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[[File:Istanbul TWR.jpg|thumb|Istanbul Airport ATC Tower]]
[[File:Istanbul TWR.jpg|thumb|Istanbul Airport ATC Tower]]
Istanbul Airport (IATA: IST, ICAO: LTFM) is the biggest airport in Turkiye. Located in north west of Istanbul, the airport is the busiest and biggest airport in Europe as per 2022 statistics of EuroControl<ref>https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/eurocontrol-comprehensive-aviation-assessment-archive-2022</ref>. The airport has 5 runways, fuel farm, dedicated cargo area consisting of 5 apron (29 heavy stands), several warehouses and facilities (biggest one being Turkish Cargo followed by DHL and UPS), and is home to world's biggest airport terminal (under one roof).  
Istanbul Airport (IATA: IST, ICAO: LTFM) is the biggest airport in Turkiye. Located in north west of Istanbul, the airport is the busiest and biggest airport in Europe as per 2022 statistics of EuroControl<ref>https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/eurocontrol-comprehensive-aviation-assessment-archive-2022</ref>. The airport has 6 runways<ref>Runway 09 is operational (since 18.09.2026)</ref>, fuel farm, dedicated cargo area consisting of 5 apron (29 heavy stands), several warehouses and facilities (biggest one being Turkish Cargo followed by DHL and UPS), and is home to world's biggest airport terminal (under one roof).  


The airport has not been completed. As of January 2023, only Phase 1a and 1b is finished. The final phase of the airport includes 8 runways, 2 terminals with 1 satellite terminal with up to 200 million passenger/year capacity.   
The airport has not been completed. As of January 2023, only Phase 1a and 1b is finished. The final phase of the airport includes 8 runways, 2 terminals with 1 satellite terminal with up to 200 million passenger/year capacity.   
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=== STARs ===
=== STARs ===
The STARs at Istanbul airport are designed to be ambiguous between the active runways. For instance, if northern config is active, RILEX2A STAR will end at '''IMREN''' waypoint, and '''IMREN''' is ''IAF'' (Initial Approach Fix) for all approach procedures for all northern runways. This means, whether you land at 34L, 35R or 36 (when north config is active), you still use the same STAR procedure for all runways. You can find the STAR designator table on the next page.
The STARs at Istanbul airport are designed to be ambiguous between the active runways. For instance, if northern config is active, RILEX1A STAR will end at '''IMREN''' waypoint, and '''IMREN''' is ''IAF'' (Initial Approach Fix) for all approach procedures for all northern runways. This means, whether you land at 34L, 35R or 36 (when north config is active), you still use the same STAR procedure for all runways. You can find the STAR designator table on the next page.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Active Runway Configuration
!Active Runway Configuration
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|Standard
|Standard
(uses default Arc)
(uses default Arc)
|2A
|1A
|-
|Alternative*
(no Arc usage)
 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to RILEX, RIXEN, NUGBA and KANQO STARs''
|1C
|-
|-
|Alternative*
|Alternative*
(uses opposite Arc)  
(uses opposite Arc)  


<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to DRAMO and INBET STARs''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to INBET, SISPI, DRAMO and INBET STARs''
|2N
|1N
|-
|-
|Alternative*
|Alternative*
(uses same Arc as 2A (if original Arc is West, still uses the West Arc) but from opposite entry)  
(uses same Arc as 1A (if original Arc is West, still uses the West Arc) but from opposite entry)  


<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to DRAMO and INBET STARs''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''only applicable to ERSEN and AYTEK STARs''
|2Q
|1Q
|}<nowiki>*</nowiki>Alternative: Only used by ATC.
|}<nowiki>*</nowiki>Alternative: Only used by ATC.
|-
|-
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|Standard
|Standard
(uses default Arc)
(uses default Arc)
|2B
|1B
|-
|-
|Alternative*
|Alternative*
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<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to RILEX STARs''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to RILEX STARs''
|2P
|1P
|-
|-
|Alternative*
|Alternative*
(uses same Arc as 2B (if original Arc is West, still uses the West Arc) but from opposite entry)  
(uses same Arc as 1B (if original Arc is West, still uses the West Arc) but from opposite entry)  


