EHAM - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Adapted From Dutch VACC Pilot Briefing
General Information
- ICAO: EHAM
- IATA: AMS
- Name: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- VATSIM: https://www.dutchvacc.nl/
Introduction
Amsterdam is a large metropolis. With hundreds of planes landing and taking off every day, its vital to be familiar with the airport. EHAM is a rather complex airport, which can make it difficult for pilots to navigate. We hope this guide makes it easier and more enjoyable for you to flying into and out of this airport.
Departures
Taxiing
At EHAM, theres a parallel taxi route, taxiway ALPHA and BRAVO. These function like a normal road. Remain on the right side to follow the one way direction of the taxiway. In other words, taxiway ALPHA takes you clockwise around the airport, while taxiway BRAVO takes you counter-clockwise around the airport.
Push Back
When pushing back, you also need to follow the direction of the taxiway. The nose of your plane should be pointing in the direction the taxiway runs.
SIDs
Depending on your destination, you can expect to fly one of the following SIDs:
- BERGI for flights to the north-west. Exit points: BERGI, WISPA
- ANDIK for flights to the north-east. Exit points: ANDIK, BETUS, NOPSU, SPIJKERBOOR, TORGA
- ARNEM for flights to the east. Exit points: ARNEM, ELPAT, NYKER
- EDUPO for flihgts to the east. Exit points: EDUPO, IVLUT, LUNIX
- LOPIK for flights to the south-east. Exit points: LOPIK, OGINA, ROVEN
- WOODY for flights to the south. Exit points: WOODY, KUDAD, LARAS
- IDRID for flights to the west. Exit points: IDRID, VOLLA, VALKO, DENAG
Flight Level Rules
Unlike other parts of the world, EHAM makes use of your SID to determine your cruising flight level. You must have an EVEN flight level when assigned the BERGI or IDRID SID, and an ODD flight level when assigned any of the others. Below is a picture to demonstrate.
Specific Flight Levels
When flying to a particular destination, you may expect to fly one of the following levels:
- Flights to London airports: maximum FL240
- Flight to (north)easter countries cannot use FL250
- Flights to Paris airports: maximum FL290
Departure Procedures
The transition altitude for IFR aircraft is 3000 ft, for VFR this is 3500 ft. The transition level is given in the ATIS.
After departure, you will climb to a maximum FL060 until issued furthen climb by ATC.
After departure, you switch from the Tower frequency to the Approach/Departure frequency after passing 2000 ft. You should always contact Approach/Departures yourself unless Tower specifically tells you to "remain this frequency."
Arrivals
There are three IAFs at EHAM. Namely, SUGOL, ARTIP, and RIVER. When passing any of these IAFs, you are met with a speed restriction of 250 kts. You must also fly 160 kts until passing 4 DME.
ILS Frequencies
ILS runway 06 - 110.550
ILS runway 18C - 109.500
ILS runway 18R - 110.100
ILS runway 22 - 109.150
ILS runway 27 - 111.550
ILS runway 36C - 108.750
ILS runway 36R - 111.950
Just as when departing, when you arrive and have vacated the runway, you are expected to contact Ground yourself unless otherwise told.