Welcome to Amoy!
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport is located in Xiamen, China, the sub-provincial, well-known tourism city of Fujian Province. This city also be known as the Oceanfront Garden because of its wonderful seaside views.
Firstly built in 1941, and officially civil-opened in 1983, Xiamen Airport has become the busiest single-runway international airport in China, the largest airport in Fujian Province, and it’s also the home base of Xiamen Airlines. HAECO Xiamen, a famous aircraft maintenance center, is located inside this airport as well, and already attracted several airlines’ A380 aircraft across the globe to come here for maintenance.
As a local there, I’m happy to write this guide to show something I knew about this airport for you guys. So join us! As we are about to take you know more in-real-life details about this crowded but orderly airport, which you may be used when you fly there in Infinite Flight!
First of all, thanks @FlightGT, @L_sound and @Yang-le-duo for their great work of 3D senery editing of this airport! We are really appreciating their hard works to turn this airport more beautiful in game! : )
This guide is sponsored by Xiamen Airlines Virtual (MFVA), thanks for their support and help!
Disclaimer:
This guide is written based on our personal daily observations of this airport and may only be used as a reference for players who pursue realism flying experience in game. Adopting discretion is advised.
Xiamen Airport has 1 runway (05-23)
| Runway | Length | Heading | Surface | ILS Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | 3,200m (11,164ft) | 056° | Asphalt | CAT I |
| 23 | 3,200m (11,164ft) | 236° | Asphalt | CAT I |
Xiamen Gaoqi Airport has 2 terminals: Terminal 3 & 4. Terminal 3 (Previous Terminal 2) was opened in 1996, and Terminal 4 was opened in the end of 2014.
The current usages of T3 & 4 are shown below:
| Terminal | Usage | IF Livery Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 3 | Domestic(for major subsidiaries under China Southern Group only: Xiamen Airlines/China Southern/Hebei Airlines/Jiangxi Airlines/Chongqing Airlines) & International/HK/Macao/Taiwan | Xiamen Airlines/China Southern/Cathay Pacific/Philippines Airlines/EVA Air/China Airlines/Malaysia Airlines/Singapore Airlines/Shandong Airlines(Int’l) |
| Terminal 4 | Domestic(other airline) | Shandong Airlines/China Express/China Eastern/Hainan Airlines/Air China/Air Juneyao |
For apron guide, I’ll divide 3 images of apron charts for to make you understand more clearly.
West Side
1/Red: Cargo Aprons
Any freighter carriers
Examples: Atlas Air/Ehiopian Cargo/Cargolux/ANA Cargo/Nippon Cargo/UPS/DHL, etc.
2/Green: Terminal 3 Narrow-body Remotes & Gate pushback Aprons
Remote aprons for any narrow-body aircraft operating Terminal 3
All narrow-body aircrafts from Terminal 3 Gates will be pushed back to the remotes behind them and start up, then taxi to the runway
(Except Gate 1, and when ground traffic is busy, nearby remotes are full)
3/Yellow: Terminal 3 (Domestic Gates)
Gate aprons for Terminal 3 domestic flights (China Southern Group major subsidiaries only)
Gate 8 is available for wide-bodies
IF Livery Examples: Xiamen Airlines/China Southern
4/Blue: Terminal 3 (International/HK/MC/TW Gates)
Gate aprons for any International/Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan flights
Gate 9/11/15/17 are available for wide-bodies
IF Livery Examples: Xiamen Airlines/Cathay Pacific/Philippines Airlines/EVA Air/China Airlines/Malaysia Airlines/Singapore Airlines/Shandong Airlines(Int'l)
Middle Side
5/Red: Terminal 3 Narrow-body Remotes & Gate pushback Aprons
Remote aprons for any narrow-body aircraft of Terminal 3
All narrow-body aircrafts from Stand 62~68 will be pushed back to the remotes behind them and start up, then taxi to the runway
(Except when ground traffic is busy, nearby remotes are full)
6/Yellow: Xiamen Airlines/China Southern & Terminal 4 Main Wide-body Remotes
Main remotes for any Xiamen Airlines/China Southern & Terminal 4 wide-body aircraft
Especially wide-body aircraft operating Terminal 4 can only use Stand 82~84, some cargo flights will use these stands as well
Narrow-bodies of China Southern Group Major Subsidiaries can use these aprons as well
IF Livery Examples: Xiamen Airlines/China Southern/China Eastern/Air China/Hainan Airlines
7/Blue: HAECO Xiamen, Aircraft Maintenance Area
Aircraft maintenance working area for HAECO Xiamen
About 460,000 sqm facilities with six hangars capable of simultaneously accommodating 12 widebody aircraft and 5 narrowbody aircraft
8/Green: Terminal 4 Narrow-body Remotes
Remote aprons for any narrow-body aircraft operating Terminal 4
IF Livery Examples: Shandong Airlines/China Express/China Eastern/Hainan Airlines/Air China
East Side
Terminal 4/Other Usage Area
All aprons of Terminal 4 & East area. No special limitations.
Wide-bodies can only use the Red marks (Gate 205~206, Stand 228)
The Yellow marks (Stand 229L~232) are aprons for Business Jet & General Aviation
The Blue mark (Stand 227) is used as the pushback apron for Stand 228L/228/228R
IF Livery Examples: Shandong Airlines/China Express/China Eastern/Hainan Airlines/Air China/Air Juneyao. Business Jet & General Aviation
Because of the opening of Terminal 4 with expansion for the East Aprons, Xiamen Airport has developed a complex taxiing procedures.
Terminal 3/4 Special Pushback Precedures
-
All narrow-body aircrafts from Terminal 3 Gates and Stand 62~68 should be pushed back to the remotes behind them and start up, then taxi to the runway.
(Except Gate 1, and when ground traffic is busy, nearby remotes are full) -
Aircrafts from Gate 212 & 215 should be pushed to the Red Circle (As shown below) and start up, then taxi via taxiway T15 (The blue line). Aircrafts from Gate 207~211 shoule be pushed to the taxiway T16 (The yellow line).
Taxiing Routes
Runway 05 Arrival
Runway 05 Departure
Aircraft from Terminal 4 should taxi via taxiway B first, and then enter taxiway A on B6 to avoid conflict with aircraft vacating Runway 05 for the East side
Runway 23 Arrival
Runway 23 Departure
Aircraft from Terminal 3 should taxi via Apron first, and then enter taxiway A via B5 or B6 to avoid conflict with aircraft vacating Runway 23 for the West side
HAECO Maintenance Taxiing Routes
The link taxiway of HAECO area is located between Stand 68 and Stand 69.
All aircraft arrive for HAECO have to enter the link taxiway and stop at the same-level location between the Stand 68 and Stand 69, or enter any bypass stands, then use the tow to pull into the maintenance stand inside the HAECO Area. (But it seems that IF can only use the “pull” function on an apron, so you can try to stop at Stand 68 or 69 and then use the tow).
All aircraft leave from HAECO and depart have to use the tow to pull to leave the HAECO Area, and pull into any bypass stands or directly on T4 or T5 taxiway , then pushback and start up as normal.
A380 Restrictions
A380 Super aircraft can only landing or spawn at Xiamen Airport for maintenance purpose due to the airport 4E operation level
All A380 Super aircraft can only use taxiway A1/2, A9/10 (The red mark) for vacate or line up.
All A380 may only use taxiway A and B6 (The yellow mark) for taxiing
Present days, Xiamen Airport has completely changed their SIDs and STARs, especially they started operating PMS Arrival Procedures (Available on AIRAC 2503).
But because IF didn’t update their NavData and it caused the Xiamen Airport in IF are still the old procedure, I’ll divide two modules to share the in-real-life procedures in two situations.
Reminder:
Expect RNAV Procedures priorly
Due to Noise Abatement Procedures (NAP), aircraft are advised to adjust and keep engine climbing power and thrust after 1,500ft, and maintain a positive rate of climb, accelerate to normal en-route climb speed and retract flaps and slats after 3,000ft.
Current Procedures (In-Real-Life)
Departures
When operating Runway 05, DOVP9Z(Airway W643 for East) and NUSP9Z (Airway W597 for West) will be used.
When operating Runway 23, DOVP7Y(Airway W643 for East) and NUSP7Y (Airway W597 for West) will be used.
Arrivals
When operating Runway 05, ENVE8X(Airway A470 from East), TEBO8X(Airway A470 from West) and APAK8X (Uncommon, Airway M503 from East) will be used.
On ENVE8X, direct to XLN is allowed when there is no conflict between AM711 and AM715
When operating Runway 23, ENVE6W(Airway A470 from East) and TEBO6W(Airway A470 from West) will be used.
On ENVE6W, direct to MP1 is allowed when there is no conflict between AM611 and AM614
Old Procedures (In IF)
Departures
When operating Runway 05, FQG-93D(Airway A470 for East) and NUS-91D (Airway W597 for West) will be used.
When operating Runway 23, FQG-83D(Airway A470 for East) and NUS-81D(Airway W597 for West) will be used.
Arrivals
When operating Runway 05, FQG-91A(Airway A470 from East), TEB-91A (Airway A470 from West) will be used.
When operating Runway 23, FQG-81A(Airway A470 from East) and TEB-81A(Airway A470 from West) will be used.
Final Procedures
Expect ILS-Z Approach priorly
All establish attitude of both runways is 700m (2,300ft)
Aware of speed and attitude restrictions is advised
We recommend you to acknowledge the Metric RVSM Alts of China, which can make your flying in China more professional and enjoyable. :>
That’s all! If you have any questions or find any mistakes, feel free to dm me or leave a comment! And…
THANKS FOR READING!
Thread banners and Written by @CannedPig
Charts credits to CAAC eAIP
Satellite credits to Google Earth
