CRISTIANO RONALDO MADEIRA INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT BRIEFING

EDITED BY

ANDRÉ ALMEIDA

BERNARDO REIS

DECEMBER 2019

Briefing Package FNC - LPMA18-12-2019

GENERAL INFORMATIONLocal Time: UTC // DST UTC+1

OPERATIONAL INFORMATION

AERODROME CATEGORY

• LPMA is a Category C aerodrome.

DISPATCH

• The usual alternate aerodrome is LPPS. Other alternate possibilities are the Canaries andLisbon;

• During high traffic periods delays are to be expected, and additional holding fuel shall betaken accordingly. Shortage of fuel does not grant priority into Funchal.

CREW THREAT INFORMATION

• Unexpected wind variations, turbulence, updrafts, downdrafts and low altitude windshearshall be anticipated when operating to LPMA. These weather phenomena can also occurwith relatively calm wind speeds;

• To prevent undesirable EGPWS warnings for runway 05, it is highly recommended thatthe aircraft initiates the base turn NOT EARLIER than D6.0 FUN. Flight crews are alsostrongly recommended to perform a continuous turning base in order to allow a smoothtransition to final;

• Runway lacks stopways or overrun areas.

TERRAIN AND ENVIRONMENT

• The Island is mountainous, with the highest peak of 5965ft within 8NM NW of theaerodrome. The ground rises rapidly immediately to the NW of the runway and finalapproach paths. The high ground reaches over 2,500ft within 3NM;

• High ground and obstacles result in a curved approach path to runway 05 and an offsetfinal approach to runway 23. The landscape can create turbulence and windshear close tothe aerodrome.

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WEATHER

• The main weather phenomena at Madeira are “wind variations”, “turbulence” and“windshear”;

• With N-NW winds, the aerodrome will be on the downwind side (lee side) of high terrainwhich may generate downdraft and turbulence on final and short final for runway 05;

• Other weather phenomena are updrafts and/or heavy “wing rock” on short final and flareto runway 23. This is caused by the slipstream behavior caused by the wind when itreaches the runway. This phenomenon is most prone to occur when the wind comes fromthe S-SE sector;

• Weather fronts normally produce poor visibility and low cloud ceilings and will bepersistent until the front clears the aerodrome. This may also affect LPPS;

• Most of the annual rainfall occurs from OCT to MAR averaging 3 inches per month.

ATC

• The aerodrome is located inside class C airspace controlled by Madeira ATC based at FNC,with radar coverage provided by a radar site on the island of Porto Santo;

• Delays may be expected due to conflicting paths / missed approach procedures withdeparture procedures;

• Due to runway layout, all departing aircraft require backtrack on the runway which mayaffect ATC capacity;

• Separation between arriving aircraft is based on time. Usually, ATC uses 7 to 8 minutesdepending on winds. One aircraft may be cleared to backtrack / line up on runway 05while another starts the VOR 05 approach. Departing aircraft will be cleared for take-offonce the arriving aircraft is established on downwind and passes abeam the threshold ofrunway 23;

• For runway 23, increased separation will be used (around 10 NM) to accommodatedeparting aircraft due to backtrack;

• Pilots shall be aware that Tower may or may not use the words “the winds are out oflimits”, and will not prevent the aircraft to land.

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Briefing Package FNC - LPMA18-12-2019

FREQUENCIES

Callsign Radio Name FrequencyLPPC_CTR Lisboa Control 125.550

LPPC_W_CTR Lisboa Control 131.325LPMA_APP Madeira Approach 119.600LPMA_TWR Funchal Tower 118.350LPMA_ATIS N/A 130.500

HOLDINGS

Waypoint Entry course Turn direction Leg lengthABUSU 211º Right 4 nmFUSUL 351º Left 5nmLIDRO 234º Right 11nmGOSGA 360º Right 11nmELBIM 141º Left 11nmNARTA 232º Right 15nm

DESCENT AND ARRIVAL

APPROACH AND LANDING

• All landings shall only be performed in VIS conditions with a minimum VIS of 5km(runway 05) and 7km (runway 23);

• There are several types of approach at Funchal, VOR DME being the default one.Occasionally, pilots acknowledge the VOR DME approach and end up flying the RNP.Make sure you do fly the VOR DME approach when cleared for it, as different approachesrequire different separations;

• When circling to runway 05, the turn on to final should not be started beforeD6.0FUN and the turn should be performed on a continuous curve to pass overheadGELO, avoiding the need of a wings level base leg type track (perpendicular to the Island).Do not allow the trajectory to pass NW of GELO;

GO AROUND

• In case the flight crews lose contact with the runway environment while following theVisual Approach Chart or in case of improper ground track / flight parameters:

ä Runway 05 – On downwind, make a left climbing turn. After base turn initiation,make right climbing turn.

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Briefing Package FNC - LPMA18-12-2019

ä Runway 23 – Make a left climbing turn.

• In case of Balked landing or prolonged flare:

ä Runway 05 – At 300ft QNH turn right heading 090º and then join the missedapproach procedure.

ä Runway 23 – At 300ft QNH turn left heading 180º and then join the missed approachprocedure.

COMMENCEMENT AND CONTINUATION OF APCH (APCH BAN POINTS)

• Rwy 05 - 1000ft AAL;Rwy 23 - FAF (FUN 7.0);

• At LPMA, flight crew decision to start/continue the approach shall always consider theCeiling and Visibility. Wind limitations shall not be considered for this purpose.

DIVERSION

• Flight crews shall be aware that LPPS has few parking positions. This should be taken inconsideration in case of high traffic loads.

GROUNDS OPS

• Plan to vacate on taxiway B (if conditions permit) after landing on runway 05. If landingon runway 23, plan to vacate on taxiway C. If not able to vacate on these taxiways, use oneof the turning pads to perform the 180 degree turn.

DEPARTURE

• Intersection take-offs are not permitted;

• ATC expects aircraft to be ready for departure upon reaching departing runway;

• After take-off, an early turn is required and this should be initiated at a minimum of 300ftQNH using a maximum 15º bank angle;

• Departures have an initial climb of FL060, the exception being NIDUL3N and NIDUL3Swith an initial climb of FL100. These initial climbs may not be stated in the departureclearance, however pilots are expected to comply with them;

• After take-off pilots are to contact the next controller (by order of preference: LPMA_APP,LPPC_W_CTR, LPPC_CTR).

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AERODROME PICTURES

General view

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Final runway 05

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Final runway 23

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