LSAG Major Changes with AIRAC 2411

[Jonas Kuster]

As some of you may have already learned, AIRAC 2411 effective 31 October 2024 will bring major changes to the Geneva area. The origin is the simultaneous decomissioning of 4 navaids, which are replaced by RNAV waypoints. The following navaids are replaced:

• VOR/DME FRI, position represented by WPT FRIBU
• VOR/DME SPR, position represented by WPT SAPRE
• VOR/DME GVA, position represented by WPT GEVEA
• NDB GLA, position represented by WPT GLEND

NDB LPS has already been replaced a few months earlier and is now represented by WPT PALLU. The decomissioning of NDB GLA marks the end of the NDB era in Switzerland. The reduction of VOR stations is part of the transition to a PBN oriented infrastructure. Support for conventional navigation is removed in favour of navaids supporting area navigation. For airspace users unable to use GNSS navigation and to provide an alternative in case of GNSS outage, additional DME stations were lately put into service at La Dôle (LDL), La Praz (LAP) and Mont Pelerin (PEL). The are extending the DME network (https://www.cockpit.aero/rubriken/de...struktur-voran). More stations in the eastern part of Switzerland will follow in the coming months.

As a result of the navaid decomissionings, all affected procedures (using one of this navaids as a waypoint, or a radial or a DME distance for reference) require a re-design using PBN criteria. Conventional procedures can no longer be operated and are replaced by RNAV ones. This affectes terminal and en-route. Additional optimisations are implemented at the same time, reducing the number of procdures and their complexity. This mainly affects LSGG, but also other airports using one of the abovementioned navaids, like LSGS, LSGC, LSZB or LSMP.

Some of the most significant changes are:

• Removal of the LSGG MEDAM SID variants based on QNH
• Removal of the LSGG PAS SID
• Reduction of the LSGG ROCCA SID variants based on QNH
• Removal of MOLUS and extention of (some) KONIL SIDs, replaced by SIDs to SOSAL

The Operation Departement is already working on the implementation of these changes. Due to the large number of procedures and documents affected, some documents might only be updated at a later stage after the effective date. The priority is to ensure that sectorfile package and SOP are in line with the AIRAC changes.

Thank you for your understanding and feel free to ask any questions you might have.

[Susanne Flach]

Hi Jonas, many thanks for all the work and keeping us up to date!


My question would be how we should handle people flying on old AIRACs. As per the CoC, pilots are required to be able to fly according to the latest procedures/charts. To me, this leaves two possible scenarios for controllers: (a) refuse clearances for anyone unable to fly new procedures, or (b) accommodate older AIRACs, in coordination with, but at the sole discretion of, the DEP/APP/CTR controllers. While (a) is covered by the CoC, I would imagine extented discussions with pilots/SUPs for a while. Conversely, would (b) at all be an option, considering some SIDs are very similar to some of the old ones, and if so, would it make sense to have a list of suggestions or would we decide that on a case-by-case basis with the APP/ACTR controller(s)? I can see arguments for both scenarios (and a similar case could be made for STARS I imagine).


So I was interested what your take is on this from an OPS perspective, and also as a SUP, especially whether and to what extent this has been an issue since that CoC clause came into effect.

[Jonas Kuster]

My personal opinion is that we should try to accomodate as much as possible since this will result in the smoothest overall experience for anybody involved.

However, I will not make an official statement as the application is outside the responsibility of the Operation Departement. This is a matter of training.

[Michael Kühne]

My personal opinion that we should try to accomodate as much as possible since this will result in the smoothest overall experience for anybody involved.

I agree. We should inform these pilots about the major changes so that they are aware of them, but as as far as my informations go the changes are not that far from what we currently have, thus the impact should be kind of manageable. And if our systems still enable us for the next few month to insert the old SIDs/STARs everybody is aware if a pilot is unable to fly the new procedures.

[Michael Kühne]

This is a matter of training.

Just that pilot training is not implemented in a general manner like it's done with with controllers.

[Jonas Kuster]

And if our systems still enable us for the next few month to insert the old SIDs/STARs everybody is aware if a pilot is unable to fly the new procedures.

Procedures available in the sector file only reflect the given AIRAC date. Reflecting old procedures in flight plans will require manual intervention by controllers, as it was always the case.

[Chiara Paganini]

In that case I think it would be beneficial to keep the old charts available for controller reference just so that we can stay aware of where people are going with the outdated routes

[Roman Wuest]

A package was added in the charts section of LSGG. All the charts pre AIRAC 2411 are included.