<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to RILEX, RIXEN, SISPI STARs''
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''not applicable to RILEX, RIXEN, SISPI STARs''
|2R
|1R
|}<nowiki>*</nowiki>Alternative: Only used by ATC.
|}<nowiki>*</nowiki>Alternative: Only used by ATC.
|}
|}
As Istanbul 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 (34/35/36) is 2A and default designator for southern configuration (16/17/18) is 2B. These STARs keep the traffic arriving west to use the west PMS and traffic arriving from east to use the east PMS. 2N and 2P STARs are designed to ease the workload of a PMS, by making the traffic to use the opposite PMS (traffic arriving from west to use the east PMS or to enter PMS from north instead of south at different altitude e.g).
As Istanbul 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 (34/35/36) is 1A and default designator for southern configuration (16/17/18) is 1B. These STARs keep the traffic arriving west to use the west PMS and traffic arriving from east to use the east PMS. 1N and 1P STARs are designed to ease the workload of a PMS, by making the traffic to use the opposite PMS (traffic arriving from west to use the east PMS or to enter PMS from north instead of south at different altitude e.g).


==== North Config ====
==== North Config ====
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:ATPIX2A ERSEN-RIXEN2N.png|ATPIX 2A, ERSEN 2N and RIXEN 2N
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 07 en.png|'''RIXEN 1N''', '''NUGBA 1D''', '''ERSEN 1Q''' and '''KANQO 1A''' arrivals
File:ATPIX2N.png| ATPIX 2N
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 08 en.png|'''ERSEN 1C''', '''SISPI 1C''', '''ERSEN 1A''' and '''SISPI 1A''' arrivals
File:DRAMO2A INBET2A.png|DRAMO 2A and INBET 2A
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 09 en.png|'''AYTEK 1Q''', '''DRAMO 1A''', '''INBET 1A''', '''AYTEK 1C''', '''DRAMO 1C''' and '''INBET 1C''' arrivals
File:ERSEN2A SISPI2A.png|ERSEN 2A and SISPI 2A
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 10 en.png|'''AYTEK 1A''', '''RILEX 1A''' and '''RIXEN 1A''' arrivals
File:RILEX2A RIXEN2A.png|RILEX 2A and RIXEN 2A
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 11 en.png|'''NUGBA 1N''' and '''KANQO 1N''' arrivals
File:RILEX2N.png|RILEX 2N
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 12 en.png|'''AYTEK 1N''' and '''RILEX 1N''' arrivals
</gallery>
</gallery>


==== South Config ====
==== South Config ====
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:DRAMO-INBET2B 2P.png|DRAMO 2B, 2P and INBET 2B, 2P
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 01 en.png|'''RIXEN 1P''', '''NUGBA 1E''', '''KANQO 1B''' and '''ERSEN 1R''' arrivals
File:ERSEN SISPI2B.png|ERSEN 2B and SISPI 2B
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 02 en.png|'''ERSEN 1B''' and '''SISPI 1B''' arrivals
File:ERSEN SISPI2P.png|ERSEN 2P and SISPI 2P
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 03 en.png|'''DRAMO 1P''' and '''INBET 1P''' arrivals
File:RILEX RIXEN2B.png|RILEX 2B and RIXEN 2B
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 04 en.png|'''AYTEK 1R''', '''DRAMO 1B''' and '''INBET 1B''' arrivals
File:RIXEN2P ATPIX2B.png|RIXEN 2P and ATPIX 2B
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 05 en.png|'''AYTEK 1B''', '''RILEX 1B''' and '''RIXEN 1B''' arrivals
</gallery>[[File:Image.png|thumb|ILS-X 35R Approach (showing both IMREN and SADIK transition)|335x335px]]
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 06 en.png|'''ERSEN 1P''' and '''SISPI 1P''' arrivals
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 13 en.png|'''AYTEK 1M''', '''RILEX 1M''' and '''RIXEN 1M''' arrivals
File:LT AD 2 LTFM STAR 14 en.png|'''RIXEN 1W''', '''NUGBA 1M''', '''KANQO 1M''' and '''ERSEN 1M''' arrivals
</gallery>
[[File:NORTH TRS1.png|thumb|335x335px|ILS-Z North Config Approach (showing IMREN, SADIK and NEWPE transitions)]]
 
=== Transitions and Approach Phase ===
=== Transitions and Approach Phase ===
As mentioned previously, Istanbul Airport utilizes Point-Merge System. Each PMS leads to last point of the STAR and '''the entry point of the approach transition'''. For northern config, IAF for west PMS is ''IMREN'', for east config it is ''SADIK''. For south config, IAF for west PMS is ''INSTA'' and for east PMS it is ''DIVDI''. '''Flying the correct transition is crucial and must'''. Each pilot is responsible for selecting the correct transition. This transition is '''NOT a STAR''' transition but transition for the approach procedure. There are different approach procedures and each has different transition phase (both laterally and vertically), go around procedure and used differently to streamline the independent parallel approach procedure . As a pilot, you must make sure you have programmed your FMS using the correct approach procedure and transition. '''Each pilot is responsible for selecting and flying the correct transition whether ATC is online or not.''' Since transitions are a must as they play a crucial role in the independent parallel approach procedure, pilot's must fly the transition both laterally and vertically at all times. If the transition is not selected correctly in the aircraft's FMS, the plane will fly directly to FAF, skipping the transition completely. This is not allowed for approach procedure into Istanbul as each approach procedure and transition is very different than one another, both laterally and vertically. You can see an example of how ILS-X and ILS-Z transition differs from the pictures (you can see they are both laterally and vertically different).[[File:ILS-Z 35R TRANSITION2.png|thumb|ILS-Z Approach (showing both IMREN and SADIK transition)|335x335px]]
As mentioned previously, Istanbul Airport utilizes Point-Merge System. Each PMS leads to last point of the STAR and '''the entry point of the approach transition'''. For northern config, IAF for west PMS is ''IMREN'', for east config it is ''SADIK''. For south config, IAF for west PMS is ''INSTA'' and for east PMS it is ''DIVDI''. '''Flying the correct transition is crucial and must'''. Each pilot is responsible for selecting the correct transition. This transition is '''NOT a STAR''' transition but transition for the approach procedure. There are different approach procedures and each has different transition phase (both laterally and vertically), go around procedure and used differently to streamline the independent parallel approach procedure . As a pilot, you must make sure you have programmed your FMS using the correct approach procedure and transition. '''Each pilot is responsible for selecting and flying the correct transition whether ATC is online or not.''' Since transitions are a must as they play a crucial role in the independent parallel approach procedure, pilot's must fly the transition both laterally and vertically at all times. If the transition is not selected correctly in the aircraft's FMS, the plane will fly directly to FAF, skipping the transition completely. This is not allowed for approach procedure into Istanbul as each approach procedure and transition is very different than one another, both laterally and vertically. You can see an example of how ILS-X and ILS-Z transition differs from the pictures (you can see they are both laterally and vertically different).
[[File:SOUTH TRS1.png|thumb|335x335px|ILS-Z South Config Approach (showing INSTA, ULQAL and GAZGE transitions)]]
 
== Ground Layout ==
== Ground Layout ==
Istanbul airport is on the list of biggest airports as per surface area, with staggering 76.5 million m<sup>2</sup> of land area. The airport has 5 runways, 34L/16R, 34R/16L, 35L/17R, 35R/17L and 36/18. Between RWYs 34 and 35, the main MRO and cargo area can be found. Between RWY 35 and 36, main passenger terminal and the stands can be found. Most gates and stands utilize MARS (Multiple Aircraft Ramp System). This increases the efficiency and gate usage significantly. With the MARS system, one gate can be shared by either 2 small to medium aircraft or 1 heavy (widebody) aircraft. In Istanbul Airport, MARS system uses L (as left) and R (as right) abbreviations for medium/split gates. For instance B4 gate is used by either 1 heavy aircraft or 2 medium aircrafts use B4L (Gate B 4 Left) and B4R (Gate B 4 Right).
Istanbul airport is on the list of biggest airports as per surface area, with staggering 76.5 million m<sup>2</sup> of land area. The airport has 5 runways, 34L/16R, 34R/16L, 35L/17R, 35R/17L and 36/18. Between RWYs 34 and 35, the main MRO and cargo area can be found. Between RWY 35 and 36, main passenger terminal and the stands can be found. Most gates and stands utilize MARS (Multiple Aircraft Ramp System). This increases the efficiency and gate usage significantly. With the MARS system, one gate can be shared by either 2 small to medium aircraft or 1 heavy (widebody) aircraft. In Istanbul Airport, MARS system uses L (as left) and R (as right) abbreviations for medium/split gates. For instance B4 gate is used by either 1 heavy aircraft or 2 medium aircrafts use B4L (Gate B 4 Left) and B4R (Gate B 4 Right).
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