Arrival procedures set for 11th annual Fly-in to AOPA headquarters June 2

AOPA has published arrival and departure procedures for the eleventh annual Fly-In to AOPA headquarters at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), Maryland, on Saturday, June 2.

Last year, more than 700 aircraft flew in. With that number of aircraft arriving during a short period of time, safety requires that every pilot know and follow the special arrival and departure procedures. A temporary FAA control tower will operate between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. June 2.

The procedures are similar to Oshkosh or Sun 'n Fun-type events. Pilots are required to fly to a specified point east of the airport and then follow controller instructions and other traffic to the airport.

Pilots are strongly cautioned to avoid Prohibited Area P-40 (Camp David), 15 nautical miles north of Frederick. Pilots should also have on board a current copy of the Baltimore-Washington VFR Terminal Area Chart.

VFR arrival procedures

Arrivals from north of Interstate 70

Listen to ATIS on 128.1 or 109.0, then monitor FDK Approach on 120.95. Proceed to the tank farm north of I-70 (near the former Woodbine Gliderport -EMI VOR 207° / 8.9 nm, or N39° 22.4' W77° 02.2'). Prior to reaching the tank farm, aircraft should slow to 90 knots and maintain 1,500 feet msl. Slower aircraft unable to maintain 90 knots should fly at optimum speed and watch for aircraft passing on the right. Faster aircraft unable to safely operate at 90 knots should maintain 120 knots and 2,000 feet msl. Aircraft unable to safely operate at 120 knots, contact tower on 133.6 for special instructions or use standard IFR procedures.

From the tank farm, fly heading 280° to intercept I-70 before reaching the town of Mount Airy, Maryland. Watch for merging traffic from the left.

Arrivals from south of Interstate 70

Listen to ATIS on 128.1 or 109.0, then monitor FDK Approach on 120.95. Intercept Interstate 70 well east of the town of Mount Airy. Watch for converging traffic from the north. Prior to reaching I-70, slow to 90 knots and maintain 1,500 feet msl. Slower aircraft unable to maintain 90 knots should fly at optimum speed and watch for aircraft passing on the right. Faster aircraft unable to safely operate at 90 knots should maintain 120 knots and 2,000 feet msl. Aircraft unable to safely operate at 120 knots, contact tower on 133.6 for special instructions or use standard IFR procedures.

Follow I-70 to Mt. Airy. Watch for merging traffic from the right.

After reaching Mt. Airy

Follow I-70 westbound to the town of New Market (EMI VOR 254° / 15.4 nm, N39° 23.1' W77° 16.7') and monitor FDK Approach on 120.95. (No-radio aircraft follow preceding aircraft and look for light gun signals from FDK Tower.)

Approaching New Market, expect instructions from Frederick Approach. Do not transmit unless requested or to report an emergency. Controllers will call traffic using aircraft type and color. Rock your wings to acknowledge and accept instructions.

Follow instructions to the assigned runway and monitor Frederick Tower on 133.0 for Runway 12-30 or 133.6 for Runway 05-23. After landing, turn off at the first available taxiway unless otherwise instructed, monitor AOPA unicom on 122.85 and follow ground directors to parking. VFR flight plans may be closed with AOPA unicom.

Arrivals after 1 p.m.

Monitor ATIS on 128.1. Unless otherwise instructed, fly direct to FDK and call the tower five miles out on 133.6 for arrival and landing instructions. Watch for departing aircraft.

VFR holding

Should Frederick Approach instruct arriving aircraft to hold, the following procedures apply, depending upon position. If instructed to hold: Prior to reaching the tank farm or I-70, pick and circle a landmark, watching for other aircraft; between Mt. Airy and New Market, follow the published rectangular holding pattern south from New Market to the drag strip, then east to the Damascus water tower, then north to Mt. Airy as shown on the Fly-In procedures map.

IFR arrivals

IFR arrivals can expect delays during MVFR or IFR weather. The ILS Runway 23 approach will be in use. If the airport is VFR, be prepared to fall in line with arriving VFR traffic. After landing, follow ground directors to parking and monitor AOPA unicom on 122.85.

VFR departures

Monitor AOPA unicom on 122.85, taxi along parking rows to the nearest paved taxiway, then follow ground directors to departure runway. Once in line for takeoff, monitor Frederick Tower on Runway 12-30 or 133.6 for Runway 05-23. During high-density departure times, flagmen at Runway 12-30 will clear pilots for takeoff.

On departure, reduce to climb power (for noise abatement) as soon as safe and climb to at least 1,500 feet msl as quickly as safely possible. Unless otherwise instructed by ATC, fly straight out for two miles before turning on course.

IFR departures

IFR flight plans should be filed as far in advance as practicable. Baltimore or Dulles controllers will not accept air files during periods of high IFR activity.

Call Baltimore Clearance Delivery on 126.9 for clearance. Monitor AOPA unicom on 122.85, taxi along parking rows to the nearest paved taxiway, and follow ground directors to departure runway. Once in line for takeoff, contact Frederick Tower on 126.325 and advise of your IFR status. Change to tower frequency 133.6 for takeoff.

Arrival/departure instructions and a map are available on AOPA's Web site. Pilots can obtain a copy by mail by calling 888/462-3976.

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