Airports/final/AS/JPN/ROAH_readme.md

DUE TO NATURE OF TRAFFIC AT THE ROAH AERODROME, THIS AIRPORT FILE HAS QUIRKS RELATED TO MILITARY AIRCRAFT TO/FROM ROAH.

ROAH ACA 1.0.0

This is an implementation of the Naha ACA (Approach Control Area) for Endless ATC featuring ROAH Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan, as well as RODN Kadena Air Base and ROTM MCAS Futenma. The airspace ceiling is FL200.

Based on AIP Japan (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) (https://aisjapan.mlit.go.jp/html/AIP/html/DomesticAIP.do). The choice of SIDs and STARs may not be 100% accurate to real life but should be reasonably accurate reflecting daytime IMC conditions. All aircraft are assumed to be RNAV capable; no conventional NAVAID-based SIDs or STARs are implemented unless there is no RNAV alternative. Coastline data from naturalearthdata.com.

The Naha ACA is a mostly circular terminal area typical for an island airport. There is a heavy military presence, and military training areas are scattered around the main island as well between the airways that extend out from the Naha NHC VORTAC. Approach and departure paths cross over/under each other just north of Naha, and there are many potential conflict points to the east of Okinawa as well. The majority of traffic enters the ACA from the northeast from mainland Japan and southwest from the other Ryukyu islands such as Miyakojima and Ishigaki.

STARs are implemented as approach transitions. To activate an approach, an aircraft must be flying direct to an applicable fix, then the APP button can be activated. Multiple approaches may be available from a fix, to the same airport or even different airports. Pressing the APP button again before issuing the approach clearance (do not long press) will select the next approach available from that fix. If the aircraft is already on an approach from that fix, you will need to cancel the approach clearance first before issuing another approach clearance.

ROKR Kerama, RORA Aguni, RORE Iejima, and RODE Ie Shima Auxiliary are not represented due to a lack of traffic to/from outside of the ACA. However, the runways of the former three airports are shown on the map.

Airports

ROAH Naha

The main airport of this sector. Jointly used by civilian and JSDF traffic, this airport on the southern tip of Okinawa Island has added a new parallel runway in the sea to the west in response to increased traffic including the increases in scrambles of fighter jets. Unlike Chitose in Hokkaido, civilian and military traffic use the same runways, meaning passengers onboard airliners are able to see fighters taking off with afterburners from their window seat.

As a controller, the mix of aircraft may be more exciting than the normal airport, but will need attention when the F16 zooming along catches up to the AT46... STARs are available, however in real life vectors are used heavily.

SOME MILITARY AIRCRAFT (F16, T4, P3, E2) ARE DEPICTED AS AIRCRAFT LANDING AT "JF" AERODROME FOR TECHNICAL REASONS. THESE AIRCRAFT SHOULD LAND AT ROAH.

There is custom traffic for ROAH. The proportions are very much estimates but shouldn't be too far off from reality.

Major fixes on the map have a defined hold including many fixes along the STARs. The published hold for missed approaches is OLVAL.

Aircraft arrive at 3 points:

• PRIUS -Y525-> IHEYA (north/north east from mainland Japan/Korea)
• GEMNI -Y57-> VELNO (southwest from western Ryukyu Islands/Taiwan)
• BUICK -V75-> NANJO (east from Daito Islands/Pacific Ocean)

Aircraft depart via:

• CHAMP (north via Y579 to Korea)
• AMAMI (north/northeast via Y574/Y53/Y25 etc. northeast for mainland Japan)
• BUICK (east via V75 for Daito Islands/Pacific Ocean)
• GANJU or CANOP depending on runway (southwest for western Ryukyu Islands/Taiwan)

There are two runways:

• 18L/36R
• 18R/36L (new west parallel runway)

Two landing configurations are in general use:

• Landing 36L, departing 36R

  The west runway is used for arrivals while the east runway is used for departures. In real life, traffic may land 36R for a shorter taxi if traffic allows.

  Approaches to 36L are available from BLISS.

  STARs are available using APP mode from IHEYA, VELNO, BUICK, and some intermediate points on the STARs. Military aircraft may only engage app mode from certain outer fixes due to technical reasons; recommend vectors to final if not suitable STAR available.

  Use caution for departures towards KIZNA conflicting with 05 arrivals to RODN. Vectoring may be required to the west at altitude 1200 to clear RODN 05 arrivals descending through 2200 at JIMMY.

  Simultaneous approaches to 36L and 36R are NOT authorized.

• Landing 18R, departing 18L

  The west runway is used for arrivals while the east runway is used for departures. In real life, traffic may land 18L for a shorter taxi if traffic allows.

  Approaches to 18R are available from SALSA.

  STARs are available using APP mode from IHEYA, VELNO, BUICK, and some intermediate points on the STARs. Military aircraft may only engage app mode from certain outer fixes due to technical reasons, except for from VIGER. FOR JF AIRCRAFT, TO INITIATE AN APPROACH FROM VIGER, USE THE SECOND APPROACH BY SELECTING "APP" TWICE. THE ASSIGNED APPROACH SHOULD BE TO RWY 18LJF VIA 15 DME ARC CCW. JF aircraft will go around if the runway selected is 18L. Recommend vectors to final if not suitable STAR available.

