August 7, 2012 To: All concerned From: Randall Buxton, Air Traffic Controller, Potomac TRACON Re: Opposite

Direction Operations at Commercial Airports

The following is my recommendation for a change to the existing DCA runway change coordination procedure and the creation of a similar procedure to coordinate opposite direction departures at DCA. These changes would preclude events where tower and/or TRACON controllers are unknowingly conducting opposite direction operations to the same runway. My recommendation, while not groundbreaking, can easily be tailored to any airport. Randy Buxton Air Traffic Controller Potomac TRACON
DCA RUNWAY CHANGE COORDINATION PROCEDURE MTV Area FLM/CIC: Coordinate with DCA FLM/CIC for the most advantageous break in traffic to change runway configuration and exchange the following information: 1. Callsign of last arrival. 2. Number of departures. 3. Callsign, fix, and expected takeoff time of last departure. 4. Callsign of first arrival to new runway configuration. Advise the departure and arrival controllers of the above information. Advise TRACON TMU of the planned runway change and any anticipated holding. DCA FLM/CIC: ...to be determined. DCA LC: Advise DCAFR, stating the callsign, when the last departure has been cleared for takeoff. After the last departure, do not clear any additional aircraft for takeoff from any runway until called by KRANT or TYSON. DCAFR: Verbally handoff to DCA LC the first arrival to the new runway configuration. KRANT or TYSON: Advise DCA LC when departures are released stating the direction of the new runway configuration. (Example: "North departures are released.")

DCA OPPOSITE DIRECTION DEPARTURE COORDINATION PROCEDURE DCA FLM/CIC: Advise MTV Area FLM/CIC the callsign(s), fix, and requested takeoff time of (last) departure. After coordination with MTV Area FLM/CIC, advise DCA LC the callsign of the last arrival before the (first) opposite direction departure. MTV Area FLM/CIC: Coordinate with DCAFR for the most advantageous break in traffic to allow for the opposite direction departure(s) and exchange the following information: 1. Number of departures. 2. Callsign of last arrival before the (first) opposite direction departure. 3. Callsign(s), fix, and requested takeoff time of (last) departure. Advise DCA FLM/CIC the callsign of the last arrival before the (first) opposite direction departure. Advise KRANT or TYSON, as appropriate, the callsign(s) of each departure and callsign of last arrival before the (first) opposite direction departure. DCAFR: Verbally handoff to DCA LC the last arrival before the (first) opposite direction departure. Ensure separation between the (last) opposite direction departure and first arrival before transferring communications of that aircraft to DCA LC. DCA LC: Do not clear the (first) opposite direction departure for takeoff until the last arrival has landed. Assign heading of 150 or 250, appropriate to first fix, and 5000 feet, to aircraft departing from Runway 19/15. Advise DCAFR, stating the callsign, when the last opposite direction departure has been cleared for takeoff.