East Midlands Airport
Since this Sunday is ATC Choice throughout the entire globe, I have decided that I will be opening my local airport - East Midlands Airport (EGNX). I decided to create this thread not only to give accurate times for when I will be open, but also to hopefully teach something new to you! Even if you don’t pop in whilst I’m controlling, I still encourage you to read and learn!
What’s so special about EMA?
East Midlands Airport is vital in the movement of cargo throughout Europe and the United Kingdom - in fact, it is proving even more of an asset since the Coronavirus crisis, with cargo movements increasing by up to 8% a week.
What airlines fly to EMA?
The airport is a major hub for DHL with their facility maintaining the capacity to hold 6x B748F aircraft simultaneously. Over 1 million parcels are processed every night at the airport through the DHL facility and then sent on their way to their next destination. DHL send 3/4 daily transatlantic flights from cities such as Cincinnati and New York and in addition brings multiple flights from the primary DHL hub of Leipzig (with aircraft including A300s, A330s, B767s and B777s).
East Midlands Airport is also a hub for Amazon, with ASL Airlines basing much of their operations at EMA. Multiple flights are operated daily by ASL with B737 freighter variants from cities such as Milan and Madrid.
In addition, UPS are a growing airline at East Midlands Airport with their new facility finishing construction this March. They currently operate daily transatlantic flights, however these are expected to be upgraded from B767 aircraft to B747 and possibly MD-11F aircraft!
Amongst all the madness, East Midlands Airport is on the receiving end of regular unscheduled B747 movements and the famous aircraft which everyone dreams of seeing - the Antonov 124. In fact, EMA even received the incredible Antonov 225 a few years ago!
Suggested routes:
I have attached below some real routes operated to East Midlands Airport with flight plans included for convenience.
Common routes:
DHL - Patternwork
Airline: DHL.
Aircraft: Boeing 757 (DHL).
Note: This is still realistic if you’d rather do some patterns as DHL use the airport for circuit training!
Flight plan:
FedEx - Liege
Airline: FedEx.
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200F.
Flight time: 1:10.
Flight plan: EBLG LG001 LG002 LG003 BUB DENUT 5114N/338E RAPIX SUNUP TEBRA KOPUL UNSAD NILON GILDA LAM 5139N/009E HEMEL BUZAD OLNEY WELIN VELAG UPDUK PIGOT 5250N/107W EGNX
UPS - Cologne
Airline: UPS.
Aircraft: B757 (UPS), A330-200F (UPS).
Flight time: 1:10.
Flight plan: EDDK DK040 NVO MAPAD NAVAK OGBOL SOGRI 5051N/451E BUB DENUT LUMEN BULAM DIBLI RAPIX SUNUP TEBRA KOPUL UNSAD NILON GILDA 5139N/011E LAM HEMEL BUZAD OLNEY WELIN VELAG UPDUK PIGOT 5250N/107W EGNX
DHL - Leipzig
Airline: DHL.
Aircraft: Boeing 757 (DHL Livery), Boeing 777-200F (Southern Air Livery).
Flight time: 1:30.
Flight plan: EDDP DP515 MATIB ODLUN EMBOX POVEL 5204N/1024E EXOBA IRBUP ABAMI BAM AGENI LNO TERLA SOGRI BUB DENUT LUMEN BULAM DIBLI RAPIX SUNUP TEBRA KOPUL UNSAD NILON GILDA 5138N/013E LAM HEMEL BUZAD OLNEY WELIN VELAG UPDUK PIGOT 5250N/107W EGNX
Aerologic - Leipzig
Airline: Aerologic.
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200F (Aerologic).
Flight time: 1:30.
Flight plan: EDDP DP515 MATIB ODLUN EMBOX POVEL 5204N/1024E EXOBA IRBUP ABAMI BAM AGENI LNO TERLA SOGRI BUB DENUT LUMEN BULAM DIBLI RAPIX SUNUP TEBRA KOPUL UNSAD NILON GILDA 5138N/013E LAM HEMEL BUZAD OLNEY WELIN VELAG UPDUK PIGOT 5250N/107W EGNX
Rarer routes:
Qatar Cargo - Milan
Airline: Qatar Cargo.
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200F (Qatar Cargo).
Flight time: 2:00.
Flight plan: LIMC BLA MC512 MC504 MC506 4533N/729E AOSTA ORSUD MOLUS UNKIR DJL TUNOR LAULY BRY CLM UTELA KOPOR ABNUR DIMAL ALESO ROTNO ETVAX TIGER BIG 5121N/001E ULTIB HEMEL BUZAD OLNEY WELIN VELAG UPDUK PIGOT 5250N/107W EGNX
Cargolux - Luxembourg
Airline: Cargolux.
Aircraft: Boeing 747-8 (Cargolux).
Flight time: 1:10.
Flight plan: ELLX D238H D264S TILVI RAPOR RENSA NITEP 4924N/407E GIMER DIDOR NURMO DIPER VESAN RATUK SOVAT SANDY 5135N/016E LAM WELIN VELAG UPDUK PIGOT 5250N/107W EGNX
The memories I have from planespotting at East Midlands Airport are some of the best, having seen the Antonov 124 as well as the many other 747s and freighter aircraft that come and go - I was even lucky enough to view the magnificent IL-76 taking off from the top of the 51m tall control tower!
Anyway, that’s all I have to say! I’ll keep this thread updated on timings for my controlling and even if I don’t see you down there I hope you enjoyed reading and have learnt something new.
Note: When I do open, if you would rather not fly a specific route, feel free to come along for patternwork. DHL and Ryanair often do their circuit training at East Midlands Airport, so if you come for patterns you can keep it realistic by coming along either in the DHL Boeing 757 or Ryanair Boeing 737.