PHX Mid Position

[DairyCreamer]

Hey all,

Anyone know what local position (North or South Side) PHX tower combines up to at night for the mid shift?

The TRACON too maybe?

~Nate

[LHP50]

Nate,
At about 0500z (2200 lcl) Phoenix Tower combines to Local South on 120.9   The controller will typically transmit on 118.7 simultaneously, but almost all aircraft will be on 120.9.

The TRACON is trickier.  Since we moved into the new building, located at the base of the new tower, it is possible to combine to any position.  What normally happens around 0500z is that positions are combined to one departure and one arrival sector. 

The departure sector will have aircraft on both 126.8 and 119.2.  This controller will also transmit on and monitor the following satellite frequencies: 120.7, 123.7 and 124.9.  Another frequency, 127.45, is used to communicate with aircraft on the ground at SDL after SDL Tower closes at 0400z.  The transmitter and receiver for 127.45 is located at SDL but is used by PHX TRACON.

The arrival controller will be transmitting on 128.65, 124.1, 126.6, and 120.4.  The aircraft coming from ZAB will be on either 128.65 or 124.1.  A good technique from a controller's point of view is to have ZAB issue the same frequency for all aircraft, but which frequency will vary from night to night.  Between 0500-0530z this position can get interesting if it is combined.  If the controller on 128.65/124.1 is instructing aircraft to contact 126.6 or 120.4 it means a Finals sector is still open.

Usually, shortly after 0600z, all TRACON positions are combined.  It is most common to use a departure freq (126.8) for the majority of traffic although aircraft may call on any of the others listed.  A controller will transmit on many freqs at once, if you don't hear the reply from aircraft then they are on one of the others I listed.

LH, P50

[LHP50]

Nate, if there is anything else you want to know about Phoenix Approach, I know it.  I can email airspace maps, procedures, everything.

LH, P50

[adl320]

LH P50

I'm new here and also will be new to the PHX area. I'm relocating from the Baltimore, Maryland area. I am a PPL also and would certainly be interested in any airspace maps, procedures so that I can get a jump on airspace ops. This will help greatly when listing to PHX on Liveatc. Any help would be appreciated I can provide my email via PM.

Aaron

[NL_SPS_twr]

adl320

Here's a good link to get info on most airports and their procedures. www.airnav.com/airport/KPHX
LH can undoubtedly provide more information than that but hope it helps, dont know how up to date they keep their information.

NL

[DairyCreamer]

Oh my... I forgot to turn on auto-notify of reply... forgot I posted this!!

LH, THANK YOU.  That's awesome information.  Which STARS tags do the local positions use at PHX?  I'm an en-route guy, and not too familiar with STARS and what it can do.

Thanks so much!

~Nate

[LHP50]

Local North uses "E" or "J", Local South uses "T" or "Z".  Each local has two symbols to facilitate moving from one side of the tower cab to the other in accordance with traffic flow, East or West.  After moving into the new cab (huge/beautiful) they determined it was more practical to stay located at the same workstation regardless of traffic flow.  The symbols are interchangeable with STARS so they haven't really settled on which they will use.

[DairyCreamer]

Awesome stuff, lemmie tell ya.

For the VFR corridors, what is the phraseology used, and what altitudes are typically assigned?

How are VFR departures from PHX handled?

Go PHX!

~Nate

[LHP50]

Nate, "Callsign, cleared through Bravo airspace via the East transition, maintain VFR at three thousand five hundred".  The transition is either "East" or "West" dependant of traffic flow at Sky Harbor.  When aircraft are landing to the West, (RWYs 26 and 25L) the East transition is used, landing to towards the East, the "West transition is used.  This keeps the aircraft over the approach ends of the runways where arrivals are below them and departures have not yet climbed into them.  Southbound altitudes are 3500 and 5000, Northbound is 4000 and 4500.