Table Of Contents
1 Clearance
2 Ground
3 Local

Clearance

  1. Frequency
    1. Helena Ground: 121.900
  2. Procedures
    1. When appropriate, inform pilots of the current ATIS information prior to contacting ground control.
  3. IFR Routing
    1. Initial Altitude: 9,000
    2. All Operations
      1. NW departures issue SIEBE or HLN SID.
      2. N to SW departures issue STAKK or HLN SID.
      3. All other directions issue HLN SID.
      4. Departure headings for radar vectors are not authorized, as departure control is a non-radar facility.
  4. Standard Departure Frequencies
    1. When appropriate, issue the following frequencies to IFR aircraft:
      • Helena Approach 119.5
    2. When appropriate, issue the following frequencies to VFR aircraft requiring radar services after departure:
      • Helena Approach 119.5
  5. VFR Routing
    1. Not Applicable.

Ground

  1. Frequency
    1. Helena Ground: 121.900
  2. Airspace
    1. Ground: All movement areas except active runways.
  3. Procedures
    1. Not applicable.
  4. Departures
    1. All aircraft requiring pushback onto the movement area will contact ground prior to pushback and start-up.
    2. All aircraft will contact ground with position and ATIS prior to being issued taxi instructions.
  5. Arrivals
    1. All aircraft will remain on ground frequency until off the movement area.

Local

  1. Frequency
    1. Helena Tower: 118.700.
  2. Airspace
    1. Local: Runway 9/27, 5/23, 17/35, 10/28 (Turf), and airspace as depicted on sector file.
  3. Procedures
    1. Runway operations
      1. Use runway 27 (West) during calm wind operations.
      2. Use runway 9 (East) when the tailwind component exceeds 5 knots.
    2. LAHSO
      1. Not authorized.
    3. Tower Use of Radar:
      1. None
  4. Departures
    1. Departure Notification / Releases
      1. A “Release Request” (.RR) is required to be sent to the appropriate Departure Controller for all departing aircraft in accordance with the General Control Directive.
  5. Arrivals
    1. IFR Arrivals
      1. N/A
    2. Missed Approach / Go Around
      1. Send A Missed Notification (.MA) for the aircraft executing an unplanned Missed Approach / Go Around to the appropriate TRACON sector that will be receiving the aircraft for re-sequencing.
      2. VFR aircraft, and/or IFR Category I / II aircraft conducting a Visual approach and executing a Go-Around must be instructed to remain in the local pattern, if capable of doing so.
      3. The following is considered Primary Climb-Out procedure and does not require any special coordination with Approach Control or Strip marking other than the basic Missed Notification. Aircraft must not turn prior to the departure end of the runway. Comm-Change to the appropriate departure sector must be completed no later than 1 mile off the departure end of the runway.
      4. Climb out procedure:
        • West Flow: Heading 270, Maintain 9,000.
        • East Flow: Heading 090, Maintain 9,000.
      5. VFR traffic join local pattern.
  6. VFR Operations
    1. VFR Departures
      1. Depart on-course.
      2. Handoff to departure control as soon as clear of any possible conflicts.
      • Helena Approach 119.5
    2. VFR Arrivals
      1. Direct to airport.
    3. VFR Flight Following
      1. Ensure all aircraft requiring flight following have the appropriate scratchpad entry prior to handoff to departure.