Pilot briefing Malta Airport
Arrivals
Arrival procedures
On establishing contact with Luqa APP arriving flights should state their cleared level, type of aircraft and receipt of ATIS information.
Aircraft should expect to be radar vectored/given direct to IAF (Initial Approach Fix - see approach charts) to an ILS approach procedure for RWY 13/31 or an RNAV approach procedure for RWY 13/31/23/05 subject to RIU. ATC may clear aircraft to an appropriate waypoint associated with the ILS /RNAV procedure from which the aircraft can transition to the ILS / RNAV approach.
Requests for visual approach on RWY 13/23/05 will not be accepted by ATC unless aircraft report unable ILS/RNAV approach due to lack of equipage.
Requests for a visual approach on RWY 31 are allowed subject to traffic operating in the circuit and the landing sequence. When a visual approach is approved by ATC the pilot should expect an initial clearance to descend not below an altitude of 3000 FT. A follow on instructions to continue the approach below 3000 FT should normally be expected after the aircraft crosses the RWY 23/05 axis.
Approaches
In most cases, expect a direct to IAF according to RIU.
Depending on your inbound course and traffic situation, expect a direct routing to the following waypoints:
- RWY 13 (ILS / RNP)
- GUDER (east)
- NOLER (north)
- OMBER (west)
- RWY 31 (ILS / RNP)
- KEKOR (east)
- SOFOR (south)
- TIVOR (west)
- RWY 05 (RNP)
- RWY 23 (RNP)
- RWY 31 (Visual RNAV)
Once cleared for an ILS/RNAV approach via transition/waypoint you are direct to, you are expected to follow the altitude and waypoints on the approach charts until established on approach.
Click for a larger overview over approaches RWY 13/31.
Holding
When holding is anticipated ATC will clear IFR arrivals to the appropriate published holding fix as follows:
| Landing RWY |
Holding Fix |
Description of Holding Pattern |
MNM ALT (FT) |
| 13 |
OMBER |
Inbound track 042 left-hand turns |
3000 |
| NOLER |
Inbound track 132 right-hand turns |
| GUDER |
Inbound track 222 right-hand turns |
| 31 |
TIVOR |
Inbound track 042 right-hand turns |
3000 |
| SOFOR |
Inbound track 312 right-hand turns |
| KEKOR |
Inbound track 222 left-hand turns |
| Note: Holding may be given by ATC for tactical sequencing. |
| Landing RWY |
Holding Fix |
Description of Holding Pattern |
MNM ALT (FT) |
| 23 |
MONAM |
Inbound track 142 left-hand turns |
3000 |
| EVLAM |
Inbound track 232 right-hand turns |
| INTAM |
Inbound track 322 right-hand turns |
| 05 |
METIM |
Inbound track 141 right-hand turns |
3000 |
| VEKIM |
Inbound track 051 right-hand turns |
| BEVIM |
Inbound track 321 left-hand turns |
| Note: Holding may be given by ATC for tactical sequencing. |
An Expected Approach Time will be issued by Luqa APP when aircraft are expected to hold for 10 MIN or more. The ETA will be based on a minimum landing interval of 3 MIN.
Arrival flights are given 'Delay not determined' when the landing runway cannot be used for landing and it is not possible to predict when the runway will become available
Runway vacating procedures
Unless otherwise instructed by ATC, pilots should plan to vacate the RWY after landing at the approprate exit TWYs as follows:
| RWY 05 | MEDIUM ACFT via TWY J. |
| RWY 13 | MEDIUM ACFT via TWY C or D.
HEAVY ACFT via TWY C or D or due to a long landing roll, vacate via TWY A. |
| RWY 23 | MEDIUM ACFT via TWY L. |
| RWY 13 | MEDIUM ACFT via TWY E or F.
HEAVY ACFT via TWY E or F or via the loop TWY H/H SOUTH to backtrack the RWY in case of long landing roll. |
Parking information
To find an appropriate stand, please see our
gate finder page (table below map). In most cases, apron 9 and apron 8 are used for normal IFR operations (pax/cargo).
TWY X (apron 9) limited to code E and F aircraft proceeding to stands 9X, 14X, 18X and 21X.
