Ankara Esenboğa Airport

Ankara Esenboğa Airport (IATA: ESB, ICAO: LTAC) is the international airport of Ankara, which is the capital of Türkiye. Located in north of the capital, the airport is one of the oldest airports in the country. The airport currently ranks as the 4th busiest airport in the country behind Istanbul Airport, Antalya Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport).

The airport has 2 parallel runways, right next to each other (03L/R - 21L/R). East of the runways, the main passenger terminal, MRO facilities and control tower is located. On the west side, there are 3 aprons which house general aviation facilities, government hangars, flight schools. It also houses Ankara ACC (Türkiye Hava Trafik Kontrol Merkezi) which covers the entire Türkiye, about 900nm from one end to other.

Sceneries

Payware

There are multiple payware options depending on the simulator for Istanbul Airport. You can find more information from the table below.

Simulator	Developer	Publisher	Links
FSX, P3D v2/v3/v4/v5	SceneryTR	SimMarket	https://secure.simmarket.com/scenerytr-ltac-ankara-esenboa-airport-fsxp3dv4.phtml
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020	SceneryTR	SimMarket	Can be bought from MarketPlace or https://secure.simmarket.com/scenerytr-ltac-ankara-esenboa-airport_msfs.phtml

Freeware

There are also freeware options available for Istanbul Airport. However there is significant difference in quality.

Simulator	Developer	Publisher	Links
FSX	Ahmet Özler	Sanalpilot	http://www.sanalpilot.com/forum/showthread.php?16383-LTAC2013-Ahmet-%D6zler-den-FSX-i%E7in-Ankara-Esenbo%F0a-Havaliman%FD
X-Plane 11/12	Argaeus	Threshold Forum	https://forum.thresholdx.net/files/file/530-ltac-ankara-esenboga/
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020	Argaeus	Flightsim.to	https://flightsim.to/file/10880/ltac-ankara-esenboga-intl-airport

Preferential Runway System (PRS)

The term “Preferential RWY System (PRS)” shall be used to indicate the runway that, at a particular time, is considered by the ATC unit to be the most suitable for use by the aircraft expected to land at or take-off from the aerodrome, by taking into consideration aircraft performance, surface wind speed and its components. PRS Operations contribute to the optimum use of airspace and aerodrome capacity.

The Preferential Runways in Ankara Esenboğa Airport (LTAC) are north configuration runways (03L/R)

RWYCC (Runway Condition Code)	Tail Wind Component (max)
RWYCC 6/6/6 (dry, maximum braking)	10 KT (included)
When RWYCC is reported at least 5 for any each runway third (worse than dry, low braking	5 KT (included)

1. In the PRS operations, the above wind criteria depending on the runway surface condition shall be applied.
2. During the PRS operations, ATC unit takes into account the ground wind, traffic situation, local meteorological conditions, environmental restrictions, technical infrastructure, noise abatement, etc.
3. PRS operations will not be available under the following circumstances:
   • The instrument approach/departure procedures available for the preferred RWY(s) are not convenient for landing and/ or take-off operations under the existing meteorological conditions
   • When the preferred RWY(s) are dry (RWYCC 6/6/6), the tail wind component is greater than 10 Kt,
   • When RWYCC is reported at least 5 for any each the preferred RWY(s) third, the tail wind component is greater than 5 Kt,
   • When RWYCC is reported at least 5 for any each the preferred RWY(s) third, there is a NOTAM/equivalent information (which may be included in the RCR) stating that the runway is slippery, ATIS announcement when PRS Operations are in progress shall be; “Preferential Runway Operations are in Progress”.
   • RWYCC is reported 4 or less any each the preferred RWY(s) third,
   • Meteorological conditions such as heavy rainfall, thunderstorm or wind-shear has been reported on the approach or climb path of the preferred RWY(s),
   • Low visibility operations are in progress.
4. ATIS announcement when PRS Operations are in progress shall be; “Preferential Runway Operations are in Progress”.
5. Pilots unable to comply with PRS Operations shall notify the relevant ATC unit at the time of requesting start-up clearance, at the first contact or 20 minutes in advance of the ETA (which is earlier).

Arrival Procedures

Introduction

Ankara Esenboğa Airport is located within Ankara TMA (Terminal Manoeuvring Area). Ankara TMA covers Ankara Esenboğa Airport (LTAC), Güvercinlik Airport (LTAB, military), Etimesgut Airport (LTAD, military and Ankara Murted Airbase (LTAE, military). Due to high military activity and restricted areas within the TMA, there might be lot of vectoring or holds upon arrival.

Ankara Esenboğa Airport utilizes RNAV in all of its STAR procedures. In addition, P-RNAV (Precision-Area Navigation, RNP1) capability is required. If unable, pilot must inform the controller so that aircraft can be given radar vectors to final.

Important things to keep in mind:

• Vacating aircraft has priority at the intersection of the parallel taxiway.
• 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 Ankara Esenboğa Airport are different for each config. For North config (RWY 03L/R), the STARs end at IAFs (TIARE and VEZIN) for ILS-V 03R approach whereas for South config (RWY 21L/R), the STARs end at downwind where the APP controller will vector the traffic to final.

Active Runway Configuration
North Configuration uses the following STAR identifiers. Type STARs Standard 1R Alternative* 1Z *Alternative: Shortens the STAR.
South Configuration uses the following STAR identifiers. Type STARs Standard 1P Alternate* *only applicable to HALIL star 2P