Biggin Hill Virtual Pilot Briefing Pack

Biggin approach is only able to provide a basic service or a procedural service, arriving aircraft
wishing to be vectored should make up their call to Thames director who will vector the aircraft to
final. It should be noted that if the aircraft is outside of controlled airspace then Thames director will
not always clear you to enter controlled airspace, as talking to Thames director means the aircraft is
automatically cleared to enter controlled airspace via radar vectors. Aircraft being vectored by
Thames director inside of controlled airspace will not be cleared to leave controlled airspace and
departures from Biggin Hill entering controlled airspace will not be cleared to enter controlled
airspace, as it is automatically assumed that this is the case.

The aerodrome taxi chart can be viewed here

The ATC surveillance minimum altitude chart can be viewed here

All circuits are conducted to the west of the aerodrome. Overflight of the following noise sensitive
areas should be avoided, unless necessary to fulfil and ATC instruction such as to extend downwind
for spacing: Keston Village, the Leavesdon Estate and Leaves Green.
Aircraft joining the visual circuit from the east or southeast should avoid overflight of Downe Village
and Biggin Hill Village.

The preferential runway at Biggin Hill is runway 21 when the runway is dry and the tailwind
component is less than 5 knots

VOR ILS DME 21

Circle to Land runway 03

When being cleared, aircraft will be issued after departure instructions, these instructions should be
read back in full. Aircraft shall request start up and they will be informed by ATC of which departure
route to expect. Aircraft will usually be issued with ATC clearance approaching the runway holding
point.
Runway 21: “this is a standard… departure with a right hand turn out after 1 mile routing through
the biggin overhead inbound DET, climb to altitude … squawk …”
Runway 03: “This is a standard … departure with a right hand turn out after 1 mile routing inbound
DET climb to altitude …. Squawk …“

Note 1: Departures from runway 21, follow Noise Abatement Procedure turning right to pass
overhead BIG VOR at 2400 feet
Note 2: Departures from runway 03, after Noise Abatement, turn right to intercept DET VOR radial
275 to DET
Note 3: When established on DET VOR radial 275, not above 2500 feet until 9 DME DET, then to 4
DME DET at 4000 feet
Note 4: For positioning flights to London Luton/London Stansted, follow BPK 2 SDR to BPK then join
BANVA 1L, at altitude as directed by ATC
Note 5 (DAGGA 2 only): Cross DET VOR/DME fix 012 degrees at 7nm at 5000 feet

Three main Visual reference points are used at Biggin Hill, Sevenoaks to the Southeast, Kenley gliding
club to the West, and Swanley to the northeast. If pilots are flying VFR to Gatwick then it is
important that they route via Kenley and expect clearance to enter the Gatwick control zone via
Buckland or Dorking. If you intend to route via the Gatwick control zone then it is advantageous to
let ATC know so that they can coordinate with Gatwick to ensure you can transit their zone.

The STARs for Biggin Hill are shared by London City however, Biggin Hill has it’s own transition

Below is the order of which controller you should contact