On behalf of the members of the United States Division, I would like to welcome you to the home of the Minneapolis ARTCC, part of the IVAO Network.

The International Virtual Aviation Organization, or IVAO, is a dedicated, free of charge, service to enthusiasts and individuals enjoying and participating in the flight simulation community. The IVAO was formed to supply high quality services to its users on demand. IVAO provides real-time air traffic control services utilizing our own in-house developed software programs aiming to give simulator pilots the most realistic experience possible.

For those of you who are new to IVAO or flight simulation in general, we invite you to check out the excellent services provided by the United States Division Training Department. The link can be found in the menu to the left. Also, please take a moment and read our policies and procedures especially if you are planning on becoming an air traffic controller in the Minneapolis airspace.

As always, we are here to assist in any way that we can.

Best Regards,

11/25/09 - Sectorfile Updated to Cycle 0912

Airspace and Facilities:

1. KZMP ARTCC
   1. The upper vertical limit of the ARTCC is 60,000 ft. MSL.
   2. The lower vertical limit shall extend to the upper limit of any staffed facility.
   3. The horizontal limits of the ARTCC shall be as published. A generalized description can be found in the about us section.
   4. The center controller shall provide services to all IFR aircraft, any aircraft in distress, and VFR traffic requesting a flight following or traffic advisories on a traffic-load basis.
2. Approach
   1. The upper vertical limit of the Approach facilities is 10,000 ft. with exception to the M98 Tracon (Minneapolis) which will be set at 17,000 ft. MSL.
   2. The lower vertical limit is 2000 ft. AGL where an underlying Tower is active with exception to the M98 Tracon (Minneapolis) which the limit is increased to 3000 ft. MSL when KMSP_TWR is active. When the said Tower is not active, this limit extends to the ground.
   3. The distance from the center of the airport shall be 40 nm, but it shall include the 25 nm ring from the final approach fix at any runway. This horizontal airspace shall also extend to cover the initial approach fix if such a fix is beyond the 40 nm limit. In some instances, the approach airspace may not extend out to 40 nm. Any differences from the 40 nm ring shall be noted on the appropriate sector file.
   4. An approach controller shall provide services to all IFR aircraft, any aircraft in distress, VFR aircraft within Class B or C airspace, and VFR traffic requesting a flight following or traffic advisories on a traffic-load basis.
3. Tower
   1. The upper vertical limit of the Tower shall be 2000 ft. AGL, except KMSP tower which shall extend to 3000 ft. MSL.
   2. The lower vertical limit of the tower shall be to ground level, but not to include the limits under Ground Control when Ground Control is active. This lower limit includes any active runways.
   3. The radius from the center of the airport shall be 5 nm with the extensions for the ILS and VOR approaches to the final approach fix.
   4. The tower controller shall be responsible for selecting the runways on a basis of wind direction. If the wind speed is less than 5 kts, the tower controller shall select the calm-wind runway if one has been designation.
   5. In the case of Minneapolis/St. Paul Int'l tower, runway selection shall be as follows:
      • Wind <8 kts: 1200Z-2100Z = 30's, 2100Z-0430Z = 12's, 0430Z-1200Z = Land 30's, Depart 12's
      • Wind 9-12 kts: Wind 030 to 210 = 12's, Wind 210 to 030 = 30's
      • Wind >12 kts: Wind 060 to 180 = 12's; Wind 240 to 360 = 30's; Wind 000 to 030 = Land 04, Dep 30's; Wind 030 to 060 = Land 04, Dep 12's; Wind 180 to 210 = Land 22, Dep 12's; Wind 210 to 240 = Land 22, Dep 30's.
   6. In the case of St. Paul Holman Field tower, any aircraft over 12,500 lbs shall use runway 14/32. Runway 13/31 is the practice runway.
4. Ground
   1. No upper vertical limit.
   2. The horizontal limits of the Ground Control facility shall extend to the physical boundaries of the airport. This does not include any active runways which belong to the tower.
5. FRAs
   1. Facility Rating Assignments shall be implemented in locations where it is important to ensure that the controller working that area has received sufficient training to adequately handle the airspace.
   2. Only two facilities shall have FRAs in place at this time. KZMP_CTR (Minneapolis Center) shall have a FRA of Controller 1. KMSP_APP (Minneapolis Approach) shall have a FRA of Student 3.

M98 Tracon (KMSP Approach): Airspace Flow Diagrams/Textual Descriptions Parallel Runway Only Operations
Parallel Runway w/Converging Runway Operations
General Arrival Altitude Guideline:  On STAR = MIN 8000', Vectoring 4000',5000',6000' Jet Departures Initially 7000' -- Prop Departures Initially 5000' -- GA Departures Initially 3000' After Clear of Terminal Arrival Lanes, Departures up to 17000', Hand-Off at 12000' Listed altitudes on legs in diagrams are general guidelines.

Ratified 05-12-05, Last Updated 03-18-2010