  Use caution for arrivals conflicting with 05 arrivals to RODN. RODN arrivals may need to held over JACKS for a gap in ROAH arrivals.

  Simultaneous approaches to 18L and 18R are NOT authorized.

RODN Kadena Air Base

This is the USAF's home in Okinawa. A variety of aircraft, military or chartered civilian, fly in and out of this aerodrome going to training areas or other USAF bases in Japan/Guam/USA.

There is custom traffic for RODN. The proportions and callsigns are very much plain guesses however, no assertions are made regarding accuracy (instead, assertions are made regarding its inaccuracy.)

Major fixes on the map have a defined hold.

Aircraft depart to ATS routes via BASHO BUICK DODGE or ONC, or to the North Range and South Range. There are real life SIDs but they are all just two points in a (mostly) straight line after departure to a waypoint not connected to the ATS routes. Therefore no SIDs are implemented, just a heading after departure. Departures should be vectored until direct to exit point can be issued.

There are two runways:

• 05L/23R
• 05R/23L

There are two simple runway configurations:

• Landing 05L, departing 05R

  The north runway is mainly used for arrivals and the south runway is mainly used for departures.

  Approaches to 05L are available from JACKS etc.

  No STARs are available, arrivals should be vectored to JACKS or other fixes on the approach.

  Use caution for ROAH arrivals to 18s or departures from 36s. Arrivals must descend through 2200 at JIMMY to remain on GS. Recommend vectors for ROAH 36 departures to maintain separation. Recommend holding RODN arrivals at JACKS until gap can be made in ROAH 18 arrivals.

  The published hold for missed approaches is straight ahead to IMONO.

• Landing 23R, departing 23L

  The north runway is mainly used for arrivals and the south runway is mainly used for departures.

  Approaches to 05L are available from JACKS etc.

  No STARs are available, arrivals should be vectored to IMONO or other fixes on the approach.

  Use caution for ROAH arrivals to 18s or departures from 36s. Departures must climb to at least 2200 to clear.

  The published hold for missed approaches is straight ahead to JACKS.

ROTM MCAS Futenma

A USN airfield south of Kadena. Most traffic would be helicopters to training areas around Okinawa, but there is some fixed wing traffic to other US military facilities.

There is custom traffic for ROTM. The proportions and callsigns are very much plain guesses however, no assertions are made regarding accuracy (instead, assertions are made regarding its inaccuracy.)

Aircraft depart to ATS routes via BASHO BUICK DODGE or ONC. No SIDs are implemented, just a heading after departure. Departures should be vectored until direct to exit point can be issued.

There is one runway:

• 06/24

There are two simple runway configurations:

• Landing and departing 06

  No approach fixes are available, and no STARs are available, arrivals should be vectored to final.

  Use caution for ROAH traffic under the approach path and parallel RODN arrivals to the north.

• Landing and departing 24

  No approach fixes are available, and no STARs are available, arrivals should be vectored to final.

  Use caution for ROAH traffic under the departure path and parallel RODN arrivals to the north.

ROKJ Kumejima

A runway with a small apron on this island west of Okinawa. The only scheduled service is to ROAH Naha, and a seasonal service to RJTT Tokyo Haneda.

There is custom traffic for ROKJ. Unfortunately, traffic to ROAH cannot be simulated due to the game not supporting this. Only the seasonal traffic to/from the northeast is simulated.

Aircraft depart and arrive via the NHC - LAVON - GURUX - DORIS corridor.

There is one runway:

• 03/21

Only one runway configuration is implemented:

• Landing and departing 03

  Approaches are available from DUFFY and DORIS.

  The published hold for missed approaches is a left turn to DORIS.

Known Issues

• Have different types of traffic use different entry/exit gateways are not possible in this game, therefore aircraft using civil and military routes are separated by duplicating ROAH, which means there are two runways each of 18L/36R and 18R/36L. As the game will allow you to select approaches meant for a different airport if they share a starting fix with an approach for the airport the selected aircraft is landing at, this can lead to military aircraft flying the "civilian" approach and going around due to trying to land at the "wrong" airport. To avoid this issue, civil and military aircraft landing ROAH do not have approaches that share fixes except at VIGER for 36L (which have a different track and are more easily differentiable).
• Many areas have their ceiling marked as "0" as they are likely not active for all of their hours of operation and interfere with standard flight paths, or because they are shared with traffic to different airports (which is not supported by the game)
• No ROAH-ROKJ traffic

Disclaimer

This is a best effort work based on air traffic observations and official aeronautical publications. No guarantee is made that the representation of Naha ACA matches real life procedures in any way. Especially, procedures around RODN Kadena and ROTM Futenma may be grossly inaccurate, and callsigns for military aircraft are very likely to be either incorrect, out of date, or completely fabricated. Any information (that is not classified or secret in any way) regarding inaccuracies is appreciated.

For Developers

This file is built from source\ROAH.txt via deploy.py. Make any contributions to source\ROAH.txt and NOT to .\ROAH.txt.

Changelog

• 1.0 - 2021/01/31 - Initial version.