based on the lateral and vertical limits of the airspace and the adjacent control unit.
| Radio Callsign | Logon Callsign | Abbreviation | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahrain Tower | OBBI_TWR | TWR | 118.500 |
| Dammam Approach | OEDF_L_APP | APP L | 126.100 |
| Dammam Approach | OEDF_APP | APP 1 | 126.300 |
| Doha Radar | DOH_R1_APP | RDR N | 121.100 |
| Bahrain Radar | OBBB_CL_CTR | ACC | 122.300 |
| Bahrain Radar | OBBB_1_CTR | ACC | 127.525 |
| Doha Control | OTDF_1_CTR | ACC N | 135.725 |
| Jeddah Control | OEJD_1_CTR | ACC 1 | 126.500 |