A proposal for revised approaches and procedures to Malta International Airport

Abstract

Malta International Airport (ICAO code LMML) has four runways organized in T-format. The longer two are usually used by commercial aircraft since they are equipped with an Intrument Landing System and are facing local prevailing winds. The shorter two are mainly used for general aviation and for commercial airport adopting visual flight rules. Conventional procedures to and from the airfield are published in the Aeronautical Information Package, and include Standard Instrument Departures, instrument T-bar approach charts and other visual charts. However, no Standard Terminal Arrival Routes to connect inbound fixes to initial approach fixes or equivalent waypoints are available. This paper describes in detail the methodologies adopted in designing revised SIDs, STARs and associated procedures aimed at introducing optimal approaches and departures from LMML for the reduction of greenhouse gases in Maltese airspace. The resulting procedures for runway 13, which is the most heavily used runway by commercial aircraft, are presented, analyzed and discussed.