Sabiha Gokcen Airport
Sabiha Gokcen Airport (IATA:SAW, ICAO: LTFJ) is the 3rd busiest airport in Turkiye just behind Antalya Airport and 3rd busiest airport in the world that only have single runway. Located in east of Istanbul, the airport is the 23rd in the busiest airport in Europe as per 2022 statistics of EuroControl. The airport has only 1 runway in operation however another one is being built at the moment. Sabiha Gokcen Airport known is used as base for Pegasus Airlines and AnadoluJet.
Sceneries
Payware
There are multiple payware options depending on the simulator for Sabiha Gokcen Airport. You can find more information from the table below.Pay
| Simulator | Developer | Publisher | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSX/P3D | SceneryTR | SimMarket | Simmarket |
Freeware
There are also freeware options available for Sabiha Gokcen Airport. However there is significant difference in quality.
| Simulator | Developer | Publisher | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | Hayri Büberci, Mali Öğüdücü | Turkish Virtual | Turkish Virtual |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator X | Murat Koncavar | Sanal Pilot | Sanal Pilot |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 | Murat Koncavar | Sanal Pilot | Sanal Pilot |
| X-Plane 11 | Hayri Buberci | Turkish Virtual | Turkish Virtua |
| X-Plane 10 | Hayri Buberci | Turkish Virtual | Turkish Virtua |
Arrival Procedures
Introduction
Sabiha Gokcen Airport is located within Yesilkoy TMA (Terminal Manoeuvring Area). Yesilkoy TMA covers Istanbul Airport (LTFM), Sabiha Gokcen Airport (LTFJ), Ataturk Airport (LTBA), Samandira Airbase (LTBX), Corlu Ataturk Airport (LTBU), Hezarfen Municipal Airport (LTBW), Cengiz Topel Airport (LTBQ), Bursa Yunuseli Airport (LTBE) and Bursa Yenisehir Airport (LTBQ).
Sabiha Gokcen Airpor utilizes RNAV in all of its procedures. In addition, P-RNAV (Precision-Area Navigation, RNP1) capability is required. If unable, pilots must inform the controller so that aircraft can be given radar vectors to final. Arrival into Sabiha Gokcen Airport might seem complicated to some pilots however it is actually very simple. STARs utilize PMS (Point Merge System) for efficient airspace control, separation, and to control traffic flow within Yesilkoy TMA. All STARs utilize idle descent philosophy until PMS entry. These point merge systems act as an arc of a circle and ease air traffic control.
Important things to keep in mind:
- Vacating aircraft has priority at the intersection of the parallel taxiway. Which means, if you are vacating a RWY using rapid exit, the traffic on D should stop for you.
- After the runway is vacated, do not report vacated to TWR* and DO NOT STOP on rapid-exit taxiways.
*unless LVP is in progress. Check next section for more details.
Low Visibility Procedure
When LVP are in progress, every traffic must report "Vacated" to the TWR, as verbal confirmation from the traffic is mandatory and for the TWR to know the runway is available for the next traffic.
STARs
The Stars at Gokcen are unlike LTFM, less complex but very useful. There are no IAF's at LTFJ. Pilot needs to follow the STAR and execute assigned ILS procedure at ASDEV (RWY 06) or BEMKA (RWY 24).
| Active Runway Configuration | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Configuration (RWY 06) uses the following STAR identifiers.
*Alternative: Only used/issued by ATC. | ||||||
South Configuration (RWY 24) uses the following STAR identifiers.
*Alternative: Only used/issued by ATC. |
As Sabiha Gokcen Airport utilizes multiple configurations depending on traffic, weather, congestion, NOTAMs etc. You might be cleared to a different STAR compared to another traffic that is flying exactly the same route as you. Default designators for northern config (RWY 06) is 1G and default designator for southern configuration (RWY 24) is 1H. The procedures and STARs for Sabiha Gokcen Airport were built to utilize Yesilkoy TMA most efficiently with the Istanbul Airport (LTFM) STARs